"As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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."
There are many in this world who argue that the Bible is archaic, culturally irrelevant, full of inaccuracies and contradictions, and simply a collection of fables and stories composed by mortal men. They cling to the argument that the Bible is full of errors regarding such events as creation and the flood, revolt at the thought it is inerrant and the inspired word of God, and argue emphatically that archaeology and science contradict its claims. Most notably, they struggle with the content of what the Bible says and universally question its validity and application (i.e. How can God be good if there is so much suffering, natural disasters and atrocities in the world? How are we all deemed sinners at birth and destined for hell? Why are we pressured and "forced" to accept Jesus as Savior as the only way to God when there are many other religious options available that point to God or guarantee afterlife?). It is imperative to understand that we all have personal theology and ideology we live by. Whether we believe God exists or not, believe Jesus is the only way or not, or assume all religions point to the same God or not, the truth is undeniable that we choose to believe one argument or another (and yes, indifference is a choice as well). What is most concerning in the Christian church though is how inconsistent we (who profess Christ as Savior) are when it comes to articulating what we individually define as true, and how the summary of those individual truths contradict one another collectively as the body of Christ.
I have read numerous articles and publications that list and detail numerous arguments against Christianity, the Bible, the existence of God, and deity of Christ. With great passion and animosity, they venomously seek to destroy any claim that God is who He says He is in the pages of Scripture, and that the Bible is truly the inspired Word of God and inerrant. It is striking how inflammatory those who oppose Biblical doctrine are based on arguments of science, archaeology, philosophy, logic, common sense, and spiritual enlightenment. Yet in all these dissertations, it is undeniably true that those who compose such writings are seeking to prove their personal theology and ideology through Biblical contradiction (typically through science or logic), influence others to adopt and accept similar thinking, and debunk any theories which oppose what they believe. Therefore, truth is relative and not absolute unless proven by science, mathematics, historical archaeology, etc. What is typically missed by most authors of Biblical opposition is that the defining essence of faith itself is believing in the unseen, miraculous, and indescribable. Faith presupposes that at times I cannot understand all that is written in God's Word nor the reasons why God does what He does, says what He says, or manipulates creation is all its various forms over time to adhere to His sovereign will, regardless of whether I personally believe it is just and fair. God simply transcends my human capacity to understand and comprehend who He is in His deity, and thus I am left with a choice to believe what I cannot explain or vehemently oppose it in favor of what I experience through my limited senses and mental capacity.
This is what James is communicating in verses 10-11 as he encourages his brethren to endure suffering with patience, knowing that God is in full control even when our lives appear to be spiraling downward with trials and tribulations. For at times, faith is the hardest choice we will make when logic compels our flesh to self-protect and trust ourselves more than (or in place of) God. Yes, we know we are fallible, but we feel more comfortable trusting in our deficiencies, faults and shortcomings because they are familiar and measurable, than the all-encompassing sovereignty of God we cannot truly comprehend or understand. And that is the common thread of most arguments made against evangelical Christians, Biblical doctrine, and the sovereignty of God--that we are ignorant and naive to believe in what we cannot explain or prove. We can assume Job struggled with such arguments as his life quickly spiraled into a melting pot of anguish, suffering and despair through the destruction of all he held dear in his life. God in His sovereignty ALLOWED and ORDAINED that Job be inflicted with atrocities that appear reprehensible and completely unjustified. God chose Job to be subjected to pain and suffering that would break the spirit of practically every man or woman who would submit to His will and authority, simply because Job was a righteous man above reproach. Therefore, how could Job be guilty of complaining even the slightest due to the hand he was dealt? Yet despite all God allowed Job to endure as a test of his faith, God REBUKED Job when the secular and worldly accountability of his friends tempted him to sinfully doubt God's sovereignty. But Job's emphatic rebuke was also clothed in compassion and mercy. For God restored to Job all he had lost from a worldly perspective and more--not because He had to in order to be fair and just, but because He chose to. "And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before...And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning" (Job 42:10,12).
The example of Job in context to all we have discussed is quite amazing and unfathomable, and would appear to support the claim that Christianity is illogical and a tactic used to brainwash people into believing God is good despite all the bad and evil that exists in the world. Moreover, it would assume that fear is used to subject people to adopt a theology and ideology that limits personal freedom and shackles man under the weight of rules and impending judgment to those who disobey its doctrine. Proponents of such beliefs have no qualm choosing to argue against Christianity under the banner of fairness and personal happiness, free will and independent thinking, yet they miss out on the treasure that awaits those who remain steadfast in the face of adversity that tests man's character and countenance. Make no mistake, the salvation road is as narrow a path as an any man or woman could ever choose to walk. It is filled with behavioral expectations and assumptions that undermine man's desire to live for and pleasure himself over others. But through obediently choosing to submit under the authority of Scripture which we cannot fully comprehend, and the sovereignty of God which we cannot truly understand, we are choosing faith over logic, trial and suffering over personal comfort and protection, just as the prophets of old exemplified in their submission and obedience to God before the birth of Christ.
Unlike the prophets of old though, we believe prophesy has been fulfilled through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11 describes in great detail those who once lived by faith without knowing what we know--that Christ came, saved, and continues to save those who place their personal faith in His gracious gift of salvation. They endured persecution and death, trusting by faith in prophesy that had not been fulfilled at that time. They chose to die for their faith because they believed what was foretold in the Scriptures. Fast-forward 2,000 years, and despite having the privilege of knowing Jesus Christ fulfilled OT prophesy and paved the way for mankind to be saved, more people skeptically doubt and disbelieve the Scriptures than in days of old. Why? If there is one consistent theme found in the Biblical rebuttals and opposing dissertations strewn across the Internet, books and publications, it would be the heart of man that is bent toward serving himself and unwilling to relent control over his life to God. His ability to believe and trust is limited to logic, reasoning and personal experience, and thus if it does not pass through a filter of skepticism and academia, it is false and disproved. In truth, Scripture would declare his heart as hardened and unable to receive divine revelation, because he is unwilling to accept what his mind can never fully comprehend nor the inexplicable miracles of God which defy logic and science. But that is the essence of faith, and indeed man has complete free will to choose whether he accepts the Bible or not--to remain steadfast in his faith that Scripture is true and God is real, or reject Christianity altogether for a doctrine of relative truth. "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
James 5:9 (Devotion)
"Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door."
Frustration comes to us all at times. When life appears to have dealt us a lousy hand, we tend to compare our lives with others and covet their prosperity. When calamity strikes with pain and suffering, we question God's sovereignty and whether He truly loves us. When persecution strikes a heavy blow against our psyche for defending God's Word, we begin to calculate whether silence is a better option than speaking truth in love. In any circumstance, James warns the church to guard against internal strife. In essence, he is saying, "Do not turn on one another, because we need one another's strength, encouragement and accountability to survive the tests and trials of life this side of heaven." In theory, this admonition is logical and straight-forward, but the application of its truth is a far greater challenge.
In times of trial, we often focus inward by self-protecting in order to limit the collateral damage produced by the situation testing us. It is natural, human instinct. If someone intends to hurt me, I put my guard up. However, Scripture offers completely opposite perspective to natural, human instinct. "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them" (Luke 6:27-31). The miraculous power found in the pages of God's Word is unlocked when we allow the Holy Spirit to intrinsically transform our hearts into instruments of love and compassion in the face of trial or persecution. But do not confuse this command either. Jesus does not constitute justification to allow abuse to persist in matters of domestic violence, etc. Rather, "The point of both examples is that, even though believers will often be subject to abuse or taken advantage of, they are to face such rejection differently from the world, that is, by being generous and compassionate rather than retaliating" (ESV Study Bible).
Why is this so critical to understand? Keep in mind that this exhortation is yet another example James gives in order to maintain unity and protect the body of Christ from allowing worldly, cultural ideology from infiltrating the church and causing division. Just because our culture acts a certain way, which is universally accepted as the norm, we are not to assume such behavior is righteous according to the Bible. We must sift our thoughts, attitudes and actions through the filter of Scripture to prove or disprove its validity as righteous behavior. No doubt, that is why the apostle Paul wrote, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2). Our world would obviously disagree to further progress independent thinking and self-reliance, but we know as Christians that in accepting the saving grace of Christ, we have relinquished control of our lives to God. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.' For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth" (Romans 1:16-18).
Therefore, as we seek to apply reverse psychology against our human instinct, let us remember that James is warning the church not to grumble because of the sufferings affecting them. He has pleaded with them to endure hardships with patience (v.7-8) by viewing their lives from God's perspective, and now he is addressing the attitudes of their hearts as they patiently wait. "For the coming of the Lord is at hand" (v.8) and "the Judge is standing at the door" (v.9). The key to understanding God's sovereignty is to remember who we are (creation) and who He is (Creator). The minute we begin to question the how's and why's of life, we position ourselves as authoritative over God and unfiltered in our demand for reasoning. We believe we deserve answers to our questions and God must comply, otherwise He is assumed as unloving for ignoring our "request" for understanding. As we examined previously, Job similarly found himself questioning the sovereignty of God as did his friends who counseled him in his sorrow and grief, but God did not ignore the sinful heart attitudes that compelled Job and his friends to question Him, but addressed Job twice over three chapters with profound words of judgment. "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me'" (Job 38:1-3).
The key takeaway from the Lord's response to Job that aids our understanding of James 5:9 is found in two questions God asks of Job: "Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?" (Job 40:8). "At the hands of his three friends, Job knew what it felt like to have what was hidden about him (e.g., the state of his heart before God) questioned and judged by those who had drawn wrong conclusions from what was visible in his circumstances. The Lord now questions Job for overextending his judgment of what his suffering meant about the Lord’s just governance of the world" (ESV Study Bible). What we learn from the example of Job is that God is sovereign and in control, regardless of the tests and trials we find ourselves in over time. For they are ordained by God to refine our character into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, that we would be holy and blameless on the day of judgment. Our sanctification is not intended to make our lives miserable and tempt us to grumble and complain, but those are methods of spiritual warfare that Satan uses to thwart the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Therefore, our response must be illogical according to human instinct and counter-cultural, because in order to endure suffering with patience, we must trust the promises of Scripture that comfort our hearts: "For the coming of the Lord is at hand" (v.8) and "the Judge is standing at the door" (v.9).
Frustration comes to us all at times. When life appears to have dealt us a lousy hand, we tend to compare our lives with others and covet their prosperity. When calamity strikes with pain and suffering, we question God's sovereignty and whether He truly loves us. When persecution strikes a heavy blow against our psyche for defending God's Word, we begin to calculate whether silence is a better option than speaking truth in love. In any circumstance, James warns the church to guard against internal strife. In essence, he is saying, "Do not turn on one another, because we need one another's strength, encouragement and accountability to survive the tests and trials of life this side of heaven." In theory, this admonition is logical and straight-forward, but the application of its truth is a far greater challenge.
In times of trial, we often focus inward by self-protecting in order to limit the collateral damage produced by the situation testing us. It is natural, human instinct. If someone intends to hurt me, I put my guard up. However, Scripture offers completely opposite perspective to natural, human instinct. "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them" (Luke 6:27-31). The miraculous power found in the pages of God's Word is unlocked when we allow the Holy Spirit to intrinsically transform our hearts into instruments of love and compassion in the face of trial or persecution. But do not confuse this command either. Jesus does not constitute justification to allow abuse to persist in matters of domestic violence, etc. Rather, "The point of both examples is that, even though believers will often be subject to abuse or taken advantage of, they are to face such rejection differently from the world, that is, by being generous and compassionate rather than retaliating" (ESV Study Bible).
Why is this so critical to understand? Keep in mind that this exhortation is yet another example James gives in order to maintain unity and protect the body of Christ from allowing worldly, cultural ideology from infiltrating the church and causing division. Just because our culture acts a certain way, which is universally accepted as the norm, we are not to assume such behavior is righteous according to the Bible. We must sift our thoughts, attitudes and actions through the filter of Scripture to prove or disprove its validity as righteous behavior. No doubt, that is why the apostle Paul wrote, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2). Our world would obviously disagree to further progress independent thinking and self-reliance, but we know as Christians that in accepting the saving grace of Christ, we have relinquished control of our lives to God. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.' For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth" (Romans 1:16-18).
