The Everyday Prayer

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 3:1-12 (day three)

“No one can tame the tongue.”

Do you really think you would straighten out your most vexing problem if only you could make your case a little better? There’s a good chance you do in fact believe that. And maybe you could. Who’s to say? But speech is often the first act, and when it is, words get deployed without benefit of reflection or listening or stillness. Their power is then unfocused and imprecise, because they have to cover so many categories and answer so many perceived threats. But when, like our Lord before Pilate, you remain silent, that quiet hour will turn your attention to the real need at hand. Our previously taciturn Savior’s eventual words shed mercy abroad as he asked God to forgive the very people who crucified him. Out of silence came words of grace.

Re:Verse passage – James 3:1-12 (day two)  Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

We live in a fishbowl age. Our lives are lived out in real time on social media and we are constantly seeking affirmation or receiving condemnation for our choices. This is a true issue in the world today. To make it worse, some people are called to professions of even greater visibility. Teachers, politicians, and pastors all have a high degree of scrutiny which they face with every word they utter. Sounds maddening, doesn’t it? Why would anyone choose to be under such constant pressure? Frankly, if I may be so bold, the call is greater than the criticism. It has to be. We can choose to cower and withdraw from the watchful eyes of the world, but then we would be betraying what God has called us to be. The call to serve others comes with much baggage that can be difficult to carry, but Jesus has promised the Holy Spirit will be our advocate in those times. Hang in there.

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

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. Vs 19

Belief in a higher being isn’t enough. Even believing that the higher being is named God whose Son is Jesus isn’t enough. The demons know these facts. This is just head knowledge. There are thousands of self-proclaimed “Christians” in the world who are stuck in head knowledge. They know facts, stats, Bible verses, and may even go to church regularly, but they don’t know Jesus. You can know all about a person and not truly know them. This is heart knowledge. This type of knowledge is intimate and personal. They know your heart and you know theirs. Heart knowledge is love.

How do we differentiate head knowledge and heart knowledge? Jesus tells us in John 14, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” It’s not just a command but a promise. When we love God, we will keep His commands! Heart knowledge (love) manifests itself in obedience.

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

⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” -Jesus, John 15:5

When you put a seed in the ground and water it accordingly, you expect after a few days time for it to sprout. If you continue to tend to the new shoot, you can expect it to grow and then eventually bear fruit.

James, Jesus’ brother, is simply saying the say thing in a different way. Faith is like a seed, the expectation is for faith to always grow and eventually bear fruit. A faith in Jesus that doesn’t grow and produce fruit (or good works), would be just as non-sensical as a tree or vine that doesn’t bear fruit.

Producing fruit is the most normal thing for a tree. Producing good works is the most normal thing for faith.

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

My favorite exam questions are multiple choice (had professors call them “multiple guess”). I always thought if I had the answer in front of me, I could spot it. But then, there were the questions that had that last possible answer… “All of the Above”.  If there were a multiple choice question about our re:verse passage this week it might look something like this:

Authentic Saving Faith is:  

A) Not just mental (what you think and believe)

B) Not just emotional (what you feel)

C) Not just physical (what you do)

D) All of the Above

James teaches that faith is D- all of the above. Believing, feeling, and acting are ALL evidence of genuine faith leading to salvation. Not just one. With precision and brilliance, James builds a definition of faith by expounding on what “it is not”. A different kind of lecture. Yet, an effective way to help us test our faith to see if it is Authentic Saving Faith.

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 2:14-26 (day two) 

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? vs. 15-16

This is perhaps one of the most prevalent of denominational differences that shows itself clearly when talking about what we believe. It’s James vs. Paul, some say. This is a topic that many have written and debated for centuries. Let’s be clear, we believe that we can do nothing to merit salvation. In his letter to the church at Galatia, Paul says it this way in regards to the idea of keeping the law: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” Galatians 2:21

Strong words – nothing Christ did was needless, including, and especially the cross. While it may be cut and dried to us about the placement of faith over works; it may not be as clear to others. As we go about considering our response in debate, let me ask this question: what are you doing in the mean time? It’s not enough to be right in this situation. There are hurting people living right next to you. There are needs all around. We may be on the side of faith, but we are compelled to live out that faith in a tangible way. Loving, serving, helping…doing. If we are to be salt and light shouldn’t we be bright and full of flavor?