Saturday, August 6, 2016

The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work! (Chapter 3:1-5)



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 1-5 in beginning chapter 3 as we consider Taming the Tongue…

James presents the matter of the “tongue” as another test of “living faith” in Jesus Christ. True “faith” will be demonstrated by our “speech” in “truth” & “righteousness” as will a false “faith” that habitually “lies” & “deceives.” Therefore, the “tongue” is the real you! The “tongue” is a tattletale and it points to our “heart” as the problem! In fact, Jesus Christ Himself mentioned the “mouth” in this matter: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” – The tongue reveals our heart!

Taming the Tongue!

This issue of the “mouth” is also of great concern to James, as he mentions the “tongue” in every chapter of this excellent epistle. And now James stresses that “new life” transformation through “salvation” will show up in the way a “believerspeaks. Therefore, James is demanding here that “we” must recognize that true “living faith” will prove itself by a “controlling” of the “tongue” in our spiritual maturity. The focal point of our fallen “sinful” nature and desperate depravity is our “mouth” – Tame your tongue!

Taming the “tongue” is essential for the “Christian” life and James gives us several compelling reasons for harnessing its positive potential and power. To begin with, James calls us to consider our “tongue” because of its “judgment” factor:

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment – James 3:1

The full context here again is a matter of “speech” regarding the proper handling of God’s Word. The implication of what James is saying in this passage is that we must take extreme care not to thrust ourselves into a “teaching” position through silly self-promotional efforts concerning the instruction of God’s Word. Why? Because of the potential to bring “judgment” upon ourselves through our “mouth” as we falsify God’s Word to the “hearers” placed before us. Therefore, we must never willingly misrepresent the “Scriptures” in such a way that would discredit God’s Word – His Holy character or nature!

However, this is not to deny the fact that God does want His Holy Word “taught” in its proper context through the capable capacity of the true “worker” of whom is “called” and “gifted” by the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Apostle Paul had this to say concerning the two “faithful” young pastors under his tenacious “teaching” tutelage:

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work – 1 Timothy 3:1

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth – 2 Timothy 2:15

…holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict – Titus 1:9

Therefore, we must not embark upon a formal “teaching” ministry without a sense of the seriousness involved. Incidentally, James has in mind not only blatant “false teachers,” but also the ignorant, unqualified, unprepared, unapproved or wrongly instructed handler of God’s Word. And no doubt in the “assembly” to which James is writing, there was some failure to consider this great concern and people were aspiring to an official “teaching” role with all of its prestige and honor with very little or no thought as to the severe implications involved. In other words, those who articulate and “teach” Biblical “truth” must take a personal inventory of their own “speech” to see if their “words,” their “doctrine” and their “works” are legitimate in the sight of a Holy God – Very Serious!

Everyone “sins” in a myriad of ways and the “mouth” underlies the stern warning regarding foolishly hurrying into the position of “teaching” God’s Word. Therefore, James then expands upon his concerns related to this extremely important subject matter:

For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body – James 3:2

This word “stumble” is a synonym for the word “sin” and refers to a major moral lapse or an offense against God’s Holy character and nature. Obviously, there is noperfect man” of whom will never “stumble,” because we all will “sin” in “many things” as declared throughout the Scriptures. James is simply saying that only the spiritually mature and firmly grounded “believer” is able to control their “tongue” and thus as a result “bridle” their “whole body” with all of its “fleshly” and wicked impulses. Although we will remain in our “fallen” state until we meet the Lord in “glory,” the true “follower” of Jesus Christ can “overcome” their “sinful” tendencies by consistently dying to the “flesh” and “beingcontinuallyfilled” with the “power” of the “indwelling” Holy Spirit – Praise the Lord!