Therefore, as we seek to apply reverse psychology against our human instinct, let us remember that James is warning the church not to grumble because of the sufferings affecting them. He has pleaded with them to endure hardships with patience (v.7-8) by viewing their lives from God's perspective, and now he is addressing the attitudes of their hearts as they patiently wait. "For the coming of the Lord is at hand" (v.8) and "the Judge is standing at the door" (v.9). The key to understanding God's sovereignty is to remember who we are (creation) and who He is (Creator). The minute we begin to question the how's and why's of life, we position ourselves as authoritative over God and unfiltered in our demand for reasoning. We believe we deserve answers to our questions and God must comply, otherwise He is assumed as unloving for ignoring our "request" for understanding. As we examined previously, Job similarly found himself questioning the sovereignty of God as did his friends who counseled him in his sorrow and grief, but God did not ignore the sinful heart attitudes that compelled Job and his friends to question Him, but addressed Job twice over three chapters with profound words of judgment. "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me'" (Job 38:1-3).
The key takeaway from the Lord's response to Job that aids our understanding of James 5:9 is found in two questions God asks of Job: "Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?" (Job 40:8). "At the hands of his three friends, Job knew what it felt like to have what was hidden about him (e.g., the state of his heart before God) questioned and judged by those who had drawn wrong conclusions from what was visible in his circumstances. The Lord now questions Job for overextending his judgment of what his suffering meant about the Lord’s just governance of the world" (ESV Study Bible). What we learn from the example of Job is that God is sovereign and in control, regardless of the tests and trials we find ourselves in over time. For they are ordained by God to refine our character into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, that we would be holy and blameless on the day of judgment. Our sanctification is not intended to make our lives miserable and tempt us to grumble and complain, but those are methods of spiritual warfare that Satan uses to thwart the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Therefore, our response must be illogical according to human instinct and counter-cultural, because in order to endure suffering with patience, we must trust the promises of Scripture that comfort our hearts: "For the coming of the Lord is at hand" (v.8) and "the Judge is standing at the door" (v.9).
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
James 5:7-8 (Devotion)
"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
"Patience is a virtue," is a common expression used today. It carries with it a sentiment of calm in the midst of pain, suffering and/or injustice. Patience perseveres while not being succumbed to anger or revenge. It is "the suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness" (Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary). Therefore, we should not avoid patience because of the varying degrees of suffering associated with it, but embrace it as a source of strength and fortitude that keeps us grounded in Biblical perspective when calamity strikes. We must recognize that patience is powerful because it trusts in the divine will of God, who is sovereign over all. It endures all things because it is rooted in the Spirit of God that produces a harvest of righteousness in those who trust in the name of Jesus. It is a fruit of the Spirit that blossoms from humble, obedient and submissive hearts to God's standard of righteousness. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, let us cast off our preconceived notions of the perils of patience that come at a great cost, and recognize the eternal value patience provides in the face of adversity.
Prior to this passage, James proclaimed great judgment from the Lord on those who trusted in their wealth over God and went to great lengths to prosper themselves in spite of others. Now, James comes full circle and addresses the afflicted who reaped the unjust consequences of the wealthy's actions. "The attention turns from rich to poor, from the evil oppressors to the righteous oppressed, from presumption to patience. Rather than fighting back, they are called to patient endurance and to trust in God to vindicate them" (ESV Study Bible). Keep in mind that James' example is not frozen in time and inapplicable today based on context, for what is written in Scripture endures the test and construct of time to speak truth to those of us who declare ourselves as born-again followers of Christ. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13). In other words, the wisdom James conveys regarding patience in suffering is just as applicable in timing, form and fashion as it has been for over 2,000 years.
The X factor in patience revolves around time. How long will we be required to endure the trials before us? When will our prayers of deliverance be answered? In truth, it is a matter of trust that God will provide according to His Word. As James illustrates, the farmer waits patiently for the harvest, trusting that God will pour forth "the early and the late rains (per the Palestinian climate), in which the autumn rains occur just after sowing and the spring rains just before harvest" (ESV Study Bible). The farmer believes God will deliver what he needs in order to survive, and patience is the tool he uses to survive the test of time until God pours forth His blessing. Subsequently, does that presuppose if patience were not exuded that God would not bring forth rains that the farmer needed? Absolutely not. But what patience does reflect is the deeper heart attitude that believes God to be holy and just, sovereign and long-suffering, despite our inability at times to trust him unconditionally without question or murmuring.
King David wrote, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalm 37:7). Our worry in times of trial, persecution, opposition, affliction, pain, suffering and/or injustice does not aid in us in any way. It only shackles our minds and baits us into thinking that God is not being fair or that we we need to step up and take control because God appears to be silent. In those moments, we must realize that patience is our provision, not our adversary. Patience gives us strength to endure, not reason to doubt the Lord. It is something we must welcome with open arms because we see patience as God sees it, from His sovereign perspective. It requires a radical shift in our hearts and minds, because typically, we run from "patience tests." We don't pray for patience because we assume God only provides patience in situations and scenarios where our comforts will be interrupted and trial will ensue. We lose sight of the fact that patience is something God has shown us every moment of our lives, to which we are forever indebted by His forgiveness, grace and mercy. That is why Peter sought to provide perspective on the topic of time and patience to the church when he wrote, "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:8-9).
When we relinquish our preconceived notions of what is fair in life and embrace patience, we trust that the Lord's coming is only a matter of time—His time. The circumstances around us may be dire, our souls weary, and our faith shaken, but God is true to His Word unconditionally. That is why James began his letter by saying, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). Patience is an integral component of survival here on earth, because we are a fallen generation bent on self-protection and self-sufficiency. We believe we can strong-arm God to act according to what we deem as fair, in our way and in our time so we can avoid trials and suffering. But what we reveal in those moments is that we doubt God's sovereignty, and lack the patience needed to endure the test of time. Therefore, we must stop and allow God's Word to wash over our hearts, reminding us who we are in Christ and the purpose for which we overcome the world through patience. "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4). Because simply stated, the coming of the Lord is at hand and we will give an account to God for decisions we've made this side of heaven.
"Patience is a virtue," is a common expression used today. It carries with it a sentiment of calm in the midst of pain, suffering and/or injustice. Patience perseveres while not being succumbed to anger or revenge. It is "the suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness" (Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary). Therefore, we should not avoid patience because of the varying degrees of suffering associated with it, but embrace it as a source of strength and fortitude that keeps us grounded in Biblical perspective when calamity strikes. We must recognize that patience is powerful because it trusts in the divine will of God, who is sovereign over all. It endures all things because it is rooted in the Spirit of God that produces a harvest of righteousness in those who trust in the name of Jesus. It is a fruit of the Spirit that blossoms from humble, obedient and submissive hearts to God's standard of righteousness. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, let us cast off our preconceived notions of the perils of patience that come at a great cost, and recognize the eternal value patience provides in the face of adversity.
Prior to this passage, James proclaimed great judgment from the Lord on those who trusted in their wealth over God and went to great lengths to prosper themselves in spite of others. Now, James comes full circle and addresses the afflicted who reaped the unjust consequences of the wealthy's actions. "The attention turns from rich to poor, from the evil oppressors to the righteous oppressed, from presumption to patience. Rather than fighting back, they are called to patient endurance and to trust in God to vindicate them" (ESV Study Bible). Keep in mind that James' example is not frozen in time and inapplicable today based on context, for what is written in Scripture endures the test and construct of time to speak truth to those of us who declare ourselves as born-again followers of Christ. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13). In other words, the wisdom James conveys regarding patience in suffering is just as applicable in timing, form and fashion as it has been for over 2,000 years.
The X factor in patience revolves around time. How long will we be required to endure the trials before us? When will our prayers of deliverance be answered? In truth, it is a matter of trust that God will provide according to His Word. As James illustrates, the farmer waits patiently for the harvest, trusting that God will pour forth "the early and the late rains (per the Palestinian climate), in which the autumn rains occur just after sowing and the spring rains just before harvest" (ESV Study Bible). The farmer believes God will deliver what he needs in order to survive, and patience is the tool he uses to survive the test of time until God pours forth His blessing. Subsequently, does that presuppose if patience were not exuded that God would not bring forth rains that the farmer needed? Absolutely not. But what patience does reflect is the deeper heart attitude that believes God to be holy and just, sovereign and long-suffering, despite our inability at times to trust him unconditionally without question or murmuring.
King David wrote, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalm 37:7). Our worry in times of trial, persecution, opposition, affliction, pain, suffering and/or injustice does not aid in us in any way. It only shackles our minds and baits us into thinking that God is not being fair or that we we need to step up and take control because God appears to be silent. In those moments, we must realize that patience is our provision, not our adversary. Patience gives us strength to endure, not reason to doubt the Lord. It is something we must welcome with open arms because we see patience as God sees it, from His sovereign perspective. It requires a radical shift in our hearts and minds, because typically, we run from "patience tests." We don't pray for patience because we assume God only provides patience in situations and scenarios where our comforts will be interrupted and trial will ensue. We lose sight of the fact that patience is something God has shown us every moment of our lives, to which we are forever indebted by His forgiveness, grace and mercy. That is why Peter sought to provide perspective on the topic of time and patience to the church when he wrote, "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:8-9).
When we relinquish our preconceived notions of what is fair in life and embrace patience, we trust that the Lord's coming is only a matter of time—His time. The circumstances around us may be dire, our souls weary, and our faith shaken, but God is true to His Word unconditionally. That is why James began his letter by saying, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). Patience is an integral component of survival here on earth, because we are a fallen generation bent on self-protection and self-sufficiency. We believe we can strong-arm God to act according to what we deem as fair, in our way and in our time so we can avoid trials and suffering. But what we reveal in those moments is that we doubt God's sovereignty, and lack the patience needed to endure the test of time. Therefore, we must stop and allow God's Word to wash over our hearts, reminding us who we are in Christ and the purpose for which we overcome the world through patience. "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4). Because simply stated, the coming of the Lord is at hand and we will give an account to God for decisions we've made this side of heaven.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
James 5:1-6 (Commentary)
"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you."
The topic of wealth in Scripture is frequently referenced in context of money and materialism through man's selfishness, covetousness, jealousy and envy. It is emphasized as a battle between good and evil, where our desire for comfort is magnified by how willing we are to give freely of our bountiful resources. It is convicting in whether we realize that what we have is not the work of our own hands, talents, abilities or successes, but only by the grace of God. It is elaborated upon by Jesus as an eternal discernment of what we constitute as our treasure. And it is revealing of our heart's posture as to whether we believe God at His Word by trusting in His provision over selfish gain. Make no mistake, this is a message directed not merely to the wealthy landowners of James' day who sought selfish gain no matter the cost and detriment to others along the way. This message is intended for us as well, because we have become lackadaisical and forgetful of how Scripture calls us to live as a faith community.
It is imperative we comprehend why James spent six verses unpacking this issue. At that time, class separation was prevalent and severe. Segregation existed economically in monetary wealth, religiously between Jews and Gentiles, and politically among people of various nationalities and ethnicity. Therefore, when James spoke of the rich, there was little confusion as to whom he was addressing or why he relayed God's prophetic message of judgment to those who achieved monetary wealth through questionable means and practices. Due to the intensity of James' proclamation, it is safe to assume that how the rich achieved their wealth was evident to all and worthy of severe judgment by God. The greater issue James seeks to convey though is how monetary wealth twists our hearts into a funnel of selfish comfort rather than a fountain of opportunity to bless others. Money has the power to enslave a man who trusts in the pleasures of this world over the provision of God, because it tempts us to see money as compensation for what we have accomplished in and of ourselves. We lose sight that everything we have, even the air we breathe that allows us to live each day, is a gift from God that He has the power to give or take away.
The beauty of Scripture is that God gives us examples of sin and righteousness as it relates to our perspective on money. For example, "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1:1). Job had immense wealth in his day and was tested by Satan (with the Lord's consent) through means of catastrophically destroying all his earthly possessions and children. Such calamity would surely cause Job to curse God, Satan proposed, because man will self-protect before he trusts in the sovereignty of God when all he has is taken from him. But Scripture cites a different response: "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong" (Job 1:20-22). What we witness by Job's example is that our wealth is NOT a result of ourselves, but is graciously given by God and taken away if He so chooses. Yet the truth remains that we struggle mightily with understanding how we could possibly praise and worship God when all we materialistically have is stripped away, leaving us with nothing. Logically-speaking, it does not add up. How can we be better off and God be glorified when devastation comes and takes all we have?
