“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” James 2:14 NIV
Faith — the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed.
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) When we hear the Word and take it into our hearts, it will do a work producing faith within us. When we receive what is said, we believe it!
What we really believe or our “faith” produces “deeds” or action within us. What is in our hearts will come out of us and be on display for everyone to see.
James tells us if our faith does not produce action it is dead. (Verse 17) A dead faith makes it impossible to please God.
God wants for us to believe what He says and to act on what He says because it is for our good! He loves us so much!!
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,” James 2:12 NIV
The Word is the law that gives freedom. (James 1:22-25) It is the truth!
The Word judges. It is the measuring stick by which we must take every thought, every teaching, every decision and lay it up beside to examine, distinguish, and decide if they are according to God’s perfect will for us. When we “speak and act” according to what we see in the Word we will live in freedom. But if we refuse we will live in error which is a life of captivity.
Through Jesus, God has displayed His mercy towards us. We are placed in right standing with Him. When we receive Christ, His Holy Spirit comes and lives inside of us. The Holy Spirit will empower us to “speak and act” as God desires.
We need to know the Word so that we know God’s will for us. As we see what God wants for us in His Word, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to give us power to obey. Whatever our circumstances may be may we place them against the measuring stick of the Word. So we may judge correctly what we need to say and do. This is how we can live free — filled with God’s joy, love and peace!
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” James 2:1 NIV
(Today is James 2)
I have four kids, who are all adults now. Throughout the years my husband and I have tried very hard to treat them equally. (However, I am sure that there have been times we did not do this perfectly)
Each Christmas, they had close to the same amount of presents with the same amount spent on each of them. Whatever their needs have been we have tried to pay close to the same amount and spent equal amounts of time. My goal has been that they would each feel that they were my favorite. They frequently joke about who is my favorite. The truth is… THEY ALL ARE!
If they begin to think any differently, it cause all kinds of issues. Favoritism divides.
In the family of God (i.e. the Church) we are all God’s favorite as well. The word favorite is defined as “A person or thing regarded with peculiar favor, preference and affection; one greatly beloved.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) God is equitable. If I am someone he regards with favor, preference, affection and love, then so are you! He does not look at our social status, our ethnicity, our wealth or the lack thereof… “For God so loved the World…” He loves us all and He loves each of us completely and perfectly. He is Love. His love cannot be divided into different sizes or portions. We are to love like our Heavenly Father does!
Favoritism or giving a preference to one over another. It is giving special attention to someone. James states that having favoritism is a sin. (Verse 8)
The remedy for favoritism is found in what Jesus called the second greatest commandment:
““Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:36-39 NIV
James says if you do that “you are doing right.”
Everyone is equal at the foot of the cross. We are all sinners in need of forgiveness and hearts that need to be transformed. Those who are born again are born again into a family where we are one in Jesus!
If we elevate or devalue someone according to what they possess materially, (or for any other reason) we are missing the mark, in sin. We are dividing what God has created to be united in Him — ONE!
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 NIV
In America, we have ample opportunity to “listen to the word.” We can download the Bible to our phones. We can freely attend church without fear of persecution. We can tune into countless podcasts that talk about the word. We have Christian TV, Christian Radio, Christian entertainment —movies, concerts, etc.
We could listen to and or attend every single thing I have mentioned and walk away unmoved by it. Why? Because we refuse to act upon what we have heard.
This is not the relationship that God desires for us to have with Him!
“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
We are to “look intently” and to “continue in” the Word. We are to “not forget what we have heard, but DO IT.”
Our encounters with God’s Word are to be taken into our heart and His Word is supposed to make a change in our lives. The Life the Word produces through our obedience is supposed to eradicate the death our sinful choices have brought. The Truth we are receiving is supposed to expose the lies. The Word will produce freedom where captivity to sin has abounded. The Word will bring blessing in all we do.
Why do we choose to stay in the pattern of our own ways when we hear the Word speaking the way to go?
Don’t merely listen to what the Word is saying! Do IT!
My daughter in law is a minimalist housekeeper. At first her way of doing things seemed a little extreme to me. If she doesn’t use something, she gets rid of it from her house. She doesn’t hold onto very much stuff “for a rainy day…” Her house is clutter free, easy to keep clean, and refreshing.
I’ve been living at my current home for 17 years. I have not adopted her mindset when it comes to stuff… There have been times when my husband and I contemplate getting a dumpster to get rid of the extras. Life would be a little easier if we did.
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21 NIV
James tells us that God has good things in store for us. “Every good and perfect is from above…” God desires that righteousness is produced in us. Which is “Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
In short, we need to “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent…” Repentance is the equivalent of cleaning out the spiritual clutter of our spiritual hearts. It is making room for the “Word planted in you, which can save you.” The word “Save” here in the Greek means, “To save, heal, preserve, rescue.”
God wants us to be full of Him — His Word! He wants to save us from our destructive patterns, heal us from our hurtful past, and rescue us from the sin that destroys us.
