September 18 – Of Being Firstfruits

 “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” -  James 1:18 (ESV)

Let’s take a moment to recognize how often we misunderstand the meaning of God’s promises because we use our own finite ability to reason out what makes sense. If a passage makes sense in our own reasoning there is no guarantee that we have a good understanding of what the Holy Spirit wants us to know of His inspired and authoritative words in Scripture. By example the promise in today’s verse teaches us that our regeneration is fully according to God’s will. He wills and it happens. “Of His will” a Greek. word that makes the point that regeneration is not just a wish. It is an active expression of God’s will. He always has the power to accomplish His will. James places this phrase at the beginning of the sentence in Greek, in order to emphasize that the sovereign will of God is the source of our new life. Regeneration, or the new birth is described as “He brought us forth.” We are God’s chosen “firstfruits” of the work Christ accomplished for us through His death. Let’s reflect back to the previous verses (James 1:16-17), where God promises us every perfect gift comes from our Heavenly Father.

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June 12 – Just Ask Rightly

“You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” – James 4:2-3 (ESV)

When we consider what God’s word teaches about prayer, we find that we are to ask—and to ask with humility, sincerity, and love, and with an understanding that God is sovereign and that His will is what we most wish to be done. For Jesus prayed in this way in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying “Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:16) It was a bold prayer and Jesus had the courage to ask God to do something humanly impossible. Yet He showed complete submission to the Father’s will. It was God’s sovereign purpose that kept the cup from being removed as Christ prayed. In the same manner, the boldness, childlikeness, and eagerness we demonstrate when asking God to do the impossible are not undermined by His sovereignty; they are mercifully controlled by it. With boldness we too can come before our Father, trusting Him to accomplish all we need and all we ask that is in accordance with His will. We can never ask for something that is too big for God to do. So let’s ask!

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May 21 – Righteously Faithful to One

“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? – James 4:4-5

It is a metaphorical description of many people’s hearts due to spiritual unfaithfulness. The first readers of this letter from James, the half brother of Jesus, would have found this familiar. In the Old Testament, the only scripture available at the time this letter was written, often describes the unfaithful Israel as a spiritual harlot. James has in view professing Christians who are outwardly associated with the church, but in real living are holding a deep affection for the world system which is evil. These professing but not faithful who identify as Christians are nothing but friends of the things and ways of world and so in enmity to God (a really terrifying thought). Plainly put, there is no way to be friends with the world and faithful to God at the same time. It is like claiming we are one with God while we have dalliances with what is worldly fun and pleasure. It is not safe for our God is called a “consuming fire” and a “jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24). Let’s be sure to not be “stepping out” on God with that which He says is an enemy. 

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April 20 – How Doers Listen

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” – James 2:22 (NASB)

“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” – James 2:25 (NASB)

Sometimes we hear without listening and when asked, “Did you hear?” we may reply “I heard you.” But we may have only heard, but not listened. If we listen, then we can respond by being a doer. God’s Word is given to us so that we can become doers of what we have listened to do. God wants each of us to become a doer.. How do we listen? By paying attention to what we read in the Word of God or listening to those teaching the Bible to us. James calls professing believers to be “doers,” rather than simply to do, because he emphasizes how our entire personality should be characterized in that way. Those who are only hearers are like those who can’t remember who they saw after looking at themselves in a mirror. Practice makes permanent and God wants us to be permanent doers of His law. Throughout the Bible, God’s revealed, inerrant, sufficient, and comprehensive Word is called “law.” The presence of His grace does not mean there is no moral law or code of conduct for believers to obey. Believers are enabled by the Spirit to be faithful doers. Let’s do that today.