Jesus provides clarity in the face of such questions and uncertainty in these matters. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). If we trust in earthly treasures, we lose sight of the priceless value of spiritual contentment found only in the grace and mercy of God. Such peace is unparalleled, for it is not defined by monetary value. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:44-46). Therefore, let us recognize that if we measure wealth according to this world, we will not comprehend the invaluable wisdom of Scripture and sovereignty of God that transcends all understanding, especially when it does not logically make sense to us. Rather, let us learn from Job's example and abandon our worldly perspective of wealth with true, righteous behavior that is refined by the fiery trials of life and revealed by our trust in God's sovereignty and provision.
Conversely, Scripture provides powerful examples where selfish gain and monetary wealth draws our hearts away from God through self-inflicted judgment. "But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God'" (Acts 5:1-4). This example comes in the midst of the church's beginning, where thousands were coming to faith in Jesus Christ and the apostles were teaching and creating a new community of faith where wealth was communally shared among all those who had need. Yet even in the midst of the church itself, selfishness can corrupt and undermine the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of those who profess faith in Jesus. Ananias and Sapphira sought to obey the apostles' teaching by giving of their resources. In truth, their gift had immense monetary value and superficially manipulated others to believe they were holy and righteous, yet God not only called out their selfishness even in the midst of their tithe, but cast immediate judgment on them based on the condition of their hearts. Their greed, coupled with a lack of trust in God's provision, caused them to self-protect; and in the end, cost them their lives.
According to Jesus, "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Luke 16:13). The issue here is not money itself, but the condition of our hearts toward God. Money is simply a means of God's provision to meet our primary needs of food, water, shelter and clothing. It's primary purpose is not to pad our discretionary spending in order to perpetuate laziness in us (Luke 12:13-21), but an opportunity to share the bounty of God's blessing with others. Bottom-line: If our allegiance to God is universal in our lives, then our possessions are not of little concern to us, but NO concern to us. Anxiety is nothing more than a wedge Satan uses to separate our fellowship with God and drive our focus on self-sufficiency, but Jesus reminds us by saying, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26). God always has our best interest in mind. Therefore, our focus must shift from monetary wealth to spiritual wealth that stands the test of time and does not fade away.
Possessing monetary wealth is not sinful in any way, unless inappropriate means were used to gain such wealth as James pointedly addresses. It is a discretionary decision of God's alone to deem one person economically wealthy versus another. What is universal though is the opportunity for spiritual wealth that is immeasurable and readily available to every man, woman and child who accepts God's free gift of salvation. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). God does not hold back his bounty of spiritual blessing and wisdom, but we must be clear we are not intermixing false prosperity doctrine in our hearts and churches which elevates monetary wealth as the spiritual thermometer of faithfulness and righteous living. Such theology is as anti-Biblical as any in the church today. Contrary to many false teachers, God's mission is not to make us healthy and wealthy. We are promised no such thing in the pages of Scripture. Rather, Scripture is rich with clarity and perspective regarding what the Father's will truly is (i.e. the Gospel of John), and that is eternal life for those of us who accept the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as payment for our sins.
But that decision also comes with an acknowledgment of the cost associated with identity in Christ. "Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours" (John 15:20). Those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior can be sure that trial, adversity and persecution will come (which contradicts prosperity doctrine), because Jesus endured them for who He was and promised the same treatment for His followers. But in the end, love has the power to break strongholds as we personally let go of what the world deems as treasure; not being enslaved by monetary wealth but using it as a means to spread the Gospel of salvation throughout the world despite opposition. The key is surrender at the deepest heart level. And the quicker we sift our lives of the false doctrine of prosperity and realize that wealth is meaningless in the sight of God, we will free ourselves from spiritual bondage and begin serving God with fresh perspective and giving hearts.
King Solomon wrote, "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 5:10), because riches apart from God only bring calamity and judgment. James emphasized that point with great passion, in order that we recognize our heart's allegiance to either God or money. We cannot continue to be enslaved by the pleasures of this world which drive our insatiable appetite for wealth. Rather, we must be wise and prioritize provisional protection for our families above all else, but the manner in which we earn our living and the drive for power, status and success cannot undermine that priority. "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Bottom-line, when we pass from this earth and stand before the judgment seat, will God sift our hearts and find open hands or clenched fists? Will our lives be identified by selfish gain or spiritual prosperity? Will we be judged as givers or takers? For how we live this side of heaven will identify what level of stronghold we have made in our hearts regarding monetary wealth. Therefore, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5).
The topic of wealth in Scripture is frequently referenced in context of money and materialism through man's selfishness, covetousness, jealousy and envy. It is emphasized as a battle between good and evil, where our desire for comfort is magnified by how willing we are to give freely of our bountiful resources. It is convicting in whether we realize that what we have is not the work of our own hands, talents, abilities or successes, but only by the grace of God. It is elaborated upon by Jesus as an eternal discernment of what we constitute as our treasure. And it is revealing of our heart's posture as to whether we believe God at His Word by trusting in His provision over selfish gain. Make no mistake, this is a message directed not merely to the wealthy landowners of James' day who sought selfish gain no matter the cost and detriment to others along the way. This message is intended for us as well, because we have become lackadaisical and forgetful of how Scripture calls us to live as a faith community.
It is imperative we comprehend why James spent six verses unpacking this issue. At that time, class separation was prevalent and severe. Segregation existed economically in monetary wealth, religiously between Jews and Gentiles, and politically among people of various nationalities and ethnicity. Therefore, when James spoke of the rich, there was little confusion as to whom he was addressing or why he relayed God's prophetic message of judgment to those who achieved monetary wealth through questionable means and practices. Due to the intensity of James' proclamation, it is safe to assume that how the rich achieved their wealth was evident to all and worthy of severe judgment by God. The greater issue James seeks to convey though is how monetary wealth twists our hearts into a funnel of selfish comfort rather than a fountain of opportunity to bless others. Money has the power to enslave a man who trusts in the pleasures of this world over the provision of God, because it tempts us to see money as compensation for what we have accomplished in and of ourselves. We lose sight that everything we have, even the air we breathe that allows us to live each day, is a gift from God that He has the power to give or take away.
The beauty of Scripture is that God gives us examples of sin and righteousness as it relates to our perspective on money. For example, "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1:1). Job had immense wealth in his day and was tested by Satan (with the Lord's consent) through means of catastrophically destroying all his earthly possessions and children. Such calamity would surely cause Job to curse God, Satan proposed, because man will self-protect before he trusts in the sovereignty of God when all he has is taken from him. But Scripture cites a different response: "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong" (Job 1:20-22). What we witness by Job's example is that our wealth is NOT a result of ourselves, but is graciously given by God and taken away if He so chooses. Yet the truth remains that we struggle mightily with understanding how we could possibly praise and worship God when all we materialistically have is stripped away, leaving us with nothing. Logically-speaking, it does not add up. How can we be better off and God be glorified when devastation comes and takes all we have?
Jesus provides clarity in the face of such questions and uncertainty in these matters. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). If we trust in earthly treasures, we lose sight of the priceless value of spiritual contentment found only in the grace and mercy of God. Such peace is unparalleled, for it is not defined by monetary value. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:44-46). Therefore, let us recognize that if we measure wealth according to this world, we will not comprehend the invaluable wisdom of Scripture and sovereignty of God that transcends all understanding, especially when it does not logically make sense to us. Rather, let us learn from Job's example and abandon our worldly perspective of wealth with true, righteous behavior that is refined by the fiery trials of life and revealed by our trust in God's sovereignty and provision.
Conversely, Scripture provides powerful examples where selfish gain and monetary wealth draws our hearts away from God through self-inflicted judgment. "But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God'" (Acts 5:1-4). This example comes in the midst of the church's beginning, where thousands were coming to faith in Jesus Christ and the apostles were teaching and creating a new community of faith where wealth was communally shared among all those who had need. Yet even in the midst of the church itself, selfishness can corrupt and undermine the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of those who profess faith in Jesus. Ananias and Sapphira sought to obey the apostles' teaching by giving of their resources. In truth, their gift had immense monetary value and superficially manipulated others to believe they were holy and righteous, yet God not only called out their selfishness even in the midst of their tithe, but cast immediate judgment on them based on the condition of their hearts. Their greed, coupled with a lack of trust in God's provision, caused them to self-protect; and in the end, cost them their lives.
According to Jesus, "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Luke 16:13). The issue here is not money itself, but the condition of our hearts toward God. Money is simply a means of God's provision to meet our primary needs of food, water, shelter and clothing. It's primary purpose is not to pad our discretionary spending in order to perpetuate laziness in us (Luke 12:13-21), but an opportunity to share the bounty of God's blessing with others. Bottom-line: If our allegiance to God is universal in our lives, then our possessions are not of little concern to us, but NO concern to us. Anxiety is nothing more than a wedge Satan uses to separate our fellowship with God and drive our focus on self-sufficiency, but Jesus reminds us by saying, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26). God always has our best interest in mind. Therefore, our focus must shift from monetary wealth to spiritual wealth that stands the test of time and does not fade away.
Possessing monetary wealth is not sinful in any way, unless inappropriate means were used to gain such wealth as James pointedly addresses. It is a discretionary decision of God's alone to deem one person economically wealthy versus another. What is universal though is the opportunity for spiritual wealth that is immeasurable and readily available to every man, woman and child who accepts God's free gift of salvation. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). God does not hold back his bounty of spiritual blessing and wisdom, but we must be clear we are not intermixing false prosperity doctrine in our hearts and churches which elevates monetary wealth as the spiritual thermometer of faithfulness and righteous living. Such theology is as anti-Biblical as any in the church today. Contrary to many false teachers, God's mission is not to make us healthy and wealthy. We are promised no such thing in the pages of Scripture. Rather, Scripture is rich with clarity and perspective regarding what the Father's will truly is (i.e. the Gospel of John), and that is eternal life for those of us who accept the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as payment for our sins.
But that decision also comes with an acknowledgment of the cost associated with identity in Christ. "Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours" (John 15:20). Those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior can be sure that trial, adversity and persecution will come (which contradicts prosperity doctrine), because Jesus endured them for who He was and promised the same treatment for His followers. But in the end, love has the power to break strongholds as we personally let go of what the world deems as treasure; not being enslaved by monetary wealth but using it as a means to spread the Gospel of salvation throughout the world despite opposition. The key is surrender at the deepest heart level. And the quicker we sift our lives of the false doctrine of prosperity and realize that wealth is meaningless in the sight of God, we will free ourselves from spiritual bondage and begin serving God with fresh perspective and giving hearts.
King Solomon wrote, "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 5:10), because riches apart from God only bring calamity and judgment. James emphasized that point with great passion, in order that we recognize our heart's allegiance to either God or money. We cannot continue to be enslaved by the pleasures of this world which drive our insatiable appetite for wealth. Rather, we must be wise and prioritize provisional protection for our families above all else, but the manner in which we earn our living and the drive for power, status and success cannot undermine that priority. "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Bottom-line, when we pass from this earth and stand before the judgment seat, will God sift our hearts and find open hands or clenched fists? Will our lives be identified by selfish gain or spiritual prosperity? Will we be judged as givers or takers? For how we live this side of heaven will identify what level of stronghold we have made in our hearts regarding monetary wealth. Therefore, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5).
Friday, October 30, 2015
James 4:17 (Devotion)
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
Fear is paralyzing the church of Jesus Christ: Fear of the Spirit's conviction, fear of having to change, fear of persecution, fear of submission, fear of surrendering our will to God, fear of owning our sins, fear of confessing our sins to others, fear of losing control, etc. But if there is one fear that is most pressing today, it would be fear of standing up for the infallibility of Scripture as absolute truth despite cultural opposition, and obeying what it says in humble application. As Christians, we believe God's Word is inerrant (incapable of being wrong), and as such it is our only foundation of absolute truth and standard of righteousness. We believe Scripture is not conditionally based on time, but is culturally relevant today as it has been for over 2,000 years since it was first penned. It does not contradict itself in any way, but is historically, scientifically and archaeologically accurate. Most of all, we trust that the Bible is not just a book of words, but absolute truth spoken from the mouth of almighty God, through the person of Jesus Christ, and inspired by the Holy Spirit to men, chosen by God to relay His Word in written form. The Bible is simply God's perfect wisdom, manifested in law and love.
