JAMES
1:1-27 - Even the most
difficult times can have a godly effect on us – when we ask God for
wisdom: ‘Lord, what are You teaching me in this?’ (2-5). Humanly
speaking, we may be ‘in humble circumstances’. Spiritually speaking, we
are in a ‘high position’ (9). Our position is to become even higher –
‘the crown of life’ (12). Before that happens, there will be many
temptations (13-15). We can face these temptations with confidence in
the God of faithfulness and His ‘Word of truth’ (16-18). God’s ‘Word’ is
‘planted in us’ so that we may become ‘doers of the Word, and not
hearers only’ (21-22). Don’t let God’s Word ‘go in one ear and out the
other’ – ‘like water off a duck’s back’. Let there be His controlling –
‘a tight rein on the tongue’, caring – looking after the needy, and
cleansing – ‘unstained from the world’ (26-27).
2:1-26 -
The Gospel turns the world’s values upside down – the ‘poor in the
world’ are ‘rich in faith’ (5). We are to live according to the Gospel.
We are not to be controlled by the world’s way of thinking. If we ‘show
favouritism’, we place ourselves in a dangerous position – ‘judgment
without mercy’. Even where there is the threat of judgment, there is the
promise of mercy – ‘mercy triumphs over judgment’ (9,13). God is
calling us back from the brink. He is saying, ‘It’s not too late’. Even
at ‘the eleventh hour’, God is calling us to receive His mercy (Matthew
20:6-9). He wants to change us. He wants us to put Him first. For
Abraham and Rahab, God came first – not Abraham’s son, not Rahab’s
country (20-26; Genesis 22:12; Joshua 2:9). Don’t let anyone or anything
come before Him. He must come first – every time.
3:1-4:12
- So much harm can be done by a hurtful word. so much good can be done
by a word of witness. An evil ‘fire’ can be turned into a godly fire:
‘It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around
can warm up in its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love, once
you’ve experienced it. You spread His love to everyone. You want to pass
it on (3:5; Mission Praise, 348). Use your words with wisdom – ‘the
wisdom that comes from heaven’ (17-18). Don’t fight to get your own way.
Ask God to show you His way (4:2). Be careful how you speak: ‘Do not
slander one another…Who are you to judge your neighbour?’ (4:11-12). May
God deliver us from hypocrisy – ‘out of the same mouth come praise and
cursing’ (3:10). May He give us ‘more grace’ – to be ‘humble’ and not
‘proud’, submitting to God and resisting the devil (4:6-7).
4:13-5:20
- Don’t worry about ‘what will happen tomorrow’. It’s in the Lord’s
hands (4:14-15). We must not lose sight of ‘the purpose of the Lord’. We
must remember that ‘the Lord is full of compassion and mercy’ (11). We
look forward to ‘the Lord’s Coming’ as the great Day of our salvation
(7-8). We must not, however, forget God’s words of warning: ‘The Judge
is standing at the door’. God speaks to us concerning ‘the misery that
is coming upon you’. What is He saying to us here? – He is warning us:
Be careful how you live – Don’t trust in riches. ‘Don’t grumble against
each other’ (1-3,9). The warning and the promise belong together. Those
who are facing judgment can be brought to the Saviour. May God help us
to speak His Word – the warning as well as the promise – , always
praying that sinners will be saved (16,19-20).
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