12.24.12 - Church favoritism

I could very easily get in the flesh here and potentially ruin my witness.  But the text in the first half of James 2 gets me worked up.  I admit it.  It always has.  It hits home and gets a bit personal for me.  Ephesians 4:26 says to not sin in your anger.  I'll do my best not to.

First and foremost, I have to remind myself that I cannot add to or inspire God's Word any more than He has or will do through his Holy Spirit.  It stands alone and is truly "sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Speak, Word of God, speak...

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202:1-13&version=ESV

My two cents here - and I'll  go toe to toe with anyone reading and willing to do so - but I believe this to be a massive issue in the American church today.  Perhaps one of the biggest, as so much flows downhill within the body from this core issue.  I've seen this partiality in action.  I've helped build churches and served on well-intentioned leadership teams that have been blind to this partiality.  I will refrain from incriminating and disgusting examples.  (Stop, Ryan.  Listen to your words above.)

Lord, forgive us.  Forgive me.  For building organizations that cater to the consuming masses and not the poor and hungry.  For building palaces that are unwelcoming to the unwelcomed.  For not listening to the heart cry to engage the least of them.  For showing little mercy and much judgement (verse 13).

12.23.12 - Religiosity warning

Lots of religiosity warnings throughout the scriptures.  The second half of James 1 offers some of that.  I suppose if you are not a 'religious' person, you can disregard.  The rest of us can take heed (in other words, anyone who claims Christ could probably listen here.  I'm first in line.)

First major point from verses 19-20...  God's righteousness does not grow from human anger.  I repeat, God's righteousness does not grow from human anger.  Probably should add that God's righteousness does not grow from human anger.  Again?

Verses 21-25, when we 'get it', we will cast out sin, receive the word and become doers of the word.  Not just hearers., but doers.  We will not soon forget what we look like in a mirror as we would forget the calling that God's word has on our lives.  Kind of humorous analogy actually.

The hammer drops in 26 & 27.  I ran through this exercise on my own.  Perhaps you could give it a try.  Fill in the blank with all of the stuff you hear, have been 'taught' or expected of you:  "Pure and undefiled religion in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit's opinion is ___________."

Attending church every Sunday?  Dressing well when attending?  Giving more than the next person?  Praying incessantly?  Memorizing the whole Bible?  Serving on every committee at church?  Achieving top leadership status?  Sharing your religious opinions with co-workers, neighbors and friends?  Voting for the 'right' guy and the 'right' side of issues?

No on all accounts.  Sobering is the answer in verse 27.  Even more sobering is it's lack of implementation in the church today.  But that shouldn't stop a one of us, right?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:19-27&version=ESV

12.22.12 - Being tested

When I am under pressure, I want relief.  When tested, I just want to be done.  Endurance racing mirrors so many facets of life.  And when racing, when the trials come - the pain and suffering - I want to quit.  Literally (see Pinhoti 100 post.)  And to say I am generally happy amidst any trial would be less than true.

This is not God's plan or approach for our testing and trials.  When they  undoubtedly come (if they don't, we have to ask ourselves, are we actually IN the faith?)  James 1 offers hope and a game plan...

Be joyful in them, verse 2.  They are necessary to build endurance and create a perfect result, verses 3-4.  They are necessary to build our faith, verses 6-8.  They impart humility, verses 9-11.  They lead to a blessing, verse 12.

Then an important differentiation in verses 13-18...  God tests.  Satan tempts.  God cannot tempt.  Trials build up.  Temptations tear down.  Trials lead to life.  Temptations lead to sin, which leads to death.  Trials are birthed out of our love and dependence on Him.  Temptations are birthed out of the lust and enticements of our hearts.  In the end, they are both His to overcome.

Father, may we welcome the trials and testings in our lives.  And see them as a necessary means to grow and perfect our faith.  Give us grace and courage to defeat the enticements of our hearts that lead to death.  We fully trust the work you are finishing in our lives.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:1-18&version=ESV

12.5.12 - Narrow (red letters)

I’ve always been familiar with and often heard tossed around the second part of John 10:10, but not sure that I’d ever really dug into all of the context before and after it (coincidentally, it’s today’s verse of the day on biblegateway.com.) 

You may be familiar…  “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  Absolutely Jesus did exactly that, no questions asked.  And while this verse is often used as a loving, universal catch-all, the irony in the surrounding verses is in the narrow analogy.  The one gate.  The only gate.  Jesus describes and owns a singular sacrificial system, states he is the only way to abundant life now and everlasting, and calls anything otherwise murderous and destructive thievery.  So shocking and offensive was this narrow message that in the remaining versus of chapter 10, he is dubbed a demon, insane, worthy of stoning, a blasphemer, and sought for arrest.

He did come to give life and abundantly.  A loving, kind, gracious Savior “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  But there is only one gate.  And it is narrow.  “For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”  (Matthew 7:14).

12.3.12 - Guarding the heart

The instruction in Proverbs 4 is priceless.  Verse 23 grabbed my attention this morning…  "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life."  Which would also mean that from it can flow death.  Our words, our actions or lack thereof, our motives, our lethargy, can all bring death to ourselves, our walk with God, and to others.  We must protect our hearts that they may truly do the function they were intended to – give life.  Through the gospel.  Through wisdom and fear of the Lord.  Through the love and grace of Jesus.  

Let us protect our hearts from anything that would lead us or others to death.  By attention to His Word, not losing sight on Him, and fixing our gaze straight ahead, let our hearts be flowing springs of life.