It is important we establish how Scripture is the foundation of Christianity. For Jesus warned, "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void" (Luke 16:17). In other words, we cannot assume that anything written in Scripture is void because of the era in which it exists, nor is Old Testament (OT) law deemed irrelevant because of New Testament revelation. OT law reflects God's character, which is always true despite how difficult it may be to understand or comprehend at times. More importantly, Jesus came to fulfill OT law and clarify the truth and wisdom God revealed in days of old to help us apply righteousness in every facet of our lives today. The interesting fact is that we tend to forget how blessed we are to witness OT prophesy fulfilled in the life of Christ. That is a privilege we have that God's people in the Old Testament did not--knowing Jesus took on human form to fulfill God's will of eternal salvation as promised through OT prophesies.
James presupposes in verse 17 that we not only believe and trust the Word of God, but know to apply its truth. It echoes all of James' earlier exhortation that faith without works is dead, because our works testify to the truth of God's Word alive in our hearts. Therefore, we cannot simply believe Scripture is true without personal application, for that was the predominate mistake the Pharisees made that Jesus emphatically rebuked time and time again. God's Word demands action and application, just as Jesus expressed when He cautioned, "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more" (Luke 12:48b). If we believe and accept Christ's gift of salvation, then we must understand the package-deal that comes with that offer: Surrender of our will to God's authority, obedience to God's will as revealed in Holy Scripture, and submission to apply what Scripture declares as truth unconditionally and without hesitation. Make no mistake, there is a cost associated with salvation, and it was paid for by Jesus on our behalf. Our response is simply to accept that gift in reverence and humility, and in thanksgiving offer our lives as a sacrifice unto Christ to live under His authority as revealed in His Word, regardless of the cost. It is the "cost" though that fuels the fear that is stifling the church from accomplishing all God intends.
The Bible testifies that "whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked" (1 John 2:4-6). This is a powerful statement of the Spirit's conviction in the heart of every man, woman and child who calls on the name of Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. No one can read what John has written and not comprehend how we are expected to live. Yet for many of us, we bristle at the notion that we are liars and the truth of God is not in us if we do not keep His commandments. We do not want to admit how often we choose to walk in darkness, not because we believe that is the right course of action, but because it requires no effort to change and is comfortable and predictable. Truthfully speaking, our laziness feeds our fears and paralyzes us from embracing the light of God's Word to free us from our bondage. Because Scripture states plainly, "If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:6-9).
The point John makes simply echoes the words of James. We know the right things to do. We have seen the light. But simply avoiding bad choices is not enough. We must also obey God's Word and not avoid doing the right things by committing sins of omission. It may require us to endure pain and hardship, but again James has already encouraged us by saying, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). The important thing we must remember is that just as we are identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, so too are we identified in persecution for His name's sake and the truth of His Word. "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19). I pray we never lose sight of this truth. Because when the time comes to face our fears, we can reflect upon the promises of God as our source of strength and obediently live out the truth of the Gospel with boldness and love to the glory of His name.
Fear is paralyzing the church of Jesus Christ: Fear of the Spirit's conviction, fear of having to change, fear of persecution, fear of submission, fear of surrendering our will to God, fear of owning our sins, fear of confessing our sins to others, fear of losing control, etc. But if there is one fear that is most pressing today, it would be fear of standing up for the infallibility of Scripture as absolute truth despite cultural opposition, and obeying what it says in humble application. As Christians, we believe God's Word is inerrant (incapable of being wrong), and as such it is our only foundation of absolute truth and standard of righteousness. We believe Scripture is not conditionally based on time, but is culturally relevant today as it has been for over 2,000 years since it was first penned. It does not contradict itself in any way, but is historically, scientifically and archaeologically accurate. Most of all, we trust that the Bible is not just a book of words, but absolute truth spoken from the mouth of almighty God, through the person of Jesus Christ, and inspired by the Holy Spirit to men, chosen by God to relay His Word in written form. The Bible is simply God's perfect wisdom, manifested in law and love.
It is important we establish how Scripture is the foundation of Christianity. For Jesus warned, "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void" (Luke 16:17). In other words, we cannot assume that anything written in Scripture is void because of the era in which it exists, nor is Old Testament (OT) law deemed irrelevant because of New Testament revelation. OT law reflects God's character, which is always true despite how difficult it may be to understand or comprehend at times. More importantly, Jesus came to fulfill OT law and clarify the truth and wisdom God revealed in days of old to help us apply righteousness in every facet of our lives today. The interesting fact is that we tend to forget how blessed we are to witness OT prophesy fulfilled in the life of Christ. That is a privilege we have that God's people in the Old Testament did not--knowing Jesus took on human form to fulfill God's will of eternal salvation as promised through OT prophesies.
James presupposes in verse 17 that we not only believe and trust the Word of God, but know to apply its truth. It echoes all of James' earlier exhortation that faith without works is dead, because our works testify to the truth of God's Word alive in our hearts. Therefore, we cannot simply believe Scripture is true without personal application, for that was the predominate mistake the Pharisees made that Jesus emphatically rebuked time and time again. God's Word demands action and application, just as Jesus expressed when He cautioned, "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more" (Luke 12:48b). If we believe and accept Christ's gift of salvation, then we must understand the package-deal that comes with that offer: Surrender of our will to God's authority, obedience to God's will as revealed in Holy Scripture, and submission to apply what Scripture declares as truth unconditionally and without hesitation. Make no mistake, there is a cost associated with salvation, and it was paid for by Jesus on our behalf. Our response is simply to accept that gift in reverence and humility, and in thanksgiving offer our lives as a sacrifice unto Christ to live under His authority as revealed in His Word, regardless of the cost. It is the "cost" though that fuels the fear that is stifling the church from accomplishing all God intends.
The Bible testifies that "whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked" (1 John 2:4-6). This is a powerful statement of the Spirit's conviction in the heart of every man, woman and child who calls on the name of Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. No one can read what John has written and not comprehend how we are expected to live. Yet for many of us, we bristle at the notion that we are liars and the truth of God is not in us if we do not keep His commandments. We do not want to admit how often we choose to walk in darkness, not because we believe that is the right course of action, but because it requires no effort to change and is comfortable and predictable. Truthfully speaking, our laziness feeds our fears and paralyzes us from embracing the light of God's Word to free us from our bondage. Because Scripture states plainly, "If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:6-9).
The point John makes simply echoes the words of James. We know the right things to do. We have seen the light. But simply avoiding bad choices is not enough. We must also obey God's Word and not avoid doing the right things by committing sins of omission. It may require us to endure pain and hardship, but again James has already encouraged us by saying, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). The important thing we must remember is that just as we are identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, so too are we identified in persecution for His name's sake and the truth of His Word. "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19). I pray we never lose sight of this truth. Because when the time comes to face our fears, we can reflect upon the promises of God as our source of strength and obediently live out the truth of the Gospel with boldness and love to the glory of His name.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
James 4:15-16 (Devotion)
"Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil."
These verses continue James' admonition to the church that boasting about tomorrow is not only futile, but presumptuous and arrogant in the sight of God. We are not deities. We do not have the power to see the future with absolute certainty. It is only because of God that what we do know comes from the pages of Scripture, which illuminates our minds to His supreme sovereignty and majesty. For He does not reveal Himself with no purpose in mind, but relays His will through His Word for His glory and our sanctification. Therefore, we are most assuredly without excuse because we have access to His will every moment of our lives here on earth through the pages of inerrant Scripture.
James' statement, "If the Lord wills," should compel us to examine how often we seek the will of the Father. Typically, we rely on our own capacities and judgment in the face of decision and discernment. We fail to FIRST go to the Lord in prayer, seeking His wisdom that we may live righteously and in communion with His will. Instead, prayer tends to come into the equation AFTER we make a decision and begin reaping the consequences, or we are so stricken with indecision that we finally cry out to God in frustration and desperation. Why? In truth, it is an issue of priority. And we are foolish to assume we are prioritizing God in all facets of our lives when our insatiable appetite for control hinders what the Holy Spirit seeks to accomplish in our hearts when we do relinquish our will for the Father's. Therefore, we must answer one all-encompassing question, "What is His will?"
If we consider God's will in terms of obeying His commandments, then our Lord answers this question specifically: "Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29-31). But if we discern God's will from a salvation perspective, Jesus affirms, "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:40). In either case, when we stop and reflect, our purpose and mission in the time we have been given to live on this earth is always one of time and priority. We can easily and introspectively filter our hearts by the grace and mercy of almighty God through the power of His Word by asking ourselves the following questions:
Surrendering our will comes with a cost. We all know that, and honestly that is what drives our hesitancy and indecision to relinquish control to God in all circumstances. For we are creatures of comfort, wired to self-protect when trials come according to the Father's will. We struggle to embrace pain and suffering, and avoid persecution at all costs. But that is where the power of God's Word reminds us that we are not alone, because Jesus modeled obedience to the Father's will above selfish desires. Even in the moments prior to accepting His fate, Jesus could have escaped. Rather, He chose to submit, obey and surrender His will for what the Father prioritized as most important, even His own death for the salvation of mankind. "And he said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will'" (Mark 14:36). Therefore, let us not cower in fear but embrace the cross of Calvary by the power of God's Word as our ultimate authority, in all circumstances and at all times, because He is worthy to be praised for what He has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
These verses continue James' admonition to the church that boasting about tomorrow is not only futile, but presumptuous and arrogant in the sight of God. We are not deities. We do not have the power to see the future with absolute certainty. It is only because of God that what we do know comes from the pages of Scripture, which illuminates our minds to His supreme sovereignty and majesty. For He does not reveal Himself with no purpose in mind, but relays His will through His Word for His glory and our sanctification. Therefore, we are most assuredly without excuse because we have access to His will every moment of our lives here on earth through the pages of inerrant Scripture.
James' statement, "If the Lord wills," should compel us to examine how often we seek the will of the Father. Typically, we rely on our own capacities and judgment in the face of decision and discernment. We fail to FIRST go to the Lord in prayer, seeking His wisdom that we may live righteously and in communion with His will. Instead, prayer tends to come into the equation AFTER we make a decision and begin reaping the consequences, or we are so stricken with indecision that we finally cry out to God in frustration and desperation. Why? In truth, it is an issue of priority. And we are foolish to assume we are prioritizing God in all facets of our lives when our insatiable appetite for control hinders what the Holy Spirit seeks to accomplish in our hearts when we do relinquish our will for the Father's. Therefore, we must answer one all-encompassing question, "What is His will?"
If we consider God's will in terms of obeying His commandments, then our Lord answers this question specifically: "Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29-31). But if we discern God's will from a salvation perspective, Jesus affirms, "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:40). In either case, when we stop and reflect, our purpose and mission in the time we have been given to live on this earth is always one of time and priority. We can easily and introspectively filter our hearts by the grace and mercy of almighty God through the power of His Word by asking ourselves the following questions:
- Who do I prioritize? God or myself?
- What do I prioritize? God's will (irregardless of the cost), or my (calculated and comfortable) selfish will?
- When do I prioritize? At all times, when it's convenient, or when it's my last resort?
- Where do I prioritize? Are all areas of my heart open to the Spirit's conviction, or is my heart compartmentalized to only allow the Spirit access to certain areas of my life?
- How do I prioritize? In prayer to God, or by self-reliance, logic, emotions, and/or personal experiences?
- Why do I prioritize? To glorify God, or to satisfy my selfish desires above all others?
Surrendering our will comes with a cost. We all know that, and honestly that is what drives our hesitancy and indecision to relinquish control to God in all circumstances. For we are creatures of comfort, wired to self-protect when trials come according to the Father's will. We struggle to embrace pain and suffering, and avoid persecution at all costs. But that is where the power of God's Word reminds us that we are not alone, because Jesus modeled obedience to the Father's will above selfish desires. Even in the moments prior to accepting His fate, Jesus could have escaped. Rather, He chose to submit, obey and surrender His will for what the Father prioritized as most important, even His own death for the salvation of mankind. "And he said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will'" (Mark 14:36). Therefore, let us not cower in fear but embrace the cross of Calvary by the power of God's Word as our ultimate authority, in all circumstances and at all times, because He is worthy to be praised for what He has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
James 4:13-14 (Devotion)
"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
It is easy at times to fall into a habit of presumption. We presume we know more than we do. We presume we can predict the future. We presume to know what others are thinking. We presume to think we have some semblance of control in our lives. While there may be a degree of truth to each of these statements, the overlying point James makes is that we cannot arrogantly presume to know anything apart from the providential control of God Almighty. There is nothing wrong with planning or investing for the future. In truth, that is a wise decision. But if our presumptions become ammunition to boast about what we have, what we know, or who we are, we have fallen victim to leaning more on self-confidence than Scriptural truth.
