Chick-Fil-A employees, COVD-19 face masks, and Roger Goodell. All marked by repetition. We’re all familiar with the repetitive and memorable phrase by Chick-Fil-A employees, “My pleasure.” We’re also all familiar with the COVID-19 face masks and reminders to remain “Six feet apart” in public places. But I doubt many of you are familiar with Roger Goodell. As the NFL commissioner, many watched Goodell recently during the NFL draft say, “And as the [number] pick of the 2020 NFL draft, the [team] select [player].” Yes, over a couple of days, Goodell said basically the same phrase 255 times. That again, repetition at its finest.

As I finish up this blog series on James, I’m reminded all the more of the importance of repetition. Think of even certain rhythms and routines that you haven’t been able to repeat consistently in this COVID-19 season? Gathering with the body of Christ in person on Sundays, working out at the gym, enjoying a good meal at one of your favorite restaurants. And even more specifically regarding your growth as a Christian, what are those consistent rhythms you repeat? Reading the Word, praying, journaling, serving at church. 

We remember what we repeat. I remember the taste of a Sweet Heat Carnivore pizza, Itis style. Why? Because it’s my favorite pizza in Wichita, and thus I’ve eaten it several times. I remember the anguish after rounds of burpees. Why? Because I workout at a gym a couple of times a week. Many of you reading this remember truths about God’s character and his purpose for our lives? Why? Because you read, listen to, and discuss gospel truths. 

James ends this letter with repetition. Go ahead and read James 5:13-20. Did you catch the repetition? In six straight verses, James uses the word prayer. Why? Because he wants us to remember. He doesn’t want us to move past the significance of prayer. He doesn’t want us to neglect consistent communion with our Father. Simply put, James wants us to see both the purpose of prayer and the power of prayer. 

James tells us in verse 13 to pray when we suffer, in verse 14 to pray when we are sick, and in verse 16 to pray when we sin. He litters this passage with both the example of the elders to pray (James 5:14-15) and the faithful example of Elijah in prayer (James 5:17-18). James uncovers the inner strength found in prayer in verse 16, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16). Our Father in heaven who created the world and sustains all bends his ear to us in prayer. We might not always get “what we want” in prayer, but we always get what we need – namely God himself. James’ call for us to pray in all circumstances is twofold. Of course, we pray as God works in all circumstances, and we also pray that God would work in us, conforming us more and more into the image of his Son. The circumstances might not change. We might not get rain as Elijah did (James 5:18). But the Spirit will change us. Yes, the cliche instagram post and Christian coffee cup slogan really is true. Prayer really does change things – maybe not always our circumstances, but prayer definitely changes us.

And then James closes this letter in verses 19-20 with a call to confession, a call to repentance, a call to community. Confession is thus a catalyst for healing. We often get stuck in sin when there’s a lack of confession in community. James 5:19-20 exhorts us to be a people to help “bring back a sinner from his wandering” and thus requires we know others deeply and be deeply known by others.

The book of James shows that God prunes his people through suffering, and these closing verses of chapter five show that God preserves his people through prayer and community. We seek God in prayer for his glory and for our growth. We pray both with the community of saints and for the community of saints. We pray for strength in the midst of suffering. We pray for healing as a foretaste of the future healing in the kingdom of God. 

Friends, may the book of James remind us of the comfort of the gospel – namely, that we are beloved as children of God (James 1:19) and the call of the gospel – namely, to suffer well, to speak wisely, to pray fervently (James 1:2-4, James 3:13-18, James 5:13-18). May we all grow in repetition in these pursuits. May we our words be just as memorable as those spoken by Roger Goodell or a Chick-Fil-A employee. After all, we remember what we repeat. Be encouraged as you remind yourself today of the great hope we have in the gospel. And then again, tomorrow. And then the next day. And then the next day. May the tune of the gospel of Jesus Christ be on repeat in all of our lives.

“Is Easter lunch ready?” a question asked by many of us yesterday following joining our church service online. “Are we there yet?” as asked by so many of us in the middle of a road trip. “Why do I have to go through this?” This last question, if we’re honest, we often consider in the midst of trials. And yes, many of us are asking that very question in response to COVID-19. Why? Why is this happening? And yet, it’s the same question asked around Easter lunch (or any meal for that matter) and the same question asked on road trips – do we have to keep waiting? What’s the purpose? When will this end?

And for these questions, James gives us an answer in James 5:7-12. Namely, James cuts to the chase with one command starting in verse 7, “Be patient” (James 5:7). This thread of patience litters this passage. Go ahead and read James 5:7-12 if you haven’t already done so. See it? Patience is mentioned twice in verse 7 and once in verses 8 and 10. And to help color the patience James calls his readers to, he compliments his exhortation with the theme of steadfastness in verse 11. Just as you told your kids to be patient in the car yesterday on the way to grandma’s or to be patient while the Easter pie finished baking, James calls us to be patient while we wait. 

And yes, waiting is hard. Do any of us like to wait? Our culture continues to attempt to form us into a self-consuming, instant gratification type of people. Technology, social media, and even