Saturday, July 16, 2016

The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work! (Chapter 2:1-13)



Hello Friends!

Welcome back to our Monday morning Daily Devotions summer series titledThe Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!

The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!

This week we will continue our reading of verses 1-13 in chapter 2 as we consider Putting Off Partiality…

There is an attribute of God that we don't very often talk about and yet is very often spoken of in Scripture. Which one? It is God's “impartiality” with all people!

In the previous chapter of his Epistle, James provided for us several tests to indicate whether or not our profession of “faith” is the real thing:

The first test was “patience” through “various trials“ of “suffering” and “hardships” in life.
The second test was how one relies on the “wisdom” of “God” in life.
The third test was how one “responds” to various financial perspectives in life.
The fourth test was enduring the “temptations” in life.
The fifth test was the direction of blame for the “temptations” in life.
The sixth test was trusting in the “perfect” provision of God in life.
The seventh test was being a “doer” of God’s “Word” in life.
The eighth test was “taming” our “tongue” in life.

The Scriptures declare that God is absolutely “impartial” in dealing with all people. And in that way He is utterly unlike us! We are very “partial” and tend to put everyone in various categories, higher or lower compared to other people. This may be due to their looks, wardrobe, the kind of car they drive or the kind of house they live in. Perhaps it is due to their ethnicity, social status, outward characteristics or personality. Beloved, all of those things should not matter to “us” and are certainly of no significance to God – They mean absolutely nothing to Him!

Therefore, James begins this next challenging chapter with yet another test for the life of a true “believer” in Jesus Christ: We must avoid showing “partiality” to others in any way…

Putting Off Partiality!

To begin with, James takes a hard look at this matter of “partiality” predominantly from an economic and social perspective. Here in these powerful and poignant passages James confronts another “sin” problem within the “hearts” of the “brethren” in a very practical way concerning life within our “assembly”:

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?James 2:1-4

We don't like to admit it, but “we” can tend to be very “partial” to certain people within the “church” of Jesus Christ. Why? Because of our “fallen” and “sinful” human nature! How? By often becoming “judges with evil thoughts” along with having “shown partiality” by passing on our opinions of others. We are often impressed with bank account balances or the cars some may drive. We can be impressed with beautiful wardrobes of “fine apparel” or shiny “gold rings” and jewelry. We can be very impressed with the jobs some people hold or perhaps their reputations. We can even be very impressed if some have amassed a host of letters at the end of their names through higher education. “But… our “Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” – Is not impressed with any of these externals!

On the other hand… The Lord is not disinterested in us because “we” may be financially “poor” or may not have certain “clothes” to wear. The Lord is not disinterested in us because we may work a common job or perhaps haven’t acquired any degrees, reputation or a certain social standing. The Lord is not disinterested in us because of what we lack nor is He interested in us because of what we possess. This should be true of “us” as well! The “soul” of the person is the issue, not the “outward appearance” as such. And “we” who belong to our “Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” – Must have this understanding!

James then makes an authoritative call to “Listen” carefully to him as he further addresses his “beloved brethren” with a question concerning the spirituallypoor” within the “kingdom” of God:

Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?James 2:5

Although not everyone in the first-century “church” was financially challenged, the majority of the people in those early years were indeed “poor” in regards to worldly wealth. They were quite unlike the economicallyrich” and piouslyreligious” hypocritical leadership reminiscent of James’ big brother’s Sermon on the Mount found in chapter 5 of Matthew's Gospel. However, in regards to the spirituallypoor” of “this world” referred to by Jesus Christ and the financiallypoor” saints of the “assembly” referred to by James were indeed very “rich in faith” and are God’s “chosen” as “heirs of the kingdom” – The common people!  

Next James addresses a “sin” of “dishonoring” the economicallypoor man” of God by asking two more poignant questions:

But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?James 2:6-7

In other words, “You are unbelievably unlike God!” The “rich” people drag “you” before the civilcourts” and religiouscourts” of man. Not only did the “rich” depreciate human value, they also depreciated true “faith” in Jesus Christ. Incidentally, world history proves to “us” that the godless “rich” of this “world” have always oppressed the “poor” – Civil, financial and religious hostility!

The phrase "by which you are called" speaks of a personal relationship to God. Therefore, James reminds the “brethren” that they “received” for themselves the worthy name of Jesus Christ! It was the godless “rich” people who oppressed them, not the “poor” people of God. As is true with Jesus Christ Himself, it was never the “poor” people who oppressed Him. It was always the “rich” and wicked “religious” people – The pious pretenders!