James asks an extremely introspective question so that we might pause and look at our lives from God's perspective. For when we do wrestle with the question, "What is your life?" we begin to understand that time goes by very quickly and moments in time reflect specific purposes. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). God has anointed our lives with purpose that His will shall be done in us and through us at the moment He ordains for our sanctification and His glory. That is why boasting about tomorrow is futile. We cannot predict what tomorrow will bring, so let us walk in a manner that reflects that truth lest we become prideful and arrogant.
According to many commentaries, the primary audience James addresses in his example is wealthy, merchant Christians (i.e. those who have the means with which to plan and invest). Why would this be such a great concern though that James would need to address it? It could be related to the sermon on the mount where Jesus cautioned, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24). That would certainly give testimony to James emphasizing the role money plays in discerning to whom or what a man worships. Or perhaps James is indirectly touching on the role anxiety plays in our minds concerning the future (Ex: Have we saved enough for retirement, college tuition, or the future weddings of our children?) In this instance, Jesus would admonish us saying, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). It may also be true that James is echoing Jesus' parable of the rich fool, who boasted in the plentiful harvest of his land and chose to tear down his storehouses to build bigger ones that he might relax, eat, drink and be merry for years to come. "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:20-21). In either case, idolatry, worship, anxiety or laziness can all lead to self-reliance where God is no longer our all-encompassing sufficiency, but our secondary fall-back in times of want and need.
When we begin to realize how momentary our lives are, so as to be compared to a mist that temporarily appears and then vanishes, our countenance changes. We begin to understand as John the Baptist did that "He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). We realize that time is is a precious gift to be appreciated here and now. Relationships become more valuable than worldly possessions, serving others trumps selfish desires, and living for personal glory is meaningless compared to the abundant provision of the Spirit's sufficiency. When coupled with perspective, time helps us realize how insignificant we are compared to the power and majesty of God. It destroys our stronghold of self-confidence that produces arrogant boasting because it is stripped of its false identity. Temporal satisfaction is exposed by the eternal Word of truth, Jesus Christ, and we are forced in that moment to acknowledge that our plans and presumptions of tomorrow are not consistent with God's Word.
In the end, we cannot assume we ultimately control time, events, and their outcome, nor allow any idol to be the object of our worship. We can certainly plan, hope and pray that God's will be done in any circumstance or situation we encounter, but the result may not be how we presume, assume or expect. The key is to relinquish control to God's sovereignty by abandoning our self-confidence and embracing humility over arrogance, for time is not subject to our rule and authority and we are not guaranteed each day's 24-hours if God so chooses. Therefore, we have no room to boast in ourselves but trust in the Holy Spirit. For "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25), obeying the direction and trajectory God wills rather than presuming we know what the future holds. Perhaps then we will embrace the moments in time we are given as opportunities to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), rather than being arrogant in our abilities or presumptuous of what we think we know.
It is easy at times to fall into a habit of presumption. We presume we know more than we do. We presume we can predict the future. We presume to know what others are thinking. We presume to think we have some semblance of control in our lives. While there may be a degree of truth to each of these statements, the overlying point James makes is that we cannot arrogantly presume to know anything apart from the providential control of God Almighty. There is nothing wrong with planning or investing for the future. In truth, that is a wise decision. But if our presumptions become ammunition to boast about what we have, what we know, or who we are, we have fallen victim to leaning more on self-confidence than Scriptural truth.
James asks an extremely introspective question so that we might pause and look at our lives from God's perspective. For when we do wrestle with the question, "What is your life?" we begin to understand that time goes by very quickly and moments in time reflect specific purposes. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). God has anointed our lives with purpose that His will shall be done in us and through us at the moment He ordains for our sanctification and His glory. That is why boasting about tomorrow is futile. We cannot predict what tomorrow will bring, so let us walk in a manner that reflects that truth lest we become prideful and arrogant.
According to many commentaries, the primary audience James addresses in his example is wealthy, merchant Christians (i.e. those who have the means with which to plan and invest). Why would this be such a great concern though that James would need to address it? It could be related to the sermon on the mount where Jesus cautioned, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24). That would certainly give testimony to James emphasizing the role money plays in discerning to whom or what a man worships. Or perhaps James is indirectly touching on the role anxiety plays in our minds concerning the future (Ex: Have we saved enough for retirement, college tuition, or the future weddings of our children?) In this instance, Jesus would admonish us saying, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). It may also be true that James is echoing Jesus' parable of the rich fool, who boasted in the plentiful harvest of his land and chose to tear down his storehouses to build bigger ones that he might relax, eat, drink and be merry for years to come. "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:20-21). In either case, idolatry, worship, anxiety or laziness can all lead to self-reliance where God is no longer our all-encompassing sufficiency, but our secondary fall-back in times of want and need.
When we begin to realize how momentary our lives are, so as to be compared to a mist that temporarily appears and then vanishes, our countenance changes. We begin to understand as John the Baptist did that "He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). We realize that time is is a precious gift to be appreciated here and now. Relationships become more valuable than worldly possessions, serving others trumps selfish desires, and living for personal glory is meaningless compared to the abundant provision of the Spirit's sufficiency. When coupled with perspective, time helps us realize how insignificant we are compared to the power and majesty of God. It destroys our stronghold of self-confidence that produces arrogant boasting because it is stripped of its false identity. Temporal satisfaction is exposed by the eternal Word of truth, Jesus Christ, and we are forced in that moment to acknowledge that our plans and presumptions of tomorrow are not consistent with God's Word.
In the end, we cannot assume we ultimately control time, events, and their outcome, nor allow any idol to be the object of our worship. We can certainly plan, hope and pray that God's will be done in any circumstance or situation we encounter, but the result may not be how we presume, assume or expect. The key is to relinquish control to God's sovereignty by abandoning our self-confidence and embracing humility over arrogance, for time is not subject to our rule and authority and we are not guaranteed each day's 24-hours if God so chooses. Therefore, we have no room to boast in ourselves but trust in the Holy Spirit. For "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25), obeying the direction and trajectory God wills rather than presuming we know what the future holds. Perhaps then we will embrace the moments in time we are given as opportunities to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), rather than being arrogant in our abilities or presumptuous of what we think we know.
Friday, October 16, 2015
James 4:11-12 (Devotion)
"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?"
"Don't judge me!" is a popular phrase in our culture today. Used often in self-defense, it warns us who are casting judgment or misinterpreted as appearing to be, that we are to cease and desist immediately. The role of judge is not ours, therefore who are we to judge others? We are just as sinful as those we fairly or unjustly accuse as guilty before God, are we not? Why do we believe we have the right to act as judge and jury over one another in the body of Christ? We must remember that James is addressing the church in this passage. He is not focused on judging others who do not share the same theology, for how can we hold non-believers accountable if their standard of righteousness is not our shared belief? Their judgment is one that God alone will administer because they have rejected His Word completely. But is it not fair to apply the same logic as it pertains to our fellow brethren? Is not God the only judge and jury we must answer to as Christ-followers? The answer is simple: Yes.
The prophet Isaiah stated plainly, "For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us" (Isaiah 33:22). God is ultimately the one who every man, woman and child will be required to give an account on the day of judgment when we pass from this earth and take our permanent residency in heaven or hell. Not everyone in our world believes that truth, but we who trust Holy Scripture as absolute and inerrant believe that the choices we make here on earth echo an eternity. That means we are held accountable to apply the wisdom found in God's Word with an expectancy of judgment if we fail to live up to the standard we hold as our theology. It is not complicated to understand. If we believe we are saved by grace through the shed blood of Jesus, then we accept God's Word is true. And in order that our faith not be discredited, that which is written alongside such truth pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be held in the same regard as inerrant and true.
It is imperative we firmly establish what we believe because it directly impacts how we interpret James 4:11-12. For if we believe God's Word is true, then as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ we must reconcile our misunderstanding regarding the issue of judging others. James states clearly that he is concerned with the evil that believers speak against one another. What he called out previously as vices of division within the church (jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting, pride, etc) have come to fruition in the form of evil spoken. James spoke at great length concerning the dangerous power our tongues exhibit if not tamed, and that lack of restraint is plaguing the church through evil spoken in judgment. It was true at the time James penned these words, and it is unequivocally true today as well. When we choose to speak evil against our Christian brothers and sisters, we assume a role of judgment that is sinful and divisive to the church of Jesus Christ.
The biggest misinterpretation we make is that we assume we are not allowed to judge at all. That is not Biblical though. Consider what Jesus taught within His sermon on the mount: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:1-5). When taken in proper context, we learn that Jesus is conveying the importance of judging our own hearts first and foremost. We must sift our hearts in order to remove the impurities that plague our fellowship with God and one another (Matthew 13:24-30). For how can we look at our neighbor and call out their sin without reconciling the sin within our own hearts first? That is hypocritical, and we who practice such behavior are pronouncing judgment upon ourselves. Does that mean we are not allowed to hold others accountable within the church body? Absolutely not. But I would caution that the attitude of our heart must be evaluated before we open our mouths and speak truth in love rather than judgment. Make no mistake, Jesus does not contradict himself here. In the same token as Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus also provides the course of action we are to take if we find our fellow brother or sister in sin (Matthew 18:15-20). Therefore, there is a spirit of judgment we are called to make with our brethren, but with hearts that recognize our own sinful attitudes and actions first and foremost when we come alongside our church family in loving accountability.
Some of the greatest pain the church has caused itself rests on the sinful judgments Christ-followers have made against one another. Our over-saturation of church buildings strewn across the landscape of our country is evidence of this carnage. For history often repeats itself, and we have proven over the time that we have not learned from the same mistakes James called out to his brethren roughly 2,000 years ago. But that is not a reason to be discouraged and lose hope, for Scripture promises that each day brings fresh perspective and an opportunity for positive change if we so choose, because the Lord is rich in grace and mercy. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him'" (Lamentations 3:22-24). Are we called to judge? Yes. Are we called not to judge? Yes. What is the difference? In truth, it is the attitude of our heart and the purpose which precedes the words of accountability or judgment we speak toward our brothers and sisters in Christ, so as not to quench the Spirit's conviction by our selfish ambitions. "Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother" (Romans 14:10-13).
"Don't judge me!" is a popular phrase in our culture today. Used often in self-defense, it warns us who are casting judgment or misinterpreted as appearing to be, that we are to cease and desist immediately. The role of judge is not ours, therefore who are we to judge others? We are just as sinful as those we fairly or unjustly accuse as guilty before God, are we not? Why do we believe we have the right to act as judge and jury over one another in the body of Christ? We must remember that James is addressing the church in this passage. He is not focused on judging others who do not share the same theology, for how can we hold non-believers accountable if their standard of righteousness is not our shared belief? Their judgment is one that God alone will administer because they have rejected His Word completely. But is it not fair to apply the same logic as it pertains to our fellow brethren? Is not God the only judge and jury we must answer to as Christ-followers? The answer is simple: Yes.
The prophet Isaiah stated plainly, "For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us" (Isaiah 33:22). God is ultimately the one who every man, woman and child will be required to give an account on the day of judgment when we pass from this earth and take our permanent residency in heaven or hell. Not everyone in our world believes that truth, but we who trust Holy Scripture as absolute and inerrant believe that the choices we make here on earth echo an eternity. That means we are held accountable to apply the wisdom found in God's Word with an expectancy of judgment if we fail to live up to the standard we hold as our theology. It is not complicated to understand. If we believe we are saved by grace through the shed blood of Jesus, then we accept God's Word is true. And in order that our faith not be discredited, that which is written alongside such truth pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be held in the same regard as inerrant and true.
It is imperative we firmly establish what we believe because it directly impacts how we interpret James 4:11-12. For if we believe God's Word is true, then as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ we must reconcile our misunderstanding regarding the issue of judging others. James states clearly that he is concerned with the evil that believers speak against one another. What he called out previously as vices of division within the church (jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting, pride, etc) have come to fruition in the form of evil spoken. James spoke at great length concerning the dangerous power our tongues exhibit if not tamed, and that lack of restraint is plaguing the church through evil spoken in judgment. It was true at the time James penned these words, and it is unequivocally true today as well. When we choose to speak evil against our Christian brothers and sisters, we assume a role of judgment that is sinful and divisive to the church of Jesus Christ.
