June 11, 2010

"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." James 1:23-24

Mirrors have something in common with truth. Can you guess what it is?

Both can be very cruel.

Sometimes I don't like what I see when I look in the mirror. But, if I want to know how I look I need to do it. The only way I can improve how I look is to get a realistic view of myself so that I can repair the damage.

My alternative is to try to image how I look or to wish I looked a certain way and let that fanatasy guide how I view myself. While I might fool myself with those false notions I would not fool anyone else. They would honestly see what I refuse to see.

Anyone who really cares about their appearance will stand before the mirror to get the truth and then adjust to that reality. Healthy well-adjusted people do that.

If that makes sense to you then you will understand what James is saying when he compares the Word of God to a mirror. Not a mirror to reflect our outward appearance but a mirror to reflect the condition of our spirit. That is not any easier. But, it is necessary for spiritual health.

Mirrors and Bibles are necessary tools for anyone who wants to live a healthy and successful life. The reason that is true is because each of them keep us in touch with reality. That is the purpose of faith. Faith brings us in touch with what is real in life - and beyond. The great irony here is that in order for us to connect with the spiritual and eternal reality that is God, we must be willing to deal with the truths that we can see and know.

I think the struggle is being willing to move into God's reality rather than stubbornly trying to shape God around our notions of what it real.

God is the Arbiter of what it real and what is true. He reveals that to us through His Word, the Bible. And that requires us to daily present ourselves before His Word to allow it to reflect our weakness or sins.

Each of us have a choice. We can live in the ugly fantasy world of our foolish pride and rebellion. Or we can humble ourselves before the truth of His Word and make the hard adjustments required to align with His eternal realities.

What is real to you depends on what you decide is true. If God is true then He should determine what is real in your life. If He isn't, then it is up to you to shape your own reality. The only way to really know is to a hard look in the mirror of His Word.

June 10, 2010

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:18-21

This portion of Scripture has a lot to say about how to benefit from the Word of God. Today I am thinking of Jesus' parable about the sower and how when he sowed the seed it fell on four different types of soil and resulted in four different types of results.

From these verses here in James, as well as in Jesus' teaching it is clear that for the teaching of the Word to be effective there must be some preparation on the part of the hearer. The seed of God's Word can only produce fruit if it falls on fertile soil.

When prepared hearers interact with a prepared teaching the result is a spiritual harvest.

James is presenting a point of view quite different from the mindset of modern church-goers. He is placing the responsibility on the hearers of the Word to make sure they are spiritually prepared when they show up for the teaching. It is apparent that he understood the power was in the truths being taught not in the techniques of the teacher.

The modern church is characterized by a vastly different attitude and approach. Many 21st century believers come to church unprepared and expect the preacher to move them with his presentation and oratory skills. No wonder there are so many anemic Christians and unhealthy churches.

Certainly, the more skillful a communicator is the easier it is to receive his teaching, but even the most skilled teacher can only sow the seed and the seed is subject to the soil upon which it lands. It is the duty of any preacher or teacher of the Word to show up well prepared and to work hard to continually hone his communication skills. That is a given. But the listener shares an equal responsibility to show up prepared.

A healthy church is a place where a well-prepared teacher of the Word interacts with properly prepared hearers in the power of the Spirit. In that atmosphere the preaching gets better and the people get better!

How do you prepare?

James gives a couple of insights on that!

First, prepare your attitude. He specifically mentions the problem with anger. Angry people don't learn well for a host of reasons. I think there are people who come to hear the Word for inspiration. They want the teaching or the sermon to make them feel good - or bad - who knows? But coming to church just to get moved emotionally is not healthy. The Word is about instruction not just inspiration. It is your responsibility to come with an open mind and a teachable spirit. James suggests the attitude of humility.

Second, come prepared to actively involved yourself in learning. Bring your Bible. Bring your pen to jot down notes. Expect to hear from God and to be convicted by the Holy Spirit. Understand that growth results from obedience. James says the Word is like a mirror that will show you the spiritual flaws in your life. If you are not prepared to take an objective look at your soul, save yourself the hassle of coming because once you hear the truth you are responsible for what you do with it.

