Author: Larry Soape

Re:Verse passage – James 5:19-20 (day four)

Today, we are pressing the pause button on Re:Verse…our hearts are hopefully turned to Thanksgiving.  In our nation’s history, the pilgrims recognized God’s hand in delivering them from starvation and death.  Their hearts were turned in gratefulness to Him.  We have seen God’s guiding hand of provision all through the past 450 years since.  In more recent days, each of us can look back over our individual lives and see the hand of God at work.  When we see all that He has done, how can we not be moved to gratitude?

As you sit down today before a feast of food, pause to reflect on the specific blessings you can see in your life…life itself, family and friends, health and happiness, food and provision, shelter and protection, joy and peace of heart, guidance and wisdom, love and security.  God’s richest blessings are ours.  We sometimes fail to see these blessings because we use the wrong measuring stick to measure them.  Psalm 95:1-7a establishes the standard that should govern our lives!  Count your Blessings!

Re:Verse passage – James 5:12-18 (day four)

In this week’s passage, James continues his exhortation to practical living.  No matter the circumstances, prayer is the proper response.  Suffering or in need?  Pray.  Cheerful?  Pray.  Are you sick?  Pray.  Have you sinned?  Confess and pray.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.  Whenever you are in doubt, pray.

What is your first response when things happen?  Is your first inclination to praise God…to thank God…to seek God…to confess to God?  By seeking God first, we acknowledge that He is God.  We do not try to seek our own way or do things in our own power.  The apostle Paul also taught this truth to us… “Pray without ceasing.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:17); as well as Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount…“Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)  Want to live a life of righteousness?  Make prayer your first priority, which translates to making God your first priority!

Re:Verse passage – James 5:7-11 (day four)

James uses a farming metaphor to teach patience.  The farmer recognizes the value of the produce of the soil…James calls it precious…and is willing to wait for it.  Likewise, the prophets knew the value of the word of the Lord…it was worth waiting for.  When God promised Abram and Sarah a son, they waited twenty five years for fulfillment of the promise.  They knew it was worth it.

If we give value to something, it is easier to wait to receive it.  Who wants to wait for something if you really didn’t want it in the first place?  James tells us that whatever God has for us, has worth.  Once we settle that truth in our heart, it is easier to wait for the early and the late rain.

God has made many promises to us…all have not been realized.  God is full of compassion and mercy and James teaches that if we endure and are patient, we will be blessed.  Have you given up on any of God’s promises?  Wait on the Lord!

Re:Verse passage – James 5:1-6 (day four)

James’ treatise on the misuse of wealth and riches was not an isolated passage in Scripture.  Several of the Old Testament prophets called out the wicked rich.  Isaiah, Amos, Jeremiah, Micah, Ezekiel, and Malachi all condemned those who misused their wealth.  In the gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus likewise addressed those who did not walk in obedience to God’s commands concerning money.  James notes four sins that lead to the severe judgment that come with the misuse of riches.  He points out that not only were their riches uselessly hoarded, but also unjustly gained, self-indulgently spent, and ruthlessly acquired.

What does your handling of the material wealth that God has allowed you to possess say of your relationship to God?  We can misuse small portions of money as well as large sums.  What do people recognize when they see the role that riches, big or small, play in your life.  Is the witness of money in your life a positive witness to others of your faith, dependence, generosity, and goodness?

Re:Verse passage – James 4:13-17 (day four)

Pride assumes that we are in control of the directions and events of our lives, much like the temptation in the Garden…’you can be like God.’  We would never state out loud that this was our intent, but we often act it out in reality.  For us to make our own plans and then move forward with the expectation that God will bless our tactics is the height of pride.  James says that when we know what is right and then don’t do it, we are sinning.

We have expectations in our lives.  We expect to live as long as our parents…assuming they lived to an advanced age.  We expect to work until we retire and then have enough money to live comfortably for the remaining years.  We expect to make our own decisions about our own lives.  But…there is nothing like a near fatal accident, or disease, or event to make us recognize we have no control over our lives.  Realization of our own mortality can bring home the truth of our full and complete dependence upon God.

Re:Verse passage – James 4:1-12 (day four)

Verse 5 says, “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”.  God’s desire is that we are close to Him, but have you ever felt like you were growing further and further away from Him?  Did God move away?  Of course not.  God is holy, faithful, unchanging and true.  If we are far away from God, we are the ones who have moved.  Separation can happen very gradually.  Pride fullness slips into our lives and we think we can take care of things ourselves.  Maybe we spend less time in prayer or seek God fewer and fewer times until we finally are not seeking God at all.  We are using our best practices and leaving God out of the equation.

James says “repent”.  To repent is to humble yourself before God.  Be miserable, mourn and weep…recognize who God is and submit to His authority and holiness.  The only way we can have a right relationship with others is to be in right relationship with God!

Re:Verse passage – James 3:1-12 (day four)

Horse bits, ship rudders, fire, animals, fountains…James uses practical examples that everyone will understand.  Each example cites a small item that controls a much larger object or two incompatible substances that originate from the same source.  All of his metaphors refer to the great damage that the tongue can cause.  None of us can control our tongue…only God can control it.  Proverbs 18:21 says “death and life are in the power of the tongue”.  Matthew 15:18 says “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”

How can we allow God to control our tongue?  Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”  To season our words, we need to begin every day reading God’s Word.  Remember…it is the heart that controls the tongue.  What is in your heart?  “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”  (Matthew 12:34)

Re:Verse passage – James 2:14-26 (day four)

In Luke 10, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.  A man was traveling when he was attacked by robbers.  The first two men that came upon the injured traveler were religious leaders who would certainly argue about their faith.  The third man to come by was a Samaritan…he stopped and helped the traveler.  He bandaged his wounds, carried him to safety and cared for him.  He then left money to cover the traveler’s additional needs until he recovered.  Which man showed an active, living faith?

Verse 17 says faith cannot be ‘by itself’.  True saving faith can never be by itself…it always brings life and life produces good works.  Which faith would James say was a valid, saving faith?  Would it be the priest or Levite or would it be the Samaritan?  When someone is in need in your life, do you walk by or will you stop and help?

Re:Verse passage – James 2:1-13 (day four)

James is known as a practical application of righteous living.  In verse 8, James refers to the royal law.
The admonition to not show partiality goes back to Levitical law (Leviticus 19:18) as well as Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:19.  Scripture is consistent from Genesis to Revelation…it does not contradict itself.  The amazing quality of the biblical message is that, even though the Bible was written over hundreds of years by multiple writers, the message validates itself.  The truth of the message speaks of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in its authorship.

Do you believe the Word of God?  Do you believe in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?  James says if you believe in the truth of Scripture, you will obey it.  Your everyday life will reflect the Truth to a lost world…things like not showing partiality.  Love you neighbor as yourself.  Show your faith by your obedience!