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April 7 – Eternal Life Is The Crown

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” – James 1:12 (ESV)

We are promised blessings if we remain unfaltering under trial. This is a promise we all need because steadfastness is not easy to come by. And when we are depending upon ourselves, it becomes impossible to fend off the doubts and uncertainties that come with the trials and testing of our faith. Believers who successfully endure trials are truly happy. Nobody is saying that trials are easy to face and live through. Quite the opposite and that is why a passive, painful survival of a trial results in endurance and focuses on a victorious outcome. Through such endurance we do not relinquish our saving faith in God; we successfully have the victory over these trials which is evidence of our faith. The “crown of life” promised is best translated “the crown which is life.” Our ultimate reward is eternal life which God has promised to all who believe. It is granted in full at the time of our death or at the time of Christ’s coming again. This promise is given to those who love Him. By grace and through faith we declare our love for Jesus who secured our eternal life in his death and resurrection. 

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April 5 – Ask and Receive

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5 (NASB)

Too often perhaps if even once, we are prone to expect to receive what we are “owed” or “due.” The faulty thought that leads to this includes the idea that we don’t need to ask to receive what we are entitled to. We speak out only when we feel disenfranchised. Continuing the lessons and promises from the book of James, we find this command is a necessary part of the believer’s prayer life. When we need wisdom we are to ask God to give it to us for God has wisdom in abundance available and He is eager to provide it for those who seek it. God intends that trials will drive those who believe to a greater dependency on Him. They show us our own insufficiency. James’ Jewish audience recognized this as the understanding and practical skill that is necessary to live life to God’s glory. It was not wisdom of philosophical speculation, but wisdom contained in the pure and peaceable absolutes of God’s will revealed in His Word and lived out. It is only this divine wisdom from God that enables believers to rejoice and be submissive in the trials and testing of our lives.

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April 4 – A Chain of Results

“… knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:3-4 (NASB)

 

Picking up from the passage yesterday (April 3) we know that testing can bring joy and should bring a joyful attitude because it is for a purpose. Testing means “proof” or “proving” that our faith is true and strong. The first of three important words is ‘endurance’ because through tests, we who believe will learn to withstand tenaciously the pressure of a trial until God removes it at His appointed time. Two more words in verse 4 stand out with important lessons. The second word is ‘perfect’ which describes our end result of testing. It is not a reference to sinlessness or perfection without sin.  Perfect means maturity, specifically in our verse, spiritual maturity. The ongoing testing of our faith should be driving us who are believers to deeper communion and greater trust in Christ—qualities that in turn produce a stable, godly, and righteous character. The third word is ‘complete’. Translated from a compound Gr. word that literally means “all the portions whole.” God’s purpose is that through our trials and testing we end up lacking nothing we need. But we acknowledge this does not speak of material or temporal but spiritually needs.

 

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April 3 – Consider and Count

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, …” – James 1:2 (NASB)

This might not make sense to us. Let’s just be honest first. Trials, tests, difficulties and many things we would rather avoid still come into our lives mostly unannounced. They are uninvited and unwelcome but in today’s passage we are instructed by the Holy Spirit in the letter written by James, the half brother of Jesus, to consider their arrival joyfully. ‘Consider’ may also be translated ‘count’ or ‘evaluate’ which means a willful, purposeful, thoughtful, and conscious commitment to face them with and attitude of joy, and actually with all joy. We are not to split our emotion reaction to trials between a natural disgust and some joy.  Only joy, all joy, just as Paul teaches in Philippians to ‘rejoice in the Lord.’ (Philippians 3:1) God brings such tests to prove—and increase—the strength and quality of our faith and to demonstrate its validity.  Every trial in our life becomes a test of faith and is designed to strengthen our faith: if we fail the test by responding with a wrong attitude, that test then becomes a temptation, or a solicitation to evil. It’s best to trust God for all things, even the trials that test.  

