The God Who Prays
We are accustomed to saying, “Jesus is interceding for us”; we also say, “The Spirit is praying for us”. The implications of what that means may escape us. We must let its truth grip us. We are not accustomed to saying, “God is praying for us”; it sounds too shocking. But, in fact, that
Needed Rain
A farmer who plants seeds knows that there needs to be at least two seasons of rain. The first is following germination for starting growth and the other is the rain prior to final harvest that yields maximum fruit; both are needed. The Lord comes to receive the harvest and rejoice in our growth.
The Abusive Rich
James, in the great tradition of the OT prophets, cries out against the rich who abuse the poor. These use the power of their position and money to rob the poor. They do not pay a living wage. The prophets have always cried out against those at the top who syphon all wealth off
The Right Thing
Sin is more than a willful action against the commands of God; it is also neglecting what God requires. The word of God is to train us in what is good; it trains us in deeds of mercy and acts of compassion. It shows us right from wrong. There is a right thing
What Is Your Life?
Life is a race to be won. It is a battle to be fought. It is a journey to be completed. It is a mixture of pain and joy, defeat and triumph. It is a test to pass. It is a farm to be cultivated. It is vapor that soon will pass. It is
On Speaking Evil
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge” (James 4:11 ESV). We are not to slander or
Steps to Drawing Near
Submit your total being to your Father. Resist the devil. There are forces at work in the world that are totally against your nearness to God; resist these forces. Draw near by cleansing your hands of any sinful act. Examine your heart and purify your divided heart so that it has one single mind
Married to God
The Father, Son, and Spirit function exists in a community of agape love. Each yearns for the other. The Father has poured out His Spirit in our hearts through His Son, the same Spirit with Whom He is in communion. He has placed His Spirit in us to invite us into His community for
Enemies of God
The friends of God act one way and the enemies of God act another way. Fighting to get what you want, regardless of who gets hurt is not God’s way. Even selfish praying is the way of the world. Friendship with the world is more than our chumminess toward the world, it is imitating
Wisdom with Meekness
If you have wisdom to share, speak it with meekness. If you have in your fountain, to use James’ metaphor, “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” you cannot be faithful to the truth. In fact, that kind speech may become demonic. We must learn to discern it when we hear it. True wisdom has its
The Tongue
Folks who use their tongue to praise God on Sunday can use it to hurt people on Monday. James sees the tongue as a “restless evil” and a fountain that springs drinkable and undrinkable water. It is seen as a vine that produces unexpected fruit. It blesses and curses. It is a fire capable
Talkers
The “gift of gab” is not a call to be a teacher or a preacher. We have had enough ad libbers! This is why God often calls a Moses who is slow of speech or an Amos who is called and is self-effacing about the assignment. Those who have a great estimation of themselves
Faith and Love
“Faith works by love” (Galatians 5:6). The Great Commandment is to love God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves. This love for God is the driving force of our faith in God. If I truly love Him I will completely trust Him. Faith is holding on, in love, to our trustworthy
Faith and Works (4)
James uses Rahab as an example of faith. She was an inn keeper. Her story is told in Joshua 2:1-24. She believed that the Israelites would be successful in their conquest of the land. When two spies came to her for lodging, she hid them and then enabled them to escape. By this work
Faith and Works (3)
The great example of faith being joined to works is Abraham (Hebrews 11:8-19). When God called him, he believed God and went out “not knowing where he was going.” When tested with offering Isaac, he believed God could raise his son from the dead, so he was prepared to act. Abraham is a great
Faith and Works (2)
“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18 ESV). Faith and works are not an either-or proposition. The two are to be joined inseparably. Even the demonic world has a kind
Faith and Works (1)
Works has gotten a poor rap in evangelical Christianity. Martin Luther did not even want the book of James included in the biblical canon because of his belief in “faith alone”. We tend to lean heavily on Paul’s words and fail to balance them with James’ words. James lays a convincing case for faith
Showing Partiality
We show partiality to those with status, wealth, beauty, youth, position, etc. We especially like those we gravitate to our groups. We prefer their company and their opinions. A senior adult lady said to me, “Now that I am old I feel invisible; no one even acknowledges my presence.” Where do we seat people
Pure Religion
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27 ESV). We have come to think that pure religion is to have all of our theological words expressed perfectly, and without error. Theology is
How’s Your Bridle?
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26 ESV). Well, there is a lot of “worthless religion” going on! Without a bridle an untrained horse will run wild. This metaphor James uses to try to teach us something about
Dining and Doing
I have heard a lot of preaching and teaching of the word in my life. I have dined on some of the best. But dining is not enough; dining is to be followed by doing. After James tells us about the implanted word being able to save our souls he immediately reminds us to
Implanted Word
“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21 ESV). Think of your inner being as soil on which seed is planted. Jesus, in the Parable of the Sower, taught using this image, as does James here. It takes
I Will Try
When faced with a request, God never said anywhere or at anytime, “I will try.” God is always working to bring about good from our circumstances and situations. There is helping grace with Him. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find
What We Know
We do not know as much as we think we know. “We know in part” and “we see in a glass darkly” (1 Corinthian 13:9, 11). In fact, pride about our knowledge can make us puffed up (1 Corinthians 8:1). This has and does produce divisions among us. Knowledge must be expressed through love.
What He Gave Up
Most political leaders do not see the quest for an office as giving up something but of acquiring something more. They climb up and Jesus climbed down. They love being exalted; Jesus came to be humiliated. He taught that the greatest would become the least, and the first would become the last. The leaders of