Month: June 2024

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More wise counsel

James 3 James is what we call “on a roll!” He continues to instruct the church and its parishioners on what to do and what not to do. Todays’ lesson is on the tongue which is a mighty force that we have to bless as well as curse. James uses the illustration of horses and how we control them and ships with their rudders. He is saying, stop and consider if you are more like the horse who needs a bridle or a ship which needs a rudder to navigate life. 

Horses can be tamed, ships can be controlled (however, recently we saw the Dali lose their navigational power and ultimately take down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore showing us that ships and their navigational tools are not always reliable! ) James is saying you have the tools to navigate life but your tongue, like the Dali ship’s control center, sometimes is not always reliable apart from the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit. He is given to us to tame this unruly part of our human body. 

John wrote: “When the Holy Spirit comes, He. will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;” [Jn 16:8] Allow Him to tame this unruly gift that God has given to you so you can be a blessing and not a curse. 

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Be Impartial

Open the eyes of my heart Lord

James 2 See with Jesus Eyes 

When I grew up, I was faced with prejudice and all its faults. I was forbidden to have interactions with those of another race and another ethnic background. I found it hard to understand but found that little by little those factors crept into my thinking. So, when God saw that He sent me three people to change that perspective, and I praise God for that. No longer do I see with my human eyes the differences but now pray for God to show me His love for each one regardless of their background or ethnicity. James seems to have faced this head on in the church in Jerusalem where there were both the poor who had come to Christ and the wealthy who had come to Christ. Yet, both carried the baggage of their former life into the church and so it is with us; sadly. 

James reminds the reader to look at this situation through the eyes of God. He accepted Rahab who had no lineage to the Israelites, yet it was to her that He revealed Himself and she called him “El Roi,” the God who sees me. He also accepted Abraham, the father of the Israelite nation. To both He is saying; “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” [James 2:9] Beloved, this should not be! Christ died for all and all should be accepted equally.  

The question before us is this: are we looking with our heart or with our mind? Are we evaluating each through the heart of God? Do we select to whom we will offer the cup of cold water? Jesus ministered to all no matter their social background or lineage. How about us?  

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Trials and Temptations

James 1 Instructional Manual

Just as the OT book of Proverbs offers us the way to wisdom; James in the NT follows that pattern, but James refers to his readers as brothers or beloved brethren. Thus this might be an instructional manual for the body of the church and even more so for individuals in the church. As the writer, James offers wise counsel for situations the reader might encounter as he/she moves from one city to another and no longer have contact with the Mother church due to persecution. Perhaps in their new environment,  they had come across situations where they needed counsel and wisdom to handle them.  James becomes their instructor for he has walked and talked and lived with our Master Jesus. As we read this letter, it would be good to picture yourself sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to his sermons, taking notes and then carrying that wisdom to others who have also left Jerusalem’s Mother church. 

Firstly, James begins with a wake up call: count it all joy when you fall into various trials for these are given to test your faith and strengthen your patience. Is this how you face challenges in life? This is not to say James meant to shout hallelujah but rather, they are/we are to see these as times to model Jesus. 

Secondly, James then notes that we will face both believers who have little and those who have much, materially speaking. He wisely counsels them to see how God uses both for the benefit of others. 

Thirdly, then James goes back to his first point; trials and temptations. If you endure them God, the Father of lights, will bless you. One way to handle them is to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath or becoming angry. Take time to be quiet before God so you can hear Him speak. 

Perhaps we have not had to leave our mother church or our home, but no matter where we find ourselves, we are to see this as God’s step by step manual titled: how to be mature in any situation. Stop and ask how are you doing in the maturity department? 

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Thinking and pondering

Psalm 94 Pondering God’s Plan 

As we watch the decay of our nation we need to remember this verse: “For justice will prevail.” [Ps 94:7] One day God will end this depravity and this hate and anger. One day His people will be vindicated and the Lord Jesus will reign from on high. We sit and wonder when all evil will be suppressed, but in the meantime we need this reminder: “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.” [Ps 94:19] 

That is one thing I need to remember when I am anxious, when I see evil and find no solution. It is in his presence that I find peace and although evil continues unabated and I often find myself wondering if there is any good in this life. Truly God is sovereign and in control. He sits in heaven and sees all that man has done and will do, but in the end they and we must stand before Him and then His glory will be before them and us. 

Today ponder this; God, You are holy and should be worshiped. Leave the evil behind and concentrate on what is good just as Paul reminded the early church: “Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth,” [Col 2:3] 

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Practical Advice

Hebrews 13 The author of Hebrews writes to his audience that all things they consider doing should be done practically. Each piece of advice is given to encourage and bolster their walk with Christ. The first piece of advice is to live with the brethren in love. That is one reason Christ came, to teach us how to love one another and here the Hebrews author closes his epistle reminding them to love one another. Secondly, to them he said: do not neglect hospitality for you may not realize it but you may inadvertently share out of your meagerness with an angelic figure without realizing it. 