 

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March 8 – Humble Not Proud

“Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. ” – James 4:9-10 (ESV)

For those who observe and follow the ‘holy days’ on a church calendar, one week ago was Mardi Gras*. Translated  “Fat Tuesday” it is the day when all let loose their inhibitions because of what is required of them next. The next day on those calendars is “Ash Wednesday” which marks the solemn entrance into this Christian “season” of Lent, which is one of reflection and repentance. It may appear strange to some in our culture, which presumes that our own thriving as human beings must follow the way of self-acceptance, positive self-esteem, self-assertion, and even pride in ourselves “just the way we are.” But we know that God opposes the proud. Ash Wednesday is completely counter-cultural. It gives opportunity to abide by the biblical admonition to turn from our sins and humble ourselves before God just as James instructs us in today’s passage. The larger context in the letter from James includes all of James 4 and even more. One of our promises in this chapter is that as we humble ourselves, the Lord will exalt us. Not expected in this life, in fact most likely not in this world but in God’s time it will happen in heaven. 

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* Mardi Gras is strongly associated with wild bacchanalia and debauchery, but the original intent of the holiday and how it's kept by the faithful is much different. Fat Tuesday, as it is known in English, is a long-standing tradition of the Catholic Church and it marks the last day of ordinary time before the start of Lent, a time of fasting and repentance. While the parties in Europe, South America, and parts of the United States have gained the most attention in popular culture, they seriously misrepresent and outright eclipse the Catholic intent of the holiday.

According to historians, the celebration of Mardi Gras has its roots in the pagan Roman celebration of Lupercalia. This was a February holiday and it honored the Roman god of fertility. It involved feasting, drinking, and carnal behavior.

However, with the rise of the Church in ancient Rome, Christian teaching and morals took root, but there always remained a strong need to blend ancient Roman traditional practices with the growing Christian faith. The blending of tradition with new religious beliefs was a common practice in the ancient world and it helped people to transition away from paganism. In fact, there are a number of ancient Roman traditions that persevere in the Roman Catholic Church to this day, where they continue to guide the faithful.

As Catholic Christianity spread throughout Europe during the first millennium, different cultures celebrated the last day before Lent in their own ways, adapting the practices to suit their cultures. In France, the holiday became particularly popular as people feasted on foods that would be given up during the forty days of Lent. Meats, eggs, and milk were finished off in one day, giving the holiday its French title of 'Mardi Gras' which means Fat Tuesday.  https://www.catholic.org/lent/mardigras.php

September 21 – Staying Steadfast

“Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” – James 5:11 (ESV)

In our passage today our promise is mercy if we remain steadfast in suffering. It is those who suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ that are promised this mercy. Not only receive mercy but show mercy when we face tribulation, persecution ⸺ any undeserved action because of our confession of faith in God. As faith believers we recognize that suffering is a part of the life that comes with proclaiming the Gospel of salvation which comes only from believing in Jesus. His half-brother James, had not always believed in Jesus during His earthly ministry on earth. But James came to believe and was the leader of the early church in Jerusalem. James had seen the suffering firsthand. This included decapitation, stoning, imprisonment, whippings, beatings, and attempts to eliminate or squelch the believers of Jesus. So James reminds us to consider two things in this verse. First, that we remember how Job remained steadfast through the worst trials and suffering we can imagine. Second, that the Lord is full of both compassion and mercy – that means Jesus delights to show mercy to those who are suffering. That is why He willingly went to the cross to die.

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September 20 – When Mercy Counts

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” – James 3:17 (NASB)

Mercy! What a concept. For one might bestow it on one who cries for it but does not deserve it. A man arrested for taking part in the Capitol Riot on January 6, 2021 petitioned for release from jail. The judge refused. As the judge stated his reasons for denial, the man cried out “Your honor, have mercy on me! Please!” Circumstances, prior actions, published videos and words, left Robert Sandlin only able to beg for mercy. Mercy is shown to the undeserving yet needy. But not this time. “No mercy!” said the judge. The author of James instructs us to live by Godly wisdom from above. That wisdom comes with spiritual integrity and moral sincerity (it is pure). It is “peace loving” or “peace promoting” (peaceable). It includes kind, courteous and patient humility (gentle). It marks someone who is teachable, and willingly submits to both moral and legal discipline (reasonable). Has the gift of showing concern, pity, compassion for those who suffer pain and hardship (full of mercy). Such a person produces good works (fruit), steady in conviction (unwavering), and makes no unfair distinctions (without hypocrisy). Such not only displays mercy but has mercy within.