Spiritual growth and health are the result of prepared teaching connecting with prepared hearers. When the seeds of truth are planted in good soil your get a spiritual harvest!

Want to help your preacher be better? Be a better hearer! Expect him to be prepared but prepare yourself.

June 9, 2010

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:18-21

The theme of James is "practical Christianity". The Book of James provides the answer to "what should a Christian look like?".

What can be more practical than the issue of dealing with anger? James makes some very interesting observations regarding anger. He says that an angry heart is not receptive to the Word of God.

Why is that?

Let's examine these several verses:

Anger is reactive and not open to instruction. When you are angry you are not usually open to truth. Neither you mind nor your spirit are receptive to what others have to say. You do not wanted to listen you want to lash out.

Anger is usually not based in righteousness. There is a righteous anger but what is described here is not that. This is referring to negative emotions expressed in angry ways. In fact, he insinuates that their anger originated from their immorality. Unrighteousness is not usually good soil for the seeds of truth to land in.

As powerful as the truth of God's Word may be - and it is - it is rendered ineffective by those who do not receive it with the proper attitude or mindset.

Therein is the problem. Anger and unrighteous attitudes cannot be overcome apart from the power of God's word. But that power cannot be recieved into a proud or arrogant spirit. So, angry people not given to God's Word tend to get angrier and less open to truth and that leader to further unrighteousness.

On a more positive note James reflects on the advantages of humility. It leads to hearing the Word of truth and hearing what it says.

So, we can say that anger resists the Word while humility recieves it.

Which best describes your attitude toward the truth of God's Word, anger or humility?

Do you need to be more open to listening to others whom you might be inclined to disagree with?

Is there any area of anger that is keeping you from receiving the Word of God?

If so, what will you do about it?

June 8, 2010

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

I was a little wierd when I was growing up through the ranks at Claypool High School and later at Warsaw Community High School. How was I wierd? There are probably a number of answers but the one I am thinking about right now is how I used to like taking tests. Being an athlete and loving to compete I looked at a test like I looked at a ballgame, it was contest between me and the test. Those days of class lectures and textbook reading and note-taking were like practice and a test was like game day. I loved game day but good practices led to good performance in the game! Passing the test was like getting a win!

How things have changed over the years in the church. Nowadays when we think about being blessed we don't think in terms of suffering. But James declares that "blessed (to be envied) is the man who perserveres under trial".

Christians in 2010 American tend to believe they are blessed when they avoid difficulties. I am not sure where they get those notions. Certainly not from the Bible.

So, how are we to understand this truth? How can it be a blessing to have trials?

Actually, it isn't. That is not what the verse says. What it does say is "Blessed who preserveres in trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life....." So the blessedness is not in the struggles but in the strength God gives us to endure them. The knowledge that when life gets too big for you you have a God who is bigger than life and can make you bigger than the struggle!

Passing a test made me happy! Perservering through a difficult trial in life will, too! That's what it means to be "blessed" in our trials and tests. God is able to help us ace every test life can give us!

Trials come to pass and only God can assure us of passing each test. Are you trusting Him? Are you drawing strength from Him when life gets difficult?

June 7, 2010

Here Is The First Challenge From James: Either You Suffer For Your Faith Or Your Faith Will Suffer.

FAITH EXERCISES CONFIDENCE, Vv. 2-4

“2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

How can there be joy in trials?

Confidence In His Provision – In good times we tend to focus on what we want God to do for us but in suffering we tend to focus on what He has already done for us!

Confidence In His Promises – Once we realized He has promised we will make it through the trial we can stop doubting and start watching how He will lead us through.