What is it that we need to “get rid of…?” Holding tightly to our ways, our thoughts, and our desires (i.e. sin) leads only to death, darkness, destruction.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
It’s time to take our “spiritual clutter” (sins) to the dumpster of repentance and get rid of all the moral filth we have been living in!
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:13-15 NIV
Sin is a choice. It doesn’t just happen. We know the good we should do, but we don’t do it. (James 4:17) There is a progression towards sin and death.
Evil desire — i.e. lust. Longing for what we know is wrong.
Enticement — temptation. Baited. Satan schemes against us. He looks for ways to get us to fall into his sinful traps. He places these lures before us with the desire for us to go after them.
Sin — a voluntary turning from what is right.
Death — Sin separates us from God. God is life. Sin keeps us from His life.
The truth is what we decide to listen to matters. Our evil desires/ lusts are fed by our selfish choices. Our selfish choices are fed by our thoughts.
In Jesus we can live victoriously over sin. He gives us a new heart that desires to follow Him and obey. He has given us His Word that renews our mind to think His thoughts.
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” Psalms 119:9 NIV
God has created us to desire. He wants to be our one desire!
Don’t be “dragged away” by choosing to listen to the old lustful desires of your self life. Focus on Jesus and His Word. Let Him be the One Thing you long for!
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 NIV
(Today we read James 1)
Persevere – “To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any design or course commenced; not to give over or abandon what is undertaken” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
Life is not easy! Jesus made it clear that this would always be the case. He told us:
““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”” John 16:33 NIV
We are told frequently to “stand firm” in the Word of God. This is another term for the word “persevere.”
James tells us that we are “blessed” (Greek — Happy) if we “persevere” or refuse to abandon what we have undertaken — our close and intimate relationship with Jesus.
There will be tests or our faith, but when we have stood firm throughout the tests we are ultimately promised the “crown of life” (eternal reward and victory).
We are told in Ephesians 6:10 that our strength to make a stand against the enemies schemes is “in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
It is not easy, but it is the best. If we refuse to persevere and give up, our enemy will not stop his assaults. They will only intensify. Because he is bent on our destruction. Jesus put it this way:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV
Our choice is clear. Persevere — life and true happiness. Cave to the pressure — death, darkness, and destruction.
“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.” James 1:9-11 NIV
(Today we read James 1)
There is a saying, “He who has the biggest toys at the end wins.” Not so! Riches will fade. Also, those who lack riches should not look at their circumstances as disqualifying them from serving God. Life is not about the abundance of money or the lack thereof. True life is about Jesus!
The words “take pride” in these verses means to exult. Which is defined as “Properly, to leap for joy; hence, to rejoice in triumph; to rejoice exceedingly, at success or victory; to be glad above measure; to triumph.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) Whatever our material position in life we are to rejoice in our true position “in Jesus!”
The one who lacks material possessions is given much opportunity to see the faithful provision of their God and to rejoice in Jesus! The one with an abundance of material possessions has also been given much opportunity to see the faithful provision of their God as well. They are to rejoice in Him!
Whatever circumstance we are in rich or poor, our lives are to be about Jesus! He is all that really matters!
(Join me in reading chapter 1 of James each day this week)
“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.” James 1:5-7 NIV
God is all-knowing. There isn’t any circumstance or situation where God is surprised and says, “Wow!! I didn’t see that coming!?!?” He knows our past. He knows our present. And He knows where He is taking us in the future!
Biblical wisdom is God’s knowledge taken into our hearts through His Word and then applied in our lives. When we are up against something that we are unsure of what to do, we need to ask God for His wisdom. God will give us the exact response we need through His Word and show us how to apply it by faith!
When we do ask and He speaks to us on how to apply the knowledge He has give us in His Word, we need to believe what He has spoken! If we waver on whether or not we will believe that His Word is true and that God is faithful to do what He says He will do, we will be “blown and tossed” by the winds of unbelief and fear. We won’t receive what God intended to give to us — His peace, His goodness, His faithfulness, etc. What we will receive is instability in our lives.
Our focus must be Knowing God intimately through His Word. Then He will enable us to apply His Word to each and every circumstance of our lives i.e. “walk in His wisdom.”
Ask for wisdom! Believe the Word! Live in stability and peace!
(Join me in reading chapter 1 of James each day this week)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV
Nothing is wasted in our lives. Trials and testing of our faith helps us to mature. In fact, it is what God uses to make us “complete, not lacking anything.”
Perseverance in the Greek is defined as “Endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for, cheerful endurance, constancy.”
My youngest son has spent quite a bit of time at the gym working on body building. He has told me that building muscle actually requires tearing of muscle fibers that is rebuilt by our bodies in a stronger form. Our spiritual muscles are similar. Testing of our faith through trials can produce a cheerful endurance because we know the end result will be a closer relationship with Jesus.
If you are going through a trial, God is always at work in it! You and I are meant to “consider it pure joy!” In the end our relationship with God will be stronger! Trials build “spiritual muscle” that we all need in order to “not {be} lacking anything.”
Your Love 