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July 14 – Belief by Faith

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” – John 1:12 (ESV)

“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” – James 2:19 (ESV)

We use the words “faith believers” to identify any who truly believe in God by grace through faith. We do so to help others understand that “to believe” in Jesus Christ is more than believing He lived on this earth. Also, believing in God’s existence makes us no different than demons who believe God exists. Many believe in a god that is not the One God and some believe who are still under the influence of Satan and reject His offer of salvation and forgiveness. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that our saving belief comes by grace through faith and both are a gift of God. Faith believers have been given the grace and faith to believe in God and to receive wholeheartedly His promise of salvation through the work of Jesus Christ – they are forgiven and possess eternal life. Not by our effort to be good enough are we accepted by God – our faith by grace is not of works. If we have believed in faith, the truth of salvation which has saved us from the penalty of our sin. By that gift of grace through faith we become a child of Almighty God – we are faith believers. 

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April 24 – When Freedom Is Not

“ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” - James 4:7  (ESV)

We find in the Bible promises that are within instructions. We have such a promise in our verse today. We have two commands, two actions we are instructed to do. The first is Submit and the second is Resist. Working together obeying these instructions has a promise. But instead, many times we Resist Submission. Submitting is contrary to our concept of “free will.” The word “submit” here is a military term “to be subordinated” or “to render obedience.” Submitting is required in many circumstances. Resistance fits more comfortably with our concept of freedom, but here’s a problem, that’s not freedom. When we resist God we are submitting to the way is the devil wants us to behave. Of course that’s backwards from what we are instructed. We’ll never see the promised results of running the devil off if that is the way we live. What we really want, and need is freedom from sin and the devil. That comes when we submit to God and resist the devil. The devil cannot overpower God power in our lives. Submit to God, Resist the devil, We must do this with consistency, over and over. The victory of Christ becomes more precious.

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February 10 – “When Needing Wisdom”

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” – James 1:5-8 (NIV)

Because context is important, our promises are sometimes in more than one or two verses – that is the case today. The promise today is boundless. “If any … should ask … gives generously … without fault … will be given.” But the promise has a requirement and a caution – “must believe and not doubt.”  When a friend asks for prayer, how do you respond? Do you say you will pray but actually, rarely remember to pray? Do you send folded hands emoticons suggesting that you are indeed praying?  When you are sincerely praying is it more than a feel-good acknowledgement.  We might ask God for wisdom to help us choose our right path. When we need wisdom we ask God; He promises to give richly without humiliating us⸺that’s important. God promises we will receive wisdom when we ask in faith believing.  Those who ask with doubt are double-minded people. No wishy-washing doubting allowed. Faith in God that He will hear our request for wisdom and provide what we need is essential. If you do not believe God can or will answer and if conviction is not truly in your heart, then like a rudderless boat being tossed by the wind and waves. 

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August 15 – No shifting Shadows and Stable Source

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  James 1:17 (ESV)

Have you ever noticed how if you remain long enough in one place, the shadows around you do move? Perhaps on a hot day you find the perfect shady spot to park your car and when you come back it is in direct sunlight.  The longer we live in this world, the more we realize that things are constantly changing. Some changes can be predicted and prepared for. Other changes are not so easy to predict. Our verse today reminds us of shifting shadows we have seen. We realize that as shadows change it is because the source of light casting them is constantly changing – or the object, like a light fixture casting the shadow is being moved.  To keep a shadow from moving we need to stabilize the source of light and the object as well. This verse identifies our Father God as the Father of lights.  His light shining on us is constant and unchangeable. He will always love us. Things around us may change but He remains and His goodness will always be there for us. Let's stand firm in His light and our shadow will not be shifting.