The biggest misinterpretation we make is that we assume we are not allowed to judge at all. That is not Biblical though. Consider what Jesus taught within His sermon on the mount: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:1-5). When taken in proper context, we learn that Jesus is conveying the importance of judging our own hearts first and foremost. We must sift our hearts in order to remove the impurities that plague our fellowship with God and one another (Matthew 13:24-30). For how can we look at our neighbor and call out their sin without reconciling the sin within our own hearts first? That is hypocritical, and we who practice such behavior are pronouncing judgment upon ourselves. Does that mean we are not allowed to hold others accountable within the church body? Absolutely not. But I would caution that the attitude of our heart must be evaluated before we open our mouths and speak truth in love rather than judgment. Make no mistake, Jesus does not contradict himself here. In the same token as Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus also provides the course of action we are to take if we find our fellow brother or sister in sin (Matthew 18:15-20). Therefore, there is a spirit of judgment we are called to make with our brethren, but with hearts that recognize our own sinful attitudes and actions first and foremost when we come alongside our church family in loving accountability.
Some of the greatest pain the church has caused itself rests on the sinful judgments Christ-followers have made against one another. Our over-saturation of church buildings strewn across the landscape of our country is evidence of this carnage. For history often repeats itself, and we have proven over the time that we have not learned from the same mistakes James called out to his brethren roughly 2,000 years ago. But that is not a reason to be discouraged and lose hope, for Scripture promises that each day brings fresh perspective and an opportunity for positive change if we so choose, because the Lord is rich in grace and mercy. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him'" (Lamentations 3:22-24). Are we called to judge? Yes. Are we called not to judge? Yes. What is the difference? In truth, it is the attitude of our heart and the purpose which precedes the words of accountability or judgment we speak toward our brothers and sisters in Christ, so as not to quench the Spirit's conviction by our selfish ambitions. "Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother" (Romans 14:10-13).
Thursday, October 15, 2015
James 4:10 (Devotion)
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
There are no greater issues we wrestle with on a daily basis than pride and humility. Both themes are interwoven throughout Scripture both in theory and experiential examples. They represent perhaps man's greatest manifestation of sin (pride) and the character quality that most aligns our will with the Father (humility). Yet with all the Bible teaches and all man has to say in response to God's Word, born-again followers of Christ continue to struggle resisting pride and applying humility. We are plagued with the Spirit's conviction but distracted by the schemes of the devil that bind us from making efforts toward positive change. Our desire for righteousness is honest and pure, but our application falls significantly short of achieving our objective. Why?
Simply stated, pride is an indirect form of self-flattery which elevates oneself above others. It is conceited and self-absorbed, arrogant and rude. It represents the complete antithesis of who Jesus Christ is and all He represents because self is worshiped above God and self-protection is its objective. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). In comparison, humility elevates others above self. It does not seek one's best interest but that which serves and blesses others. "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). Humility maintains a low and reverent posture before God, for it recognizes the chasm that exists between the holiness of God and wretchedness of sinful man. The interesting fact about pride and humility is that both exist at the heart level. They represent a choice man must repeatedly make throughout his faith walk with Christ, and they help monitor the spiritual maturity with which he identifies himself.
What we must keep in mind as we examine verse 10 is that James has already provided concrete examples of the types of behavior needed in order to humble ourselves. He began in verse 7 by reinforcing submission and the imperative need to resist the devil's schemes, emphasized in verse 8 the importance of relational proximity to the Lord and His Word through practical application of cleansing and purification, and finished in verse 9 with a command to mourn and weep over our sin. In all these verses, James has woven a thread of humility that provides foundational structure to our theological application. He has not compartmentalized humility into a box independent of spiritual affinities. Rather, he has reinforced how critical humility is to resisting the temptations of the world within spiritual warfare.
Humility is not a commodity we can purchase, but it is something we can manufacture. For man cannot go and simply be humble; He must achieve humility through selfless acts of service. Humility is produced through application, and specifically by seeking opportunities to swallow our pride and serve others unconditionally. Jesus best demonstrated humility when He embraced the position and duties of a servant and washed His disciples' feet the night before he was unjustly beaten and executed (John 13:1-20). Consider the enormity of that teaching moment! Never before had such an extreme spiritual dichotomy been made between theory and application. For it would have been easy for Jesus to simply proclaim, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12), but He knew that faith alone was void if not evidenced by works. He knew that we needed to see humility in action if we were to fully grasp and understand how radical His message of love truly was. Moreover, Jesus exhibited the ultimate example of humility by accepting the role of sin-bearer and willingly being sacrificed for the sins of mankind when He was completely blameless and innocent of wrongdoing. "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).
It is hard to grasp the reality of Christ's humble sacrifice on our behalf, but we are called to emulate His example in all we say and do, and that must be blanketed in a spirit of humility and self-sacrifice. For if we refuse to die to our love of self, we will remain held captive by our pride and of little use to the kingdom of heaven. But if we choose to submit and obey the truth of Scripture which commands us to humble ourselves, we will be exalted. Keep in mind, our exaltation may not come as we anticipate, hope for, or expect, (i.e. monetary value, exemption of suffering, public praise or adoration, etc.) but God's promise is true regardless of whether we physically experience it this side of heaven. So let us encourage one another to keep proper perspective as it relates to this truth. For we are assured that our efforts to cast pride away from our hearts by embracing humility will identify us Christ-followers even in the midst of persecution. And we can pray that by removing the log in our own eyes, we will see clearly to remove the speck in others through humble hearts and selfless acts of love and servitude, which will open up opportunities for the Good News of Jesus Christ to be shared and lost souls won for the kingdom of heaven.
There are no greater issues we wrestle with on a daily basis than pride and humility. Both themes are interwoven throughout Scripture both in theory and experiential examples. They represent perhaps man's greatest manifestation of sin (pride) and the character quality that most aligns our will with the Father (humility). Yet with all the Bible teaches and all man has to say in response to God's Word, born-again followers of Christ continue to struggle resisting pride and applying humility. We are plagued with the Spirit's conviction but distracted by the schemes of the devil that bind us from making efforts toward positive change. Our desire for righteousness is honest and pure, but our application falls significantly short of achieving our objective. Why?
Simply stated, pride is an indirect form of self-flattery which elevates oneself above others. It is conceited and self-absorbed, arrogant and rude. It represents the complete antithesis of who Jesus Christ is and all He represents because self is worshiped above God and self-protection is its objective. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). In comparison, humility elevates others above self. It does not seek one's best interest but that which serves and blesses others. "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). Humility maintains a low and reverent posture before God, for it recognizes the chasm that exists between the holiness of God and wretchedness of sinful man. The interesting fact about pride and humility is that both exist at the heart level. They represent a choice man must repeatedly make throughout his faith walk with Christ, and they help monitor the spiritual maturity with which he identifies himself.
What we must keep in mind as we examine verse 10 is that James has already provided concrete examples of the types of behavior needed in order to humble ourselves. He began in verse 7 by reinforcing submission and the imperative need to resist the devil's schemes, emphasized in verse 8 the importance of relational proximity to the Lord and His Word through practical application of cleansing and purification, and finished in verse 9 with a command to mourn and weep over our sin. In all these verses, James has woven a thread of humility that provides foundational structure to our theological application. He has not compartmentalized humility into a box independent of spiritual affinities. Rather, he has reinforced how critical humility is to resisting the temptations of the world within spiritual warfare.
Humility is not a commodity we can purchase, but it is something we can manufacture. For man cannot go and simply be humble; He must achieve humility through selfless acts of service. Humility is produced through application, and specifically by seeking opportunities to swallow our pride and serve others unconditionally. Jesus best demonstrated humility when He embraced the position and duties of a servant and washed His disciples' feet the night before he was unjustly beaten and executed (John 13:1-20). Consider the enormity of that teaching moment! Never before had such an extreme spiritual dichotomy been made between theory and application. For it would have been easy for Jesus to simply proclaim, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12), but He knew that faith alone was void if not evidenced by works. He knew that we needed to see humility in action if we were to fully grasp and understand how radical His message of love truly was. Moreover, Jesus exhibited the ultimate example of humility by accepting the role of sin-bearer and willingly being sacrificed for the sins of mankind when He was completely blameless and innocent of wrongdoing. "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).
It is hard to grasp the reality of Christ's humble sacrifice on our behalf, but we are called to emulate His example in all we say and do, and that must be blanketed in a spirit of humility and self-sacrifice. For if we refuse to die to our love of self, we will remain held captive by our pride and of little use to the kingdom of heaven. But if we choose to submit and obey the truth of Scripture which commands us to humble ourselves, we will be exalted. Keep in mind, our exaltation may not come as we anticipate, hope for, or expect, (i.e. monetary value, exemption of suffering, public praise or adoration, etc.) but God's promise is true regardless of whether we physically experience it this side of heaven. So let us encourage one another to keep proper perspective as it relates to this truth. For we are assured that our efforts to cast pride away from our hearts by embracing humility will identify us Christ-followers even in the midst of persecution. And we can pray that by removing the log in our own eyes, we will see clearly to remove the speck in others through humble hearts and selfless acts of love and servitude, which will open up opportunities for the Good News of Jesus Christ to be shared and lost souls won for the kingdom of heaven.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
James 4:9 (Devotion)
"Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom."
Continuing his theme, James gives a direct command to the church concerning worldliness that might appear peculiar at first glance. Keep in mind, James is making this statement after reiterating that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble and contrite of heart. Therefore, we must resist the devil by drawing near and submitting to God through the custom of cleansing and purifying ourselves. This is accomplished by James' exhortation to be wretched and mourn and weep over our sin in the midst of selfish pride that takes great pleasure in thwarting the conviction of the Holy Spirit. For worldliness is never satisfied with boundaries, but expands its breadth and depth to areas of our lives we assume have been surrendered to Christ. It feeds upon guilty pleasures and spirals downward in deviance over time, yet most often we seek to keep the fire of sin contained and at bay rather than extinguishing the tempestuous flames altogether.
James states simply that we are to be wretched, which is defined as "very miserable; sunk into deep affliction or distress, either from want, anxiety or grief" (Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary). Wretched is a word rarely used in our native language, but its meaning should invoke a seriousness toward sin which contradicts the assumption that fleshly pleasures satisfy. In truth, there is a moment of clarity at the climax of sin where death is exposed for the naked eye to see. There is no longer a facade of beauty that tempestuously allures a man to abandon common sense and the Spirit's conviction, but a revelation of truth that pierces us at the core of our being (Hebrews 4:12). That is why James earlier reiterated, "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14-15). Physical death is inevitable, but spiritual death is a cancerous epidemic in daily proportions that occurs in the heart of every man who proclaims faith in Christ but continues to be shackled by the desires of his own flesh.
The call to not only be wretched but mourn and weep echoes the words of Jesus in His sermon on the mount. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4) is a phrase often misinterpreted as pertaining to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It is a common mistake because we typically associate mourning with death, and rightly so, for that is a logical assumption based on the surface of our understanding. James recognized this though, and purposed to convey the same sentiment but in proper context of Jesus' command. Christ lovingly encouraged His flock of sinful men and women that comfort comes to those who mourn over the reality of their sin, and we should receive the blessing of that truth when we apply it to our hearts. Yes, sin must be atoned for, but freedom from the bondage of sin and death comes when we weep and mourn in a spirit of wretchedness, which echoes the cry of our spirit for the saving grace of God.
James also makes a stern warning against the desires of the flesh that tempt our hearts to abandon the truth God has revealed to us in Scripture. He could have easily referenced the wisdom of King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes, who regarded the pleasures of this world as vanity and chasing after the wind; or reiterated the example King David gives in chapters 5-7 of Proverbs concerning the man who is willingly led astray like an ox to the slaughter by the adulteress/temptress. Rather, James chose to filter our heart's intent and reveal its true depravity by judging the audacity we exude when our hearts and minds mock the absolute truth of God's Word. For when we laugh and find joy in the pleasures of sin, we discredit the faith we proclaim and testify to how hypocritical we are to intentionally and willfully submit to temptation and obey its command. The apostle Paul stated plainly, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30) as a reminder that when we choose to sin, we forfeit intimacy with Christ and separate ourselves from the will of God. How often though do we fail to heed this warning?