James continues by appealing to the “royal law” of the “Scripture” by referencing God’s first giving and second giving of the “Law” in where we find His view of “partiality” and the foolish favoritism of man… A serioussin” of the “heart”:

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law James 2:8-11

IMPORTANT INSIGHT: James is not referring to the phony psychological self-image of humanistic “love” of which plays mind games and pampers the ego saying: "I'm a wonderful person and I deserve it!" Rather. James is referring to the Agape’love” of God in the biblical sense which is always an action related to meeting the trueneeds” of other people. God’s “royal law” is not discussed strictly through emotion. When the Bible commands “us” to "love your neighbor as yourself" it simply refers to meeting “needs” in a verb tense. In other words, to “fulfill” this mandate, “you” must meet these “needs” in the same way “you” are meeting “your” own – That's the issue here!

The “transgressors” of the “royal law” in “showing partiality” is completely foreign to the character and nature of God! In fact, the Old Testament is replete with examples of how God’s people had “become a transgressor of the law” to His great displeasure:

For the Lord your God is the God of Gods and Lord of Lords, the great, the mighty and the awesome God who does not show partiality – Deuteronomy 10:17

God’s “law” has no “grace” because it is meant to show us that we are “sinners” at heart by birth! And when we “sin” by breaking God’s “law” we are “transgressors” doomed for “condemnation” and “judgment” in “eternal hell.” Therefore, we must humbly “come” to God the Father through His Son the “Savior” whom imparts His “perfect” saving “grace” in “us” through “faith” and “repentance” – There is no grace in the law!

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Incidentally, James quotes two of the 10 Commandments. The first is “Do not commit adultery” from chapter 20 of Exodus and the second is “Do not murder” from chapter 5 of Deuteronomy addressing the most severe of social “sins” related to human life. Why? Because in the Old Testament, God attached the death penalty to them! Also, when we consider Deuteronomy 6:4-5 along with Leviticus 19:18 and combine them together, we have the sum total of the “law and the prophets.” Therefore, we must “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself.” In fact, James’ big brother Jesus Christ also pulled these powerful passages together in His Greatest Commandment found in chapter 22 of Matthew by providing for “us” the “sum” total of God’s Word – Upon these commands we rejoice!

The perfection of God in His “character” and “nature” is manifest in the fact that He's absolutely “impartial” to all people. God treats everyone equally based upon their desperate need for a “spiritualrelationship to Him through Jesus Christ. And so James is instructing the “brethren” to “love” other people equally with no “partiality” regarding their status in life. Therefore, these passages outline another test of genuine saving “faith” in God – True believers respond properly to one another without showing partiality!

Finally, because of the seriousness of these “sins,” James closes with an appeal to consider the danger of God’s divine “judgment”:

So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment James 2:12-13

In this congregation there were true “believers” who were fulfilling the Sovereign and perfect “royal law” of God as they chose to “speak” and “do” His will. However, there were also phony “professors” who were continually showing “partiality” as unrepentanttransgressors” and “sinners” toward the perfect “Law of God.” These false “followers” will be harshly “judged” by God's Word. Therefore, the true “brethren” must “speak” and “do” as those” who will be “judged by the law of liberty” in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, “judgment without mercy” will be given towards “the one” who has “shown no mercy!” God says – Mercy triumphs over judgment!

If your life is characterized by “mercy,” you will “triumph over judgment.” Why? Because the true “believer” who is “merciful” to others proves he has “received” forgiveness from God through a transformed lifeMercy triumphs over judgment!

In closing:

A person's education, economic status, looks, wardrobe, social relationships, job, fame, prestige or earthly honor mean absolutely nothing to God – They are non-issues!

For example, the Apostle Peter in presenting the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ to a Gentile ruler was acknowledging that God is “impartial” with reference to His saving “grace” to “every nation” and people group:

But in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him – Acts 10:35

In other words, God shows no “partiality” to anyone in any “nation” who “fears Him” and “does what is right’ in His sight – Fully accepted by Him!

The Apostle Paul also acknowledged that God was “impartial” to “everyone” with particular reference to His judgment:

Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with GodRomans 2:9-11

In the matter of eternal “judgment” there is no “partiality” of persons – “Jew” or “Greek.” Therefore, “everyone” will be “judged” by “God” purely on the condition of their “soul” in regards to “salvation” – God is no respecter of persons!


Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued study of The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!
Shane <><

Friday, July 15, 2016

God's timing

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away, 
a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.