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May 4 – Waves Only Waver

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”  - James 1:5-6 (NLT)

If counsel is what we need, then it is wisdom that we ask for from God.  This we are promised in a  familiar and popular verse.  We are promised that God is generous and not stingy when it comes to giving us the wisdom we need.  We are also promised that God will not shame us for asking.  We often shame each other when we are asked because we expect they should already know or have what they are asking for.  God does not rebuke us for having a request for wisdom.  Then we learn that God wants our request to be made in pure faith trusting in His promises. No attachments, no addendum, no contingencies which all add up to doubt and doubt does not mix with faith.  Asking with doubt is not faith.  It is a lack of faith.  If we have ever watched the sea or lake when the waves are up. They are random, they never repeat and we have no idea where they will go. When we doubt, we are acting like a windblown wave and we are not truly believing God will or even can give us the wisdom He promises. 

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February 24 – Joining the Resistance

“But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”  - 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7 (ESV)

Temptations come at us every day; this we know because Jesus told us it would happen if we followed Him and His teaching.  The world hates us and abuses us for professing Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We have a means to fight this battle by joining the Resistance.  Resisting the devil is an effective means of enduring temptations and avoiding pitfalls the enemy throws in our way.  Temptations and the abuse of the world are part of the sufferings we endure because we choose to believe Jesus.  Resisting is something we must do continually and as we do, we have two promises from two verses today.  The Apostle Peter says that by standing firm in our faith we resist the enemy.  James tells us that if we, in submission to God, resist the devil it will turn tail and run off.  The battle is already won, but devil does not give up.  Each time the devil comes back we resist again and our faith grows stronger.  In the Resistance, we begin to see more clearly the victory God promised (1 John 5:4 ESV) and so we are not so easily tripped up or fooled by the enemy.  

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January 8 – No Shadow Shifting

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  -James 1:17  (NASB)

We have been finding and pondering promises from the letter James wrote.  Today’s promise is one of certainty about the gift Giver.  Every truly good thing, and all the perfect gifts we receive come from God.  When it comes to God’s Word there is no such thing “individual truth” or “truth the way I see it.”  Our personal opinion and faulty understanding can only produce various shadows of what we want the truth to be.  The result is that kind varies from one to another.  Believing this kind of truth is like trying to keep our shadow. It is constantly changing and it comes and goes depending on our surroundings.  God’s truth is one of the perfect gifts that comes from above and it is always without variation.  It is has no shifting shadows because Truth only comes from the Father of lights. There is only one light shining on it and that light is the Word of God as given in the Bible.  

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January 7 – The Crown Which Is Life

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.- James 1:12  (ESV)

God calls us to be steadfast and to remain unwavering and resolute in our trust of His promises.  Even when we are broadsided by some unexpected or tragic circumstance, we are to consider the trial to be a test of our faith.  In a very real sense, these trials are temptations to give up on our faith.  Our enemy, the deceiver of all and the father of lies is often the author of these trials.  The hope is that we will become shipwrecked and give up our faith.  God has promised a way of escape and that is if we, through God’s wisdom endure and remain steadfast in our faith, God promises the crown of life.  Our steadfastness has proven our love for God and the crown of life – which is best translated “the crown which is life” is the believers ultimate reward, it is eternal life manifested. Jesus promised that all  who believe will face such trials and temptations and He promised to give us what we need to persevere until our eternal life is manifest in heaven and we receive The Crown Which is Life. 

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January 6 – Need Wisdom? Ask to Receive

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”  -James 1:5  (ESV)

Are you facing a situation that you do not have a clear understanding about?  Do you need help sorting out the why and the wherefore?  You need wisdom to know what your next steps are to be.  Wisdom comes to us from God when we ask for it.  Remember King Solomon, when he asks for understanding and discernment.  God give him wisdom and makes him wise beyond that of any other person.  Our promise today is an ask-to-receive promise; for God says if we seek and ask for wisdom from Him, He will generously give the wisdom we need.  Are there not  many times in our lives, maybe today is one of those times for some of us, that we need wisdom from God to know and understand where He is leading us. Whenever we need wisdom, all we have to do is ask for wisdom and God promises to give generously all the wisdom we need and He will do so without making us feel silly or guilty for asking.  

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