The wake of destruction when we sin is far greater than we could ever grasp or imagine, therefore our posture must be reverent and repentant as we apply James' wisdom. For we have the privilege of knowing that Christ has redeemed us from the power of sin and death. He has paid our ransom. But we cannot be misconstrued into thinking that mourning is no longer needed because forgiveness is readily available from the Father. We must weep and mourn just as the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed to the tribe of Judah who rejected the Lord: "O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth, and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us" (Jeremiah 6:26). When we align our perspective with the will of God as revealed in His Word, we find grace, peace, freedom and victory. For God's intent is not to pin us down with the weight of His Law and force us to push harder to free ourselves. Rather, He has provided salvation through Christ and forgiveness of sin because of His everlasting love for us, and we must remind ourselves of that truth if we are ever to abandon our self-sufficiency for the all-encompassing sufficiency of Jesus Christ, His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit which can destroy strongholds.
Continuing his theme, James gives a direct command to the church concerning worldliness that might appear peculiar at first glance. Keep in mind, James is making this statement after reiterating that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble and contrite of heart. Therefore, we must resist the devil by drawing near and submitting to God through the custom of cleansing and purifying ourselves. This is accomplished by James' exhortation to be wretched and mourn and weep over our sin in the midst of selfish pride that takes great pleasure in thwarting the conviction of the Holy Spirit. For worldliness is never satisfied with boundaries, but expands its breadth and depth to areas of our lives we assume have been surrendered to Christ. It feeds upon guilty pleasures and spirals downward in deviance over time, yet most often we seek to keep the fire of sin contained and at bay rather than extinguishing the tempestuous flames altogether.
James states simply that we are to be wretched, which is defined as "very miserable; sunk into deep affliction or distress, either from want, anxiety or grief" (Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary). Wretched is a word rarely used in our native language, but its meaning should invoke a seriousness toward sin which contradicts the assumption that fleshly pleasures satisfy. In truth, there is a moment of clarity at the climax of sin where death is exposed for the naked eye to see. There is no longer a facade of beauty that tempestuously allures a man to abandon common sense and the Spirit's conviction, but a revelation of truth that pierces us at the core of our being (Hebrews 4:12). That is why James earlier reiterated, "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14-15). Physical death is inevitable, but spiritual death is a cancerous epidemic in daily proportions that occurs in the heart of every man who proclaims faith in Christ but continues to be shackled by the desires of his own flesh.
The call to not only be wretched but mourn and weep echoes the words of Jesus in His sermon on the mount. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4) is a phrase often misinterpreted as pertaining to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It is a common mistake because we typically associate mourning with death, and rightly so, for that is a logical assumption based on the surface of our understanding. James recognized this though, and purposed to convey the same sentiment but in proper context of Jesus' command. Christ lovingly encouraged His flock of sinful men and women that comfort comes to those who mourn over the reality of their sin, and we should receive the blessing of that truth when we apply it to our hearts. Yes, sin must be atoned for, but freedom from the bondage of sin and death comes when we weep and mourn in a spirit of wretchedness, which echoes the cry of our spirit for the saving grace of God.
James also makes a stern warning against the desires of the flesh that tempt our hearts to abandon the truth God has revealed to us in Scripture. He could have easily referenced the wisdom of King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes, who regarded the pleasures of this world as vanity and chasing after the wind; or reiterated the example King David gives in chapters 5-7 of Proverbs concerning the man who is willingly led astray like an ox to the slaughter by the adulteress/temptress. Rather, James chose to filter our heart's intent and reveal its true depravity by judging the audacity we exude when our hearts and minds mock the absolute truth of God's Word. For when we laugh and find joy in the pleasures of sin, we discredit the faith we proclaim and testify to how hypocritical we are to intentionally and willfully submit to temptation and obey its command. The apostle Paul stated plainly, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30) as a reminder that when we choose to sin, we forfeit intimacy with Christ and separate ourselves from the will of God. How often though do we fail to heed this warning?
The wake of destruction when we sin is far greater than we could ever grasp or imagine, therefore our posture must be reverent and repentant as we apply James' wisdom. For we have the privilege of knowing that Christ has redeemed us from the power of sin and death. He has paid our ransom. But we cannot be misconstrued into thinking that mourning is no longer needed because forgiveness is readily available from the Father. We must weep and mourn just as the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed to the tribe of Judah who rejected the Lord: "O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth, and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us" (Jeremiah 6:26). When we align our perspective with the will of God as revealed in His Word, we find grace, peace, freedom and victory. For God's intent is not to pin us down with the weight of His Law and force us to push harder to free ourselves. Rather, He has provided salvation through Christ and forgiveness of sin because of His everlasting love for us, and we must remind ourselves of that truth if we are ever to abandon our self-sufficiency for the all-encompassing sufficiency of Jesus Christ, His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit which can destroy strongholds.
Monday, October 12, 2015
James 4:8 (Devotion)
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
The beauty of the Bible is found in its simplicity. Many find themselves burdened by the enormity of Scripture because of its verbiage and content, both in quality and quantity. They fail to recognize that if filtered down, the Gospel is not complicated but quite logical. It is the manifestation of Jesus Christ (John 1:1), and in Him we find law and liberty, love and salvation. For God did not intend His creation to be cut off from His presence, but through free will, man chose to disobey the statutes (law) God set forth in the garden of Eden which consequently allowed sin to separate our fellowship with the Creator. But God did not distance Himself from mankind due to this mistake (love). Rather, He pursued His children over time and inevitably made the ultimate decision to send His Son to suffer and die a criminal's death on our behalf to ensure that we would be saved and not eternally damned (liberty through salvation).
James understood this truth as he reflected upon the worldliness he saw rampant in the church. He understood that like a moth to a flame, man was being drawn repeatedly by temptation to sin, and suffering the consequences for it. Therefore, James' only course of action was to remind his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ of the absolute truths of the Gospel to draw near, cleanse hands, and purify hearts in order that man would turn from his wicked ways and live for righteousness. It is imperative we recognize that freedom is found in Jesus Christ and the power of His Word which reminds us that despite all the mistakes we make, God pursues us with an everlasting love. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35,37-39).
It is foolish to assume we can flee the pursuit of God. Often times, we base our perception of who God is based on the ebb and flow of our emotional experiences rather than the power of His Word. We trust in relative, human capacity and understanding rather than divine wisdom and absolute truth. We play life safe by confining ourselves to human logic and pridefully relying on our own abilities rather than trusting in the power and authority of God as our source of strength. And that is why we find ourselves consumed by the pleasures of this world and desperately needing to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, because we recognize that our human attempts are futile compared to the unlimited power and majesty of our Creator. James exhorts his brethren to simply draw near to God because He will not ignore the humble and repentant of heart. He longs for fellowship with us because He chooses to love us when we are most unlovable. "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 3:6-7).
Returning to the safety and assurance of the Lord does not constitute a lack of free will. Rather, free will is required in order to make a decision to draw near and return to fellowship with God. It encompasses a recognition of common sense where life is evaluated with proper perspective. Jesus illustrated this point when He taught the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) by reminding His followers that the Father's love is not conditional, but patient and eager to forgive those who come to their senses and seek reconciliation and restoration. How often we remain at a distance though due to pride, shame, and/or regret rather than drawing near to God and allowing Him to heal our broken hearts. That is why James admonishes in verse 7 to "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," (James 4:7) in order that we would not be held captive by Satan's attempts to stronghold us from stepping forward in faith, trusting that God will cleanse and purify us when we choose to draw near to Him. Peace and joy are found in the Father's love, and we are wise to relinquish control of our lives so that we may reap the benefits of His saving grace that we need to survive this side of heaven. "How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light" (Psalm 36:7-9).
The beauty of the Bible is found in its simplicity. Many find themselves burdened by the enormity of Scripture because of its verbiage and content, both in quality and quantity. They fail to recognize that if filtered down, the Gospel is not complicated but quite logical. It is the manifestation of Jesus Christ (John 1:1), and in Him we find law and liberty, love and salvation. For God did not intend His creation to be cut off from His presence, but through free will, man chose to disobey the statutes (law) God set forth in the garden of Eden which consequently allowed sin to separate our fellowship with the Creator. But God did not distance Himself from mankind due to this mistake (love). Rather, He pursued His children over time and inevitably made the ultimate decision to send His Son to suffer and die a criminal's death on our behalf to ensure that we would be saved and not eternally damned (liberty through salvation).
James understood this truth as he reflected upon the worldliness he saw rampant in the church. He understood that like a moth to a flame, man was being drawn repeatedly by temptation to sin, and suffering the consequences for it. Therefore, James' only course of action was to remind his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ of the absolute truths of the Gospel to draw near, cleanse hands, and purify hearts in order that man would turn from his wicked ways and live for righteousness. It is imperative we recognize that freedom is found in Jesus Christ and the power of His Word which reminds us that despite all the mistakes we make, God pursues us with an everlasting love. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35,37-39).
It is foolish to assume we can flee the pursuit of God. Often times, we base our perception of who God is based on the ebb and flow of our emotional experiences rather than the power of His Word. We trust in relative, human capacity and understanding rather than divine wisdom and absolute truth. We play life safe by confining ourselves to human logic and pridefully relying on our own abilities rather than trusting in the power and authority of God as our source of strength. And that is why we find ourselves consumed by the pleasures of this world and desperately needing to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, because we recognize that our human attempts are futile compared to the unlimited power and majesty of our Creator. James exhorts his brethren to simply draw near to God because He will not ignore the humble and repentant of heart. He longs for fellowship with us because He chooses to love us when we are most unlovable. "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 3:6-7).
Returning to the safety and assurance of the Lord does not constitute a lack of free will. Rather, free will is required in order to make a decision to draw near and return to fellowship with God. It encompasses a recognition of common sense where life is evaluated with proper perspective. Jesus illustrated this point when He taught the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) by reminding His followers that the Father's love is not conditional, but patient and eager to forgive those who come to their senses and seek reconciliation and restoration. How often we remain at a distance though due to pride, shame, and/or regret rather than drawing near to God and allowing Him to heal our broken hearts. That is why James admonishes in verse 7 to "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," (James 4:7) in order that we would not be held captive by Satan's attempts to stronghold us from stepping forward in faith, trusting that God will cleanse and purify us when we choose to draw near to Him. Peace and joy are found in the Father's love, and we are wise to relinquish control of our lives so that we may reap the benefits of His saving grace that we need to survive this side of heaven. "How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light" (Psalm 36:7-9).
Friday, October 9, 2015
James 4:7 (Devotion)
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
As we have studied previously, submission is topic that is primarily associated with a woman's role in the context of Biblical marriage. In many ways, submission has rose to the surface of western civilization as one of the most controversial and debatable topics within the church and surrounding culture. It has gasoline-like properties, that if ignited, immediately inflame discussions and engulf any chance of understanding as it pertains to Scripture between those of differing opinions. Submission is polarizing because society is infatuated with driving an "oppression against women" agenda, but society also fails to acknowledge that submission is a universal application for women AND men. Yes, Scripture calls for wives to submit to the authority of their husbands, but it also affirms that husbands submit unto Christ and the authority of His Word; just as children are to obey and submit to the authority of their parents.
God has established hierarchy and family order for a reason, irregardless of whether or not our flesh agrees with that decision. Jesus demonstrated submission by obeying the authority of His Father in heaven by accepting His ordained mission to suffer and die on the cross of Calvary for the forgiveness of sin. When He submitted, He relinquished power and control by obeying His Father's authority despite the fact that He was equal with God the Father in status as part of the Holy Trinity (Philippians 2:5-8). Likewise, husbands and wives are equal heirs in their oneness when they commit to a marital covenant. Husbands are not regarded as holier than their wives because of authority, but there is a hierarchy in place to maintain order within the family unit. Decisions have to be made at times, leadership must be exuded, and God has ordained husbands to fulfill that role. Granted, with that role comes the responsibility of judgment and accountability unto God which wives are exempt of because of their submission to the husband's authority. Wives will still be required to give an account on judgment day, but by submitting unto God through the husband's headship role, the wife is yielding to the husband's authority and allowing him to be held accountable by God for the ultimate decision made.
