The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – James 3:13-18 (day three)

“This wisdom is not that which comes down from above…”

As always, James remains practical. Theology is present, of course, but what is out front here is actual speaking, responding, planning, noticing, allowing, supporting, and allying. These actions are what we talk about when we talk about everyday life. The ideas in your head are not everyday life. You might desire that your Christian ideas give shape to the way you live, but that’s not always the case. It’s possible to ally yourself with those who do evil even as you verbalize your own intent to do good, for instance. In that case, the “wisdom from above” does not inform your alliances. James will not let you get away with choosing right ideas at the expense of right living. Such an arrangement is at the heart of what James calls “earthly wisdom.”

Re:Verse passage – James 3:13-18 (day two)

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. vs. 17

Sounds a bit like the fruit of the Spirit doesn’t it? Wisdom comes from a place that few of us access often enough. Agenda-driven motives tend to cloud the heart of wisdom. It is not enough to use knowledge when we are motivated by self-interest. To be wise is to be truly humble and submitted to a greater purpose and design. Not only do most of us not operate from that place, but we are untrusting of people when they speak to us. We often are looking for the angle, what are they trying to get out of me. This crazy cycle of selfishness and mistrust is not Kingdom-minded, and is not true wisdom. To be truly wise is to be more concerned about others than yourself. May we all pray that we act in wisdom, and receive it when offered.

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

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. vs 1

“Okay, I just wont become a Sunday School teacher so I don’t get held to a higher standard.” It doesn’t quite work that way my friend. James would probably agree that preachers and Biblical teachers should be held to a very high standard, but in a sense, he is speaking to all of us. If we look deeply into our lives we can see that God has placed people around us that learn from our actions. Family, friends, and coworkers are all watching us, especially once they know that we are a Christian. They are watching to see how the Christian handles pressure, how the Christian treats others, and even how the Christian spends his free time. Our actions are teaching someone a lesson. The question is, what are they learning from you?

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

⁶ And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. James 3:6

There doesn’t seem to be much hope in these verses. Our tongues are deeply connected to a simmering cauldron of  infinite matches. Cheaply we flick them without thought or self-control, only to regret later the cost of easily flung words. We often will say, I didn’t mean it or I don’t know where those words came from, but the truth is our words, especially those flung so hard, hot, and fast reveal who we are in our core, and Pastor James declares, your core is a whole world of wickedness.

Left here, we are all in trouble! But James has told us from the beginning take joy in your troubles. Much like the Sermon on the Mount, these words, drive us to to desperation and humility. What can we do with a wicked heart and tongue like ours. PJ concludes, you only have one option:

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6

Re:Verse passage – James 3:1-12 (day five) “Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.”  The wisdom of the scripture is amazing. James gives two illustrations (bit and rudder) for the power and potential a “tamed tongue” has for the spiritual growth and maturity of a believer. A tamed tongue is not just evidence of a vibrant and growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ (life giving), it is a means to it.

James illustrates that our goal is not just to gain control of our tongues but to have balanced and healthy lives that reflect the Glory of God.
The bit illustrates all the “internal” things that must be controlled (thoughts, plans, imagination, values). All of these use internal words to formulate and arrange in our minds.  The rudder then, points to the external events and circumstances that can veer us “off course” in our thinking and speaking.
In the Lord’s economy, words are the most valuable- creation (spoken into existence) and redemption (Word became flesh).  Makes sense that He would demand that we have the same regard for words- both internally and externally.

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.