Tag: James

Categories
Daily Post

Freedom via Doing

It’s probably a good idea to follow-up the verse2014 from James that I shared yesterday with a little more context around that bit of teaching from the brother of Jesus.  Doing brings freedom!

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.   James 1:22–25 NIV

And not just any doing, but doing the word. This doesn’t mean following a set of rules – the old law. This means letting the new law work in you. Which sometimes is only a matter of getting out-of-the-way of yourself. Study it, think on it, let it transform your heart and allow the spirit to work. Then, kick fear to the curb and start doing what it says.

Categories
Daily Post

Ridding Myself of James

I may have mentioned before that I follow the Luther Principle on the Biblical book of James.  Well probably not exactly for the same reason.  I have torn out the book from my Bible before and have even done it publicly as an illustration when teaching from the book.  Why?  because it hits home and hurts!  It would be so much better if it didn’t exist and you would not be challenged by its words.  Well, not really!  Challenge is good.  And the book of James packs a bunch.  For instance, this paragraph about being full of proud and striving to take what others have.

4-6 You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.” James 4:4  MSG

Later on in this chapter, the Message translation says this “Get serious, really serious.”  It’s almost makes you want to laugh when you read it, until you realize that it’s really a locker room speech for us to focus on the things of God and let him give the marvelous gifts of life – which he will – instead of taking it from others with a heart full of evil.

Let’s be humble today and exalt the Creator!

and keep reading the words of the brother of the Christ!

 

Categories
Daily Post

Mercy versus Judgement

Last week, I referenced a thought from the book of James. While I was studying those exhortations, my eyes caught these words “Mercy triumphs over judgement.”.  I have found that my mind keeps coming back to those 4 words over and over as the week progresses.  That’s funny, as I am sure I have read those words many times, but I think I have lived a life that is opposite of that many times.  What I find fascinating is how liberating that thought pattern is.  And well I guess that is actually backed up by the whole thought; let’s  back up and look.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:12-13 (NIV)

Live today according to the laws of freedom and let mercy reign.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Daily Post

What He Loves

Last weekend I was blessed to be able to share with a group of teenagers what the ‘hope’ of the resurrection means to me.  The strange part about that conversation was that for the longest time I was really confused when I heard people talk about the “hope”, and thanking God for the hope.  I was able to share with them how it was not until I was into my thirties that that little word really started to make sense!  Well, that got me to thinking, as we like to say in the hollers, and I readily recalled a few other times when I had light bulbs go off.  The most recent of those was a few years ago when I stumbled over these tried and true words from the brother of the Christ – James

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3 NIIV

Seriously? This was a time in my life when I really didn’t like some people, and it scared me to death to think about those words.  I mean I love you God, but I have to love your people??  Seriously? It’s stuff like this that make me want to tear James out of my Bible and act like it doesn’t exist.

But, YES,  that’s a huge part of it, and that realization has continued to push me further down the transformation path.

So on this Friday, remember those words, and think about how you think about His creation! And lets start loving the things he loves – people!

Categories
Daily Post

Tomorrow?

I suppose this could be the last post I get to write, as tomorrow holds a lot of uncertainty for the continuation of time. So if the apocalypse happens, well, it has been fun! And hey aren’t we really supposed to live like there is no tomorrow everyday?

Carpe diem!

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15 NIV)

So maybe I will get to post tomorrow or maybe not , but either way it will be if it is the Lord’s will!