Be Patient...How Long?

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

James 5:7-8 NIV

How long should we be patient? One day? One week? One year? One decade? Until the coming of the Lord.

Are You THE Judge?

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. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

James 4:11-12

Wise Up

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 

James 3:13 NIV

What I do, not what I say demonstrates wisdom. I am a teacher so, I realize the importance of speaking accurately and intentionally. But, if my students don't think I give a rip about them, they find it hard to value much I say.

The love of God, the wisdom of God in action, is seen in Christ's sacrificial death for us on the cross. That wisdom provides peace for us with God and other people. 

My prayer is that you and I can act in wisdom. May the love of Christ compel us to humbly act with godly wisdom as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

Got Religion?

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:26-27 NIV

It starts with my tongue, the  intersection of thought, choice and action. When I speak I am committing myself to a specific pathway of action. My actions are the fruit of my beliefs.

Religion is the outward manifestation of our beliefs, what other people see. James isn't saying to not be religious, he's saying to serve orphans and widows. Orphans and widows (in New Testament times they were unable to work) are people who can't care for themselves.

The goal is to humbly serve others and to do this without being caught up in the sins of the world you are trying to minister to.

What is your intent?

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

James 1:25 (NIV)

Once while backing up my car I hit a little, but unforgiving two foot post sticking up out of the ground. I went forward, saw the stupid thing in my mirror, backed up again while avoiding the post. My intent was not to dent my car, but I did. Since my intent was to get out of the parking space without hitting  anything, in the end I got out without causing further damage.

Follow me on this. If my intent is to sin I will sin without concern for the damage it will do to my life and the lives of those around me. If my intent is to act in faith, even if I find myself in sin, I will back out - repent - and act by faith in love. 

Make it your intent to act in faith. Make it your intent to do the the word of God says and even when you get a bit off track the Spirit of God will help you to act in faith, to do live according to the word.

What Bothers Me About You Is the Reflection of My Issues

I attend a men's Bible study on Wednesday mornings and we have been making our way through the epistle of James. I sit with a great group of guys and a pretty good group dynamic has developed. A very nice gentlemen has joined our group lately. Observing him try to "lead" us along is interesting. The rest of us are comfortable with a moment of silence while we process whatever is being asked of us to discuss. Our new friend, I think, sort of sees us as a rudderless ship and he better get the conversation going. This week we looked at James 1:19-27. Verses 19-20 of course warranted much of our discussion. 

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 

James 1:19-20 (NIV)

Personally, waiting, being quick to listen to what the other men say has allowed me to hear some very wise words that I very much needed to hear. Even if I am the first to speak, I try to speak less so that I can hear what the Lord is speaking to and through the other guys. 

Now, one other thing. A pastor of mine once said that the imperfections of others was easy for us to notice (or bugs us) because it's like looking in the mirror. So I ask myself, am I bothered by someone else being quick to speak because I am quick to speak?

OK GOD, IT'S UP TO YOU...

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10

The world says to fight for everything you get, to look out for number one, just do it.  Or, in this age of entitlement, sometimes people just feel they are owed things. 

To humble ourselves before God is to see things as they really are. God is Sovereign. I am finite. God is righteous. I am not. God is whole and complete. I am fractured by sin, incomplete without Christ. 

To humble ourselves before God is to trust him with our needs and desires. It is more than being able to say, "Your will be done". It is knowing that God will work our all things for our good. That means that God has me where he wants me and if I am not where he wants me, he can move me, or move what needs to be in my life. He can move me to the mountain, or move the mountain to me. 

Father, we look to you to use us where we are at and to move us to where you want to use us. Praise be to you in us today!

DON'T GO, COME

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:7-8 (NIV)

If you're looking for a warm fuzzy, the book of James may not be the place for you. If you want to really get down to what you need to deal with in order for your relationship with Jesus to be real, it's a definite must read. 

In these verses he reminds us to submit to God rather than trying to wrestle everything we want from the universe. Striving verses submitting. Striving is not God's way, it is the devil's way of obtaining not just things but satisfaction and fulfillment. 

In contrast to striving is seeking God. James says to come near to God and he will come near to you. Do you notice that he doesn't say go, he says come? It is more of an invitation than a command. For all his harshness James is pointing out that God is calling us. Remember the parable of the lost son (or the prodigal son)? The younger son went back to the father and the father ran to him (this was totally against the culture of the day, men don't run). The father also went out to the older son. This is God. He calls us. He seeks us. 

Come to God. Come near to God. Hear his call to you...

Father, thank you for calling me to you. Praise be to you in us today!

Motives and Answered Prayer

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because  you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on what you want." James 4:1-3 

It's too bad James doesn't just tell you what he's really thinking! Again, James doesn't mess around, he just gets right to it. Have you ever prayed and didn't get an answer, or at least not the answer you wanted? Here is another self-check from James. 