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: The Apostle Paul also expounded on this “truth” that “no one is good” and cannotbridle” himself! Therefore, it must be a supernaturalwork” of God within the “wicked” and “sinfully” depraved “heart” of man to “save” him from his “sin.” In the third chapter of Paul’s excellent epistle to the Romans he quotes directly from the very “Word of Godusing several marvelous illustrations from the Old Testament Prophets to make this theological “teaching” point pertaining to the “doctrine” of Original Sin and its devastating and disastrous decimation upon mankind…

As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one”  (Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3 & Ecclesiastes 7:20)

Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit” (Psalm 5:9)

“The poison of asps is under their lips” (Psalm 140:3)

“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Psalm 10:7)

“Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known” (Isaiah 59:7-8)

“There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Psalm 36:1)

This is God’s comprehensive list of stinging statements taken directly from His perfect, inerrant, eternal and sufficient Word pertaining to the desperatedepravity” found within the “whole body” of “sinners” to include all of “us” – Focus on your tongue!

Next, to help us better “understand” this important point concerning the “evil” of the human “tongue” – James provides three illustrations…

Illustration One: James refers to a “horse” to make his point:

Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body – James 3:3

How does one control a horse? By controlling its “tongue!” A metal “bit” is placed in the horses’ “mouth” and it lays on his “tongue.” You then attach it to a harness and pull it up over his head, take the reins and when this apparatus is pulled against the horse’s “tongue,” it will “obey” your every command. The horses’ “whole body” is now under complete subjection to your full control! As is true of an unbroken and unbridled “horse” so it is of an un-submissive and “sinful” person – Good for absolutely nothing!

Illustration Two: James refers to “ships” in further declaring his point:

Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires – James 3:4

How does one control a ship? By controlling its “rudder!” When the “pilot” applies power at the proper point, it is sufficient to control the whole vessel as he “desires” to do so. Therefore, “self-control” applied to the “mouth” is sufficient to “control” the whole person. The focal point is to concentrate on the “control” of your “tongue” and if you do that, you’ll command every other part of your life – By the power of the Holy Spirit!

Illustration Three: James finally refers to a “little fire” in summing up his point:

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! – James 3:5

How does one control a fire? By controlling its “kindle!” The “tongue” may be a “little member” of the “body” but It is a very powerful instrument for destruction! When it “boasts great things” in lies and hypocrisy, it will indeed tear down people and churches as well as destroy relationships. It can mangle a marriage and devastate a family. It can even lead to murder and war. And if we do not get a “hold” of this “little member” of our body, it will “control” the entirety of our lives – Wicked depravity!

Essentially James says, “If you can just get control of your little tongue, you can move everything else!” In fact, the Apostle Paul also admonished the “brethren” in Colossi to “put off” all “filthy language” and other such “sins” of the mangy “mouth”: 

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all – Colossians 3:8-11

On the other hand… The “tongue” can also be used to “build up” others, express “love,” “joy,” “peace,” “patience,” “kindness,” “goodness” as well as enthusiasm, encouragement, comfort and support when “empowered” by the Holy Spirit of God! The Apostle Paul then continues his line of thought in this regard:

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him – Colossians 3:12-17

So James and Paul equally “admonish” us to take a very close look at our “hearts” of which rules over our “words” spoken – To the glory of God!

IMPORTANT QUESTION: Do you “live” by the “speech” of a “living faith” in Jesus Christ or by a “dead faith” in your “sinful” and fallen “fleshly” nature? Although we will “sin” in “many ways” through our corruption, we must willingly “submit” our lives to the Holy Spirit’s “control” over our “tongue” because of its power to “condemn” ourselves and others – What a practical word that is for us today!

In closing:

The original Hebrew literary approach focused very often on the guilty “member” of the physical body rather than on the “heart” issue. For example, we read about “feet swift to shed blood” as if the “feet” were the culprits in a murder. We read about “eyes of adultery” as if the “eyes” were guilty of sexual impropriety. Of course we know it is the “sinful” and “falleninner person that is to blame – Guilty as charged!