In light of James 4:7, we must recognize that Satan desires nothing more than chaos, disruption and destruction of the Biblical family unit. Therefore, he employs a myriad of tactics to drive wedges between husbands and wives, parents and children, and society in general. One of his most successful strategies is marital role-confusion and submission plays a critical role in that process. He has also swayed our culture into adopting a spirit of independence and selfish desire for power and control, promoting women to bristle at the thought of submitting to male authority in heterosexual marriage. Freedom of speech and the right to have one's voice heard is the marketing ploy, but it is twisted in assuming that those rights are somehow revoked in Biblical marriage. On the contrary, a healthy Biblical marriage absolutely encourages and exhorts transparent dialogue and difference of opinion to ensure all opinions and insights are expressed in order to make the wisest decision possible (1 Peter 3:7). The husband is simply responsible for speaking the final decision on behalf of the family unit or breaking a deadlock when he and his wife are in disagreement and a decision must be made, thus declaring himself as accountable for the final decision in either case.
The challenge with submission is when a husband presents himself as lazy, hypocritical or blatantly sinful and perverse with little to no integrity or character. In those cases, it is imperative to clarify that submission for any wife is made unto Christ, NOT the husband. She submits through the husband's authority unto Christ. This is critical to understand because it alleviates any temptation to elevate the husband higher than God. Universally, all men are sinful and make unwise/sinful decisions at one point or another. So when a husband is not aligned with God's will as declared in His Word, a wife is still encouraged to submit so long as she is not forced to sin in the process. A wife should never be led (for example) to defile the marriage bed or participate in any illegal acts whatsoever simply because her husband insists she must. She is held accountable by the Word as well and must answer according to it, but her marital role of submission is mandated by God to maintain peace and order in the home.
It takes incredible meekness to fulfill a role of submission, and we as husbands can learn a great deal from our wives by how they respect our headship role so much as to submit under our consistently, imperfect authority. For we as men are called to demonstrate submission in our lives 24/7/365 by how we position ourselves under the authority of Scripture and apply in obedience its teachings. We set the tone for our families. But make no mistake, our culture is infatuated with destroying Biblical doctrine and submission is a platform Satan uses to drive division and animosity both in our interaction with non-believers, within the church body, and in our homes. Therefore, it is imperative we take heed James' exhortation to resist the devil just as Jesus exemplified in His forty days in the wilderness when He was tempted to abandon God's will for selfish ambition. The Word is our only offensive weapon at our disposal as the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), and it will demand that Satan abandon his fruitless attempts at destroying our fellowship with God and one another if we use it accordingly. But we must be in communion and synchronicity with the will of the Father, and that only comes when we commit our lives and submit our selfish will for His will, to the glory of His name.
As we have studied previously, submission is topic that is primarily associated with a woman's role in the context of Biblical marriage. In many ways, submission has rose to the surface of western civilization as one of the most controversial and debatable topics within the church and surrounding culture. It has gasoline-like properties, that if ignited, immediately inflame discussions and engulf any chance of understanding as it pertains to Scripture between those of differing opinions. Submission is polarizing because society is infatuated with driving an "oppression against women" agenda, but society also fails to acknowledge that submission is a universal application for women AND men. Yes, Scripture calls for wives to submit to the authority of their husbands, but it also affirms that husbands submit unto Christ and the authority of His Word; just as children are to obey and submit to the authority of their parents.
God has established hierarchy and family order for a reason, irregardless of whether or not our flesh agrees with that decision. Jesus demonstrated submission by obeying the authority of His Father in heaven by accepting His ordained mission to suffer and die on the cross of Calvary for the forgiveness of sin. When He submitted, He relinquished power and control by obeying His Father's authority despite the fact that He was equal with God the Father in status as part of the Holy Trinity (Philippians 2:5-8). Likewise, husbands and wives are equal heirs in their oneness when they commit to a marital covenant. Husbands are not regarded as holier than their wives because of authority, but there is a hierarchy in place to maintain order within the family unit. Decisions have to be made at times, leadership must be exuded, and God has ordained husbands to fulfill that role. Granted, with that role comes the responsibility of judgment and accountability unto God which wives are exempt of because of their submission to the husband's authority. Wives will still be required to give an account on judgment day, but by submitting unto God through the husband's headship role, the wife is yielding to the husband's authority and allowing him to be held accountable by God for the ultimate decision made.
In light of James 4:7, we must recognize that Satan desires nothing more than chaos, disruption and destruction of the Biblical family unit. Therefore, he employs a myriad of tactics to drive wedges between husbands and wives, parents and children, and society in general. One of his most successful strategies is marital role-confusion and submission plays a critical role in that process. He has also swayed our culture into adopting a spirit of independence and selfish desire for power and control, promoting women to bristle at the thought of submitting to male authority in heterosexual marriage. Freedom of speech and the right to have one's voice heard is the marketing ploy, but it is twisted in assuming that those rights are somehow revoked in Biblical marriage. On the contrary, a healthy Biblical marriage absolutely encourages and exhorts transparent dialogue and difference of opinion to ensure all opinions and insights are expressed in order to make the wisest decision possible (1 Peter 3:7). The husband is simply responsible for speaking the final decision on behalf of the family unit or breaking a deadlock when he and his wife are in disagreement and a decision must be made, thus declaring himself as accountable for the final decision in either case.
The challenge with submission is when a husband presents himself as lazy, hypocritical or blatantly sinful and perverse with little to no integrity or character. In those cases, it is imperative to clarify that submission for any wife is made unto Christ, NOT the husband. She submits through the husband's authority unto Christ. This is critical to understand because it alleviates any temptation to elevate the husband higher than God. Universally, all men are sinful and make unwise/sinful decisions at one point or another. So when a husband is not aligned with God's will as declared in His Word, a wife is still encouraged to submit so long as she is not forced to sin in the process. A wife should never be led (for example) to defile the marriage bed or participate in any illegal acts whatsoever simply because her husband insists she must. She is held accountable by the Word as well and must answer according to it, but her marital role of submission is mandated by God to maintain peace and order in the home.
It takes incredible meekness to fulfill a role of submission, and we as husbands can learn a great deal from our wives by how they respect our headship role so much as to submit under our consistently, imperfect authority. For we as men are called to demonstrate submission in our lives 24/7/365 by how we position ourselves under the authority of Scripture and apply in obedience its teachings. We set the tone for our families. But make no mistake, our culture is infatuated with destroying Biblical doctrine and submission is a platform Satan uses to drive division and animosity both in our interaction with non-believers, within the church body, and in our homes. Therefore, it is imperative we take heed James' exhortation to resist the devil just as Jesus exemplified in His forty days in the wilderness when He was tempted to abandon God's will for selfish ambition. The Word is our only offensive weapon at our disposal as the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), and it will demand that Satan abandon his fruitless attempts at destroying our fellowship with God and one another if we use it accordingly. But we must be in communion and synchronicity with the will of the Father, and that only comes when we commit our lives and submit our selfish will for His will, to the glory of His name.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
James 4:6 (Devotion)
"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"
In the first five verses of chapter 4, James presents a strong argument concerning the propensity of our flesh toward worldly passions and selfish ambitions. He cites these as causes for fights and quarrels within the church in that we are consumed by our fleshly desires to the point where no intervention is profitable for resolution apart from God. This compels us to various introspective questions. Why is God typically our last resort for intervention and not our first line of defense? Do we not trust His sovereignty in the darkest corners of our hearts? Are we not convinced that His grace is sufficient? James assures us that God has an infinite storehouse of grace reserved, despite our inability to comprehend how a Father would sacrifice His beloved Son to save sinful men. But in fact, that is the choice He made to ensure we would never be cut off from His eternal presence if we so choose to accept His free gift of salvation.
In order to fully grasp this truth, let us focus on 4 simple words: HE GIVES MORE GRACE. God (HE) is the author of creation, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the fountain of wisdom and true peace and happiness are found in Him. It is because of His character, He shares (GIVES) who He is through His Word. And not simply what we need for survival, but a bounty of blessing far greater (MORE) than we could possibly imagine. For true blessing has no monetary or intrinsic value this side of heaven, but eternal prosperity given freely as a gift that is unmerited (GRACE). These 4 simple words define the immeasurable love God has for us because they reveal how patient and long-suffering He is despite our stubborn hardheartedness, but it is our responsibility to adopt these words as absolute truth if we are to claim the blessing they promise.
Those who reject the gift of grace God gives do so in a spirit of pride which reveals their foolishness. They trust in their finite capacities because they are unwilling to relinquish universal control of their lives. They assume false attitudes of bondage when truth is presented before their eyes and reject divine revelation in favor of a false sense of worldly contentment. Pride blinds their logic just as it blinds our logic when we assume the same position toward God. Let us not fool ourselves. James speaks these words to us who have been given divine revelation and thus are without excuse. But we must also remember that God’s Word reminds us that while our efforts/works inevitably are insufficient, His grace is more than sufficient to atone for our inability to attain perfection in our Scriptural application.
There is no doubt that we all struggle to one degree or another with worldliness. Temptations abound despite our most honest efforts to turn away from sin and embrace righteousness. However, God has provided a way of escape through grace and because of love. He does not disregard or ignore the wrathful judgment of His law for that is one-half of His character, but His law is balanced by His love through the cross of Calvary that ensures we are saved if we choose to accept His eternal gift of grace. For those that do, we understand that His grace is new every morning because each day presents us with a new myriad of spiritual attacks that magnify our failures and shortcomings. But again, His grace is sufficient and His patience immeasurable to the glory of His name, our Jealous God and Savior, if we accept it freely. The real question is whether we trust in His sufficiency or continue in pride to seek alternative methods of self-control over complete surrender to Christ.
In the first five verses of chapter 4, James presents a strong argument concerning the propensity of our flesh toward worldly passions and selfish ambitions. He cites these as causes for fights and quarrels within the church in that we are consumed by our fleshly desires to the point where no intervention is profitable for resolution apart from God. This compels us to various introspective questions. Why is God typically our last resort for intervention and not our first line of defense? Do we not trust His sovereignty in the darkest corners of our hearts? Are we not convinced that His grace is sufficient? James assures us that God has an infinite storehouse of grace reserved, despite our inability to comprehend how a Father would sacrifice His beloved Son to save sinful men. But in fact, that is the choice He made to ensure we would never be cut off from His eternal presence if we so choose to accept His free gift of salvation.
In order to fully grasp this truth, let us focus on 4 simple words: HE GIVES MORE GRACE. God (HE) is the author of creation, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the fountain of wisdom and true peace and happiness are found in Him. It is because of His character, He shares (GIVES) who He is through His Word. And not simply what we need for survival, but a bounty of blessing far greater (MORE) than we could possibly imagine. For true blessing has no monetary or intrinsic value this side of heaven, but eternal prosperity given freely as a gift that is unmerited (GRACE). These 4 simple words define the immeasurable love God has for us because they reveal how patient and long-suffering He is despite our stubborn hardheartedness, but it is our responsibility to adopt these words as absolute truth if we are to claim the blessing they promise.
Those who reject the gift of grace God gives do so in a spirit of pride which reveals their foolishness. They trust in their finite capacities because they are unwilling to relinquish universal control of their lives. They assume false attitudes of bondage when truth is presented before their eyes and reject divine revelation in favor of a false sense of worldly contentment. Pride blinds their logic just as it blinds our logic when we assume the same position toward God. Let us not fool ourselves. James speaks these words to us who have been given divine revelation and thus are without excuse. But we must also remember that God’s Word reminds us that while our efforts/works inevitably are insufficient, His grace is more than sufficient to atone for our inability to attain perfection in our Scriptural application.
There is no doubt that we all struggle to one degree or another with worldliness. Temptations abound despite our most honest efforts to turn away from sin and embrace righteousness. However, God has provided a way of escape through grace and because of love. He does not disregard or ignore the wrathful judgment of His law for that is one-half of His character, but His law is balanced by His love through the cross of Calvary that ensures we are saved if we choose to accept His eternal gift of grace. For those that do, we understand that His grace is new every morning because each day presents us with a new myriad of spiritual attacks that magnify our failures and shortcomings. But again, His grace is sufficient and His patience immeasurable to the glory of His name, our Jealous God and Savior, if we accept it freely. The real question is whether we trust in His sufficiency or continue in pride to seek alternative methods of self-control over complete surrender to Christ.
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