These verse could really be a good foundation for me to write about so much going on in the world today.  Yet at the same time, I want to escape some of those things as I write today.
Personally, I know that there is a time for everything and I know that I often have my own timeline for how I want things to happen.  Yet God’s timing is always perfect!


Yesterday, my 16 year old niece was supposed to leave to go on a mission trip to Haiti.  Unfortunately, a week ago, she fainted while at work, fell, cut open her chin and lost 3 teeth.  While at first, they were hoping she would still be able to go, on Sunday they talked with some missionary friends who are doctors and normally go on this trip however would not be on this particular one.  They were afraid she would not be able to focus on the work due to the pain she was still in.  And if she were to have further complications while there, she would not be able to seek the treatment that she really would
need.  


Knowing how disappointed she would be about this, they offered up something even better to her.  They are going back to Haiti in January for a medical related trip.  They offered to take her with them then.  Now the exciting part about this is that she is already taking classes through the local community college to go into the medical field.  

God’s timing is always perfect!

How have you seen his timing change your plans, yet really be the perfect timing?

Today I ask you to keep the group of kids that did go to Haiti in your prayers and I ask for prayers for my niece and her family.  Both of her parents are out of work right now and there is a long road ahead of medical bills.  Please be praying for the funds to provide her the proper care so she can have a full recovery without added stress.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Bigger, Bolder, and Vigilant

I write today praying for guidance and wisdom, and ask you as a reader to have patience and maybe even a little grace and understanding if you struggle with or may even be slightly offended by today’s devotion.  I grew up as a child who was heavily involved in civil rights.  I remember being taken to conferences for the NAACP at the bright young age of eight, and hearing stories from a mother who was chair for the civil rights commission in the state of Michigan.  I also grew up in a school system where every year, the Detroit Police Department would have a band that came to the school, and for one hour or so play, tell jokes, and bring smiles to our faces.  To me, they were my friends.  They would protect my crew and me later on after being robbed at gun point.  These are the images in my mind that I had coming into last week.

While those are the images I cling to, I walk into a reality today that is very different.  I am saddened and frustrated by tragic deaths that both raise questions of my family’s safety and look deeply in my own heart for grace and understanding for those who disagree with me.  Am I safe even if I do the right things all because I might fit the description of someone who did wrong?  Do I lash out because someone unwilling to take a deeper look into a cause looks at me and says or writes ‘All Lives Matter’ failing to understand that ‘Black Lives Matter’ does not mean all other lives do not?  Do I fail to show enough love and appreciation for the job of those who protect and serve in my community?  These are the questions that have swirled in my mind for almost a week now as conversations have continued both with and around me.  At a time like this many of you have asked for love, prayer, and God’s guidance.  However, today’s devotion will simply ask something that has been lost like fad that has come and gone.  What would Jesus do?

Jesus would challenge us to be bigger, bolder, and vigilant in the face of such uncertainty.  Rather than have us focus on our fears as to what may happen, He would harken on the words of David saying:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Psalm 23:3-57 (KJV)
He would look at our own lack of understanding of others and ask us to be accountable for our own sins saying, “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?  How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?  Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)  Jesus would remind us of the Golden Rule (Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12) and greatest love (This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  John 15:12-13).
You see as followers of God, Jesus does not allow for us to retreat to the safety of our own lives.  Our discomfort is a sign that God is challenging us to grow.  Jesus never ran away from what God asked of Him so He could be comfortable.  Instead, He followed knowing who God was; our Heavenly Father, and did it because that is who He is.  I’m encouraged by the song ‘Good Good Father’ that reminds us:
You're a Good, Good Father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

We are valued and loved by the Great I Am.  I will not be silent to injustices, and will continue to pour out love to others even if they do not agree my stance.  I mourn with sadness over all wrongful deaths, and yes, I still love my police (especially that band that plays in the schools).  Do not be discouraged.  Our love of Christ will help others see the light as well.  What is Jesus asking of you now?  Are you willing to embrace the discomfort God has placed in your heart, mind, and spirit?  My prayer is that the tragedies of this past week will remind us our mission as followers of Christ.  Be bigger, bolder, and vigilant.  Amen.de

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Tues Devo: Real foundation

Proverbs 12:3 “A man will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.” (NASB)
1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (NASB)
2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”” (NASB)

Hello,

Do you ever find yourself changing your mind? Do you wonder if you are going in the right direction or need to shift something? If you are like me, too much of that wondering can really leave you questioning your motives or needing to revisit what you want the outcome to be.
As we move through making choices – we must remember where the foundation is. Don’t hesitate to step back and remind yourself of your foundation, and where things start.

Have a blessed day,