Are you in strife? Striving is different than trying really hard to do the right thing. Striving in the flesh is not the same as seeking to do God's will with all you heart, soul, and mind. What is being described is someone who is having issues, quarreling, with everyone around them. For some people, everything turns out to be an argument. James uses the words "kill and covet". Those are pretty strong descriptors of someones actions and motives. You see, there is a difference between telling someone you know you like their car and you'd like to have one yourself and coveting it. Think about that...

I sometimes struggle with the idea of having pure motives. I am not sure I can ever have entirely pure motives. But, God knows that I am by dust. He knows I am human. He knows I have a sinful nature. The issue is if I am seeking God about what I am asking for and trying to put others needs before my own. 

Self-check question of the day: Am I coveting or caring (for others needs above mine)? 

Father, help us to seek you and seek to serve others. Build your kingdom through and in us! Praise be to you in us today!

ARE YOU A WISE GUY?

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." James 3:13

James moves right from taming the tongue to showing how wise and understanding you are. Kind of like saying, "OK, you talk a good game, let's see you do it." 

At one school I worked at as a categorical program advisor (that means I did go-for work for the principal) there was one teacher that when I first listened to him sounded like a very polished educator. I thought that when I walked into his room I would find a finely tuned learning environment. When I did enter his class it was chaos. He talked a good game, but, his actual classroom management skills left a lot to be desired. 

We all should desire to be holy and to know Christ intimately. James refers to "deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom". Humility is knowing who you are in Christ and living accordingly. We love because he first loved us (I John 4:19). Remember that when Christ taught the disciples how to pray he made forgiveness mandatory (Matthew 6:14-15). When we understand forgiveness we must be humble because we realize our own sinfulness. If it wasn't for God's grace in Christ's death on the cross we would still be dead in our sins! None of us is such a good person that God had to save us. Wisdom is knowing this truth and living, as in treating others with the same grace and mercy God has shown you, accordingly. 

My hope today is not to "knock you down a notch" but to encourage you to remember the grace and mercy God has shown you in Christ. He died for you. Before the creation of the universe he chose to die for you, knowing all the sins you would commit (those before and after you would accept Christ). God is graciously Sovereign. 

Father, thank you for your grace and mercy to us. Open our eyes to see your grace and mercy in our lives. Help us to live in humility. Praise be to you in us today!

EPIDEMIC: FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

James 3:2 (NIV)

Unfortunately the bad taste in my mouth is often because I put my foot there and the aftertaste of where they have been is not to pleasant. Not to attempt to diminish the legendary status of my foot in mouth disease, but, I notice that I am not the only one. 

James says we all stumble in many ways.  Nobody is perfect. That is not an excuse or deflection, it is just the truth. What James seems to be getting at is that if we can control our mouths we can control our lives. If we can, by faith, be controlled by the Holy Spirit, we can be mature. 

Check yourself. Who or what is controlling you? Jesus said, "The good man brings out good things stored up in him, and the evil man brings out of the evil stored up in him" (Matthew 12:35). I read my Bible daily. I pray. I try to seek God. I don't do these things because I am spiritual. I do them because I know that in me lives no good thing. I need to store up good things within myself. I need to align myself in Christ. He will fill me with good things of the Spirit. 

How do you check yourself?

Father, help us to keep ourselves in check with you. Praise be to you in us today? 

PROVE YOU BELIEVE

How would you answer the question, "You're a Christian, prove it?"  

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that  a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 2:18-26 (NIV) 

Now add to the mix the works verses faith debate.  For a sincere Christian this can be a bit of a conundrum. I think it is hard to divide the inward and outward aspects of faith and this is one reason why many people struggle with the assurance of their faith.

Inwardly I know that God is in my life because the Bible says that no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:3). Any recognition of God within myself is actually proof of the Holy Spirit in my life, because in my dwells no good thing. 

Outwardly is where I often struggle because "what do I do because I am a Christian"? I think if I look at these verses I see two valuable examples of faith. One in Abraham and one in Rahab. Abraham knew God and his obedience was the mark of his faith. Rahab did not know God but her actions, hiding the spies was considered an action of faith.

Abraham trusted God with his son. Rahab trusted God with her future. There are many lessons to be learned from these two hall of faith members. Abraham was asked to sacrifice and Rahab was willing to leave her culture and trust in the God of the Jews. 

Sometimes our faith calls us to sacrifice and sometimes we are called to leave some things behind. We act not to earn salvation but because of our salvation. At some point we should be able to point to things we have done, not as actions that merit our faith, but, actions that demonstrate or "prove" out faith. 