Again the Hebrews author reminds us: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you. 

The author reminds them to pray for them. Pray in the morning, pray at noon and pray again in the evening. Prayer will be the sustaining factor to succeed in their work.

This chapter would be a good one to read every day for the advice is wise to help us live scripturally to honor Christ. 

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Running the Race

Hebrews 12 Races are fun to watch, and we cheer for our victor! The author of Hebrews includes us in this race when he says: let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. So, we run with others the race that leads to victory over sin. The saints of Hebrews 11 have set the standard and so we are to follow their example. They were faithful because they endured, they were faithful because they trusted the One in whom all promises lie. They have gone on before us and now line the hallways of heaven as witnesses to us. A witness testifies and these have done so with their very lives. This is why the author wants us to endure as they did for now, they are reaping what they have sown. 

Recently a precious lady in our church passed on to glory and she has joined the cloud of witnesses just as you and I will one day. Are we ready to join her and the others?  

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Faith

Hebrews 11: The men like Christopher Hitchens, Immanuel Kant and many others decried the existence of God and His creation and are rightly labeled atheists. They deny God and one day will stand before a holy God to answer. Yet, the Hebrews author reminds us of this fact: “By faith we understand that the  worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible. [Heb 11:3] In addition, Paul wrote his treatise by saying: “For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen because they are understood through what has been made. So, people are without excuse.’ [Rom 1:20] 

That last sentence answers what lays ahead for those who deny God and His creation apart from faith. They are without excuse. God has given us the miracle of creation and its visibility to our eye that we may believe. In fact, John wrote: “But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. [John 20:31] 

The Hebrews author then lists those who by faith believed and are accounted as righteous. These are those who are rightly labeled: believers. Eternity will reveal which you are: atheist or believer.  

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Facing Adversity Biblically

Hebrews 10 How to Face Adversity

I am reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s biography again; yes again. I read it several years ago but was challenged by my disciple to read it again so am wading through it, all 606 pages! I am at the point where Hitler is adding insult to insult, injury to injury as he wields the sword on those who are Jews and Christians alike. Thus, this verse is a reminder of how to faced adversity, just like the believers during WWII“For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.” [Heb 10:34] 

We, who are US citizens, do not understand that verse except as we read it as part of history because we have not faced this circumstance.Yet Bonhoeffer, as he taught, and as the Hebrews author is teaching, this is how we are to face discrimination and false charges heaped upon us. How joyful would we be had we lived in the 1930’s and 40’s as to the reality of this happening? How joyful would we be today if we faced this same set of circumstances? 

Paul reminded the Ephesians: “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind” [Eph 4:22-23]  Instead: “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,  and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind” [Eph 5:1]

Again we are reminded:”Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” [Phil 4:4-6]

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Be Shrewd

the spirit of wisdom

Proverbs 14 Are you shrewd? 

Today we meet all kinds of people in our communities, our families, our churches and in our nation. Some are wise and some are foolish. Those who are wise are shrewd or sensible, prudent. The dictionary gives us more insight to this word; it has the meaning of showing a clever awareness or resourcefulness; especially in practical matters. It stresses practical hardhead cleverness or judgment.  

The Proverbs author notes that the shrewd person is discerning. (vs 15) and in Vs 18 they who are shrewd will be crowned with knowledge. Jesus prayed for the disciples as he prepared to send them out; be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. [Matt 10:16] He knew that they would experience opposition and in fact, John recorded His words: you will be hated, and many will seek to end your life thinking they are doing God’s will. [John 16:2] 

So, as we get closer to the time of Jesus’ return, we find that these same behaviors of the unbelieving are being revealed. Therefore, we must be shrewd and not believe all that is said, but we are to be wise, strong and courageous in a world that has gone astray.  

Today as you live and move in this world, seek His wisdom, seek His protection, seek His path for He will direct your steps.  

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How to pray when evil reigns

Prayer

Psalm 58-59 Daily the news reveals to us how untrustworthy are our leaders. The sham trials and words reverberate across the airwaves and believers, like the ones of old, cry out how long Lord? How long will you be patient over the sin of men? King David had the authority to disarm and judge the evil doers yet he patiently waited on God to do the judging; how about us? 

As David waited he wrote Ps 59:5 “You, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, 
Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. Selah.”  Is this our prayer today as we read the news and live amongst those who know not the Lord? Are we leaving the punishment of evil to God or are we taking it upon ourselves to judge and punish? This does not just equate to our governmental officials, it also speaks to our families, our churches, and our neighbors. 

How patient are we to wait upon God? How busy are we to tell the good news so that those who know not God understand and believe so they would not have to face God’s wrath? Today, pray and then act. 

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