Therefore, the Jewish expressions regularly spoke of a particular body part itself as if it were the guilty party. Similarly, when James refers to the “mouth” and the “tongue,” it isn’t that he blames them as if they operated independently of other “fleshly” impulses. It is simply that they are the “sinful” bodily organ by which the “heart” expresses itself most clearlyThe tongue personifies the heart!

On a lighter note… Someone once regarded the “tongue” in this way:

Remember your tongue is in a wet place, and it can slip easily! Every one of us is carrying around a concealed weapon. All we have to do is open our mouths and it’s unconcealed.” 

FUN FACTS: The average person “speaks” about 18,000 to 25,000 words a day. In fact, some studies have shown that a man will speak approximately 25,000 words in a day and a woman will speak approximately 30,000 words in that same day. I’m not sure who tallied these numbers, but they may indeed be quite accurate. The potential problem here is by the time the typical man comes home from a long day of work, he has already spent his 25,000 words… However, the woman has most likely barely started using her 30,000 words – And she is just waiting for her opportunity!

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, August 5, 2016

Forgive and Forget

Ephesians 4:29-32

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The concept of forgive and forget is not always as easy as it sounds.  When someone does something that hurts us, we often want “karma” to come back to them.  We want to see them hurt the same way they have hurt us.  This however, isn’t how we are instructed to live.  We are instructed to be kind and compassionate and to build others up.

In addition, we are told to get rid of all, not just some but all, bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  This isn’t easy!  We might forgive that person to a degree but we often hold a grudge against them and may be guarded toward others as well, in an effort to protect ourselves from being hurt again.


To truly forgive one another as Christ God forgave us, we must forget as well.  I encourage you today to truly let go of the bitterness, anger or any other form of malice that is holding you back from forgiving someone as we are instructed to.  By doing so, you will build a relationship that is hurting, feel better yourself, and grow closer to God.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

The Best In You

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.  Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.  1 Peter 4:10-11

I have done a number of presentations on the idea of utilizing your strengths.  It is my favorite topic this time of year because I first was enlighten by that very topic then. It has molded me in a number of ways. Various tests have told me that my greatest strength is my heart for others, and it impacts everything I do.  For example in high school, it took me forever just to write a 500 word essay. I’m guessing some of you who have read my devotions are laughing right now at that very idea.  Some have even outright told me, “Kent, you might want to shorten some of those down.”    However, the thing that has changed from my high school days to my devotion writing is what God has placed on my heart.  My best writing always comes when God inspires my heart to say things about His love and grace.  It is the relationship I have with Him that encourages me to love on others and challenges me when I want to distance myself from them.  That is my strength, and I do my best to release it to all who I come into contact with because they then see the best in me.  They see what God sees in me.

Our talents and strengths are a reflection of what God has instilled in us, and they are to be shared with the world.  Most of us choose to use our talents at work or display our strengths only at home.  However as the latter part of today’s verse clearly points out, it asks us to “Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies."  Not a lot of room for partial effort here.  Do you ask yourself are my spiritual gifts shared not only with family and friends but also coworkers?  Do you volunteer for causes that could benefit from your talent? These are questions I have asked myself only to realize that I fall short and need to take corrective action. You see, this is not optional for followers of Jesus Christ.  We must share our time, effort, and talent with our church and community for if we are not, we are unfortunately part of the problem.  If you are unsure what you can offer, do not let it discourage you. Just show up!  We will never know what we are capable of unless we just try something.  It could be as simple as helping a child in a reading program or as complex as constructing a church on a mission trip.  Whatever God inspires you to move on, act on it.

God created this incredible individual called ‘you!’  You are strong, beautiful, and a gift from an almighty God who we are humbled to be in His service and is indeed worthy of praise!  He has instilled in you gifts whether you realize it or not.  Our mission is to not shelter them for a select few.  Today’s verse says, “Use them well to serve one another.”  That is our purpose.  What gifts do you have to offer in your church or community now?  Will you stop hesitating and start trying to serve today? My prayer and challenge is that we stop sheltering ourselves and display what God sees; the best in you.  Amen.