Father, thank you that you have prepared good work for us to do. Praise be to you in us today!

JUST KEEPING IT REAL

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:14-17 (NIV)

As far as our real daily life as a Christian is concerned, this is either a very thin line or where the rubber meets the road. It is a thin line if you want to argue that faith is highly personal and you can't judge someone else because you don't know what is in their hearts. It is where the rubber meets the road if you want to seriously check your faith. I am sure there are other ways to consider this but, for me today, this is how I am approaching the text. 

Francis Schaeffer (a favorite and influential author of mine) wrote a book entitled True Spirituality. He wrote it after struggling with the reality of his faith. I think we all go through times where we struggle with the reality of our faith. That is not a bad thing. If being a Christian doesn't make some sort of difference in your life, what good is it being a Christian? By difference I don't mean just having warm fuzzy's all day long. I mean that if being a Christian isn't different in how I approach the good and the bad, the joyous and the mournful, circumstances in my life, then what so what? 

The telling aspect of these verses, for me, is that they are focused on others, not ourselves. Do you get that? Our world is an incredibly self-centered black hole of self-consciousness. Everything is about how it makes "me" feel. I once had a pastor friend of mine ask me what I thought of his teaching. I told him it was a bit hard to follow because he didn't follow an outline and his introductions were often longer than the actual "teaching". His response was, "Wow, that really hurts my feelings! Especially coming from you." Thanks, pastor, so it's not about how you feed me, one of the sheep, it's about how I make you feel?" 

James, rather bluntly describes a situation where someone is in need. If you do nothing more than basically give a little "spiritual" verbal response, so what? "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." 

The good news is that God has prepared good works for us (Ephesians 2:10) and he makes us alive and new in Christ! It is not  necessarily about big things, it's about daily interactions, daily opportunities to act in love by faith. 

What will be your faith moments today? 

Father, help us to act in love by faith today. Praise be to you in us today!

Do You Have a Right to Not Be Merciful?

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!" James 2:12-13

I am a very imperfect person. That is not offered up as an excuse. When I sin, I sin. No one made me sin. I sinned. I do not want to sin. I try to seek God on a daily basis through prayer and Bible study. But, sometimes I still sin. And I don't think I am really any different that anyone who might read this. 

We all sin. That means that I need mercy, and you need mercy. My wife needs mercy. Anyone I deal with needs mercy.

These verses are not about legalism they are about forgiveness and freedom because of the mercy of God shown to us in Christ Jesus. What they are about is a serious self-check about understanding the mercy of God. Matthew 6:14-15 stresses, 

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." 

I boils down to this: we are merciful to others because God is merciful to us. We don't have a right to NOT be merciful. 

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." 

Ephesians 2:4-5

Question of the day? Who do I need to be merciful to today? How is God showing me mercy today?

Father, thank you for your mercy to me! Help me to be merciful to others! Praise be to you in us today!

ARE YOU PLAYING FAVORITES?

     "My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.

     Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" James 2:1, 5

I think the bottom line on this is that to God our outward circumstances do not make us more or less worthy of his mercy, grace and forgiveness. Romans 3:10-12 reminds us "As it is written, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no who does good, not even one."" In God's eyes everyone, regardless of your social standing is unworthy. 

Yet, Christ died for us all, rich or poor. Paul says in Colossians 3:11, "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." The love of God, the forgiveness offered in Christ, is for anyone who will accept it, regardless of their position or circumstances. 

Favoritism can come in many different ways. But, what James was dealing with was the intentional favoritism (what I might crudely call "butt-kissing") toward people of wealth and status. The pathetic thing was that these people were exploiting them! I think the crux of the matter involves faith, as in who or what are you trusting. If you look to the world and its' system of dominance built to make you trust in anything but God, you will always be in bondage. But, if you trust in Christ and view the world from his perspective, you will inherit the kingdom of God. 

James was concerned that this very worldly manner of living was creeping into the church and people were making choices in an ungodly way. In this respect I think James' message is timeless and therefore relevant to you and me, even today. Trust God, not people and treat everyone, regardless of their outward appearance and social status the same, God does. 

Father, help us to see each other through your eyes. Praise be to you in us today!

GOD'S RELIGION

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

A lot of people want to define religion as spiritual bigotry and dismiss the term altogether. Religion, as God sees it, is a good thing.  You just have to be religious in God's way.

In simple terms godly religion is focused on others, specifically those less fortunate who struggle caring for themselves and being in the world but not of it.  

One of the underlying themes of James is real Christianity. He has a real ability to cut to the chase. He's one of those people who after saying something that sort of jars you would say, "Just keeping it real." 

It's ok to be religious, if your religious God's way. God way is serving others and serving him. 