Confidence In His Presence – We don’t really know God until we know Him in our suffering.
Psalm 23
Psalm 91

“1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 5 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Confidence In His Purpose

If you are going to suffer isn’t it good to know that your suffering is going to accomplish something useful and beneficial? This testing has been allowed by God to develop some spiritual maturity and spiritual depth in your life.
Suffering is a fact of life. It is not a matter of if it is a matter of when. Illnesses, relationship struggles, financial disasters, government oppression, accidents, etc. Those things will happen whether you are a believer or not. Believers and non-believers will suffer. So, given the fact that you are going to suffer – would you rather suffer with or without Christ’s presence in your life?

Confidence In the Price

In the case of these believers that James is writing to they were suffering BECAUSE they were Christians. I am afraid those days are not far away for us……….

When struggles and trials come you can face it with confidence! YOU CAN FIND JOY!

FAITH EXERCISES COMMITMENT, Vv. 5-11

“5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.”

In order for work-outs to help you you must commit to a work-out routine and schedule. Commit means you are loyal to something – dedicated to something – you take responsibility for something.

What should I commit to in my spiritual work out?

Faith Works Out With Wisdom, Vv. 5-6


GOD’S PERSPECTIVE – Big View Of Life – Eternal View


Faith Works Out God’s Way, Vv. 7-8


GOD’S PURPOSES


Faith Worths In God's Worth , Vv. 9-11


GOD'S PRIORITIES


FAITH EXERCISES CHARACTER, Vv. 12-18

“12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all he created.” James 1:2-18

CHARACTER = GOOD + PERFECT + UNCHANGING

BECAUSE HE IS GOOD HE IS COMMITTED TO WHAT’S GOOD FOR ME!

BECAUSE HE IS PERFECT HE CAN PERFECT ME!

In Short, He Is Everything He Says He is! And More!

In Short, He Can Do Everything He Says He Can! And More!

FAITH IN HIS CHARACTER ALLOWS US TO DEVELOP OUR CHARACTER DURING TIMES OF TRIALS AND TESTING.

I am going to commit to God’s character because He is committed to what’s best for me. HE IS GOOD! HE IS PERFECT! HE IS PERFECTING ME!

Why Does This Matter?

GOD CAN CHANGE THE WORLD THROUGH PEOPLE WHO CAN HANDLE STRUGGLES:

NOAH –ABRAHAM –MOSES -JOSEPH –DANIEL -HEBREW CHILDREN -DAVID

IT MATTERS IF YOU WANT JOY IN YOUR LIFE!

James tells us that joy is the result of:

FACING LIFE’S TRIALS WITH CONFIDENCE – ARE YOU CONFIDENT IN GOD?

FACING LIFE’S TRIALS WITH COMMITMENT – ARE YOU COMMITTED TO GOD?

FACING LIFE’S TRIALS WITH CHARACTER – ARE YOU TRUSTING HIS CHARACTER

IT MATTERS IF YOU ARE WILLING TO EXERCISE YOUR FAITH

IT MATTERS BECAUSE THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE JOYFUL CHRISTIANS & CHURCH
CAN YOU SEE HOW MUCH MORE IMPORTANT FOR THOSE OF US WHO MAY WELL BE THE “LAST-FRUITS”?

YOUR CAN FIND JOY!

June 6, 2010

"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." James 1:18

James's epistle is incredibly important and practical! It was written to believers who had dispersed throughout the Roman Empire. Some of them had been part of the great Jerusalem Church and now they were starting over in a new place with new people. James, the brother of Jesus is trying to rally these dear brothers and sisters by reminding them of who they are and how they should be.

A theme of James is "practical Christianity" and he paints word pictures of how faith should be lived out and what a church should look like. These early believers are living under the pressure of persecution that had dogged the Church since the martydom of Stephen.

So, does James try to diminish the pressure on these Christians? Not at all! In fact, he adds some pressure by reminding them that they are the "firstfruits" of Jesus Christ. What is that about?

Throughout the Old Testament, which established the Jewish culture, the idea of the firstfruit is very important. The firstfruits of everything belonged to God, whether it was from the flocks or from the fields. The firstfruits were the best because they received the most attention, the most care and preparation.

When applied to the emergence of the Church in the Roman Empire, James is challenging the believers as the first look the world would get of the church to make sure it was a good and healthy one. The rest of his Book is devoted to instructing them how to do that.