Father, help us to keep things real and live truly for you. Praise be to you in us today. 

SPEAK OR NOT?

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives and his religion is worthless." James 1:26

If the Apostles Paul and James were boxers you would call Paul the boxer and James the brawler. Paul sets you up with jabs and then nails you with a hook. James just throws hooks, big body shots, overhand rights and lefts, uppercuts and just goes to knock you out with every punch.

Here in verse twentysix James throws a haymaker a nails us with our mouths. I would say that with the advent of the internet and social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that what we say in writing is included in this "uppercut" from James. 

The meaning is straightforward and you can't dodge it. If you think you are religious, you know, spiritually mature and you can't control what you say, your not. Pretty convicting. 

Now, I am going to make a bit of a stretch here and ask the other side of the question. I get that I should be careful to NOT say some things that would not glorify God. But, what about NOT speaking up when we should? What about situations where injustice is happening or God is being blasphemed and I remain silent? Should I? Maybe the Spirit of God is nudging you to share with someone that Jesus died for their sins and that person is open for that moment. Is controlling your tongue opening your mouth or keeping it closed? 

Father, help us to submit ourselves to you and let you reign even over our what we say. Give us wisdom to be silent when we should and to speak up when we must. Praise be to you in us today!

"I'M DONE,GOD!" REALLY?

"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25

I have been teaching sixth grade this year and one habit I have been trying to break them of is the, "I'm done, teacher!" thing. Usually they aren't actually done. Maybe they wrote "Yes" or "No" to a question that was asking for an explanation that demonstrates their understanding of some process we have been studying. Or they just wrote gibberish. 

Sending my wife a "Love you!" text (which is a good thing) is different than sitting with her while she tells me whatever she needs to tell me (and actually trying to listen). Reading the Bible tells me to love my wife. If all I do is send my wife a "Love you!" text every now and then, maybe that's my version of "I'm done, God!" Looking intently at the Bible tells me I need to be patient and kind with my wife, even if I don't feel she is being patient and kind with me. 

What I am getting at is that looking intently into the word means that I consider things on a deeper level. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the word of God is a double-edged sword. Sometimes I should feel the truth cut me a bit. I should notice the plank in my eye when I am asking God to get the speck out of someone elses. I should listen...wait...listen, and then obey, do what I know is right. 

Look intently into the word of God. Don't rush. Let the Spirit work. Obey what you know is the best thing to do. 

Father, help us to wait upon you and to see and do what you want us to do, to love as you have loved us. Praise be to you in us today!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22

I believe A.W. Tozer said, "Self deception is the worst kind of deception." If I just go to church and change nothing in my life, if I do nothing any differently than before, what's the difference? 

Let's just get it straight. Going to church does not make you a Christian. It's a good thing, it just doesn't mean anything if you don't act accordingly. Putting on a Laker uniform doesn't make me a professional basketball player. It's doesn't even mean I know how to dribble a basketball. 

This is where it gets real. I have been walking with Christ since I was in high school in the 70's. There has been times when I honestly looked at myself and realized that I wasn't acting on what I knew was true. My decisions, my choices, and my actions were not of faith. I was not doing what the Word of God says. I was in sin. 

I'm married. We are going on our eighteenth year. I have a lot of friends who are married and a few that are divorced. If you don't do what the Bible says; love, respect, and forgive each other, I don't know how you can stay married. Honestly, it's usually more about inflexibility than infidelity. The Bible tells us to love as Christ first loved us, which is when we didn't want it and didn't deserve his love. What usually holds a marriage together is when you love your spouse when they are unloveable. 

What do you need to do?

Father, help us to do what your word says to do. Praise be to you in us today! 

AN ANSWER FAST?

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20

I don't know about you, but if there is something I consistently get backwards it is this. I'm slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry.  Which would probably explain most of the strife and confusion in my life. 

Major Ian Thomas, the founder of the Torchbearer schools, once said, and I quote, "The obvious is so obvious, that if often fails to be obvious." I believe that James 1:20-21's message is pretty straight forward. Stop talking, start listening and remember the grace - the death of Christ - that was required to save you. 

I once went on an answer fast. I didn't answer or speak for 30 seconds when someone said something to me. I spent a lot of time explaining why I wasn't talking. A few people suggested I do it more often. (Which of course was good I had to wait to respond to that comment.) What it showed me was how often I spoke out of anger or pure emotion and how thoughtless much of what I said really was. 

The righteous life is what God desires to build and see in us. We may be trying to build a happy life or a wealthy life or an exciting life. All that may happen but, God's primary concern is the righteous life in us, Christ in us, the hope of glory. 

Maybe it's time to remember that righteousness is the end God has in mind and so should we.

Father, help us to seek righteousness. Praise be to you in us today!