Why does this matter to us?

First, we are the current generation of the Church and need to carry on the legacy of these believers. We represent our Christ and the Faith in 21st Century America. It is incumbent upon us to demonstrate to our culture what the love and grace and power of God looks like.

Second, as they were the first look that the world got at the Church, it is conceivable that we could be the last look the world will have if we are to properly interpret the times. No one knows for sure, but if we are the last generation of believers before the end of the age, how should we live? What should a healthy church look like?

This is what I will be sharing over the Summer as I lead you through a detailed study of this powerful and practical Book.

What if it is true that you are part of the "lastfruits" of God's plan for the world? How then should you live? How should you do church? If this is the last look the world gets at the Church, don't you want to make sure it is an accurate glimpse of the love, grace and power of God?

June 5, 2010

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1:5-8

If you are going to find joy in the midst of hardships not only will you need confidence you will need commitment. Just like you have confidence in Who God is you must commit to His wisdom. Only His wisdom will give you the perspective and the patience you need to navigate through the trial.

In order to work out your faith you must make a commitment to faithful exercising His wisdom just like you make a commitment to a physical workout routine. Maybe you identify with this guy:

For Christmas this year my wife purchased me a week of private lessons at the local health club. Though still in great shape from when I was on the varsity chess team in high school, I decided it was a good idea to go ahead and try it. I called and made reservations with someone named Tanya, who said she is a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and athletic clothing model. My wife seemed very pleased with how enthusiastic I was to get started.

Day 1 - They suggest I keep this "exercise diary" to chart my progress this week. Started the morning at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get up, but worth it when I arrived at the health club and Tanya was waiting for me. She's something of a goddess, with blond hair and a dazzling white smile. She showed me the machines and took my pulse after five minutes on the treadmill. She seemed a little alarmed that it was so high, but I think just standing next to her in that outfit of hers added about ten points. Enjoyed watching the aerobics class. Tanya was very encouraging as I did my sit ups, though my gut was already aching a little from holding it in the whole time I was talking to her. This is going to be great.

Day 2 - Took a whole pot of coffee to get me out the door, but I made it. Tanya had me lie on my back and push this heavy iron bar up into the air. Then she put weights on it, for heaven's sake! Legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made it the full mile. Her smile made it all worth it. Muscles feel great

Day 3 - The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the tooth brush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I am sure that I have developed a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was okay as long as I didn't try to steer. I parked on top of a Volkswagen. Tanya was a little impatient with me and said my screaming was bothering the other club members. The treadmill hurt my chest so I did the stair monster. Why would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by the invention of elevators? Tanya told me regular exercise would make me live longer. I can't imagine anything worse.

Day 4 - Tanya was waiting for me with her vampire teeth in a full snarl. I can't help it if I was half an hour late, it took me that long just to tie my shoes. She wanted me to lift dumbbells. Not a chance, Tanya. The word "dumb" must be in there for a reason. I hid in the men's room until she sent Lars looking for me. As punishment she made me try the rowing machine. It sank.

Day 5 - I hate Tanya more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. If there was any part of my body not in extreme pain I would hit her with it. She thought it would be a good idea to work on my triceps. Well, I have news for you Tanya, I don't have triceps. And if you don't want dents in the floor don't hand me any barbells. I refuse to accept responsibility for the damage, you went to sadist school, you are to blame. The treadmill flung me back into a science teacher, which hurt like crazy. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like a music teacher, or social studies?

Day 6 - Got Tanya's message on my answering machine, wondering where I am. I lacked the strength to use the TV remote so I watched eleven straight hours of the weather channel.

Day 7 - Well, that's the week. Thank goodness that's over. Maybe next time my wife will give me something a little more fun, like free teeth drilling at the dentist's.

As an old coach used to say, "There is no gain without pain."

That is true, and life will bring plenty of pain. However, if you are not willing to commit to God's wisdom you will have a lot of pain without any gain.

Will you trust God's wisdom? Will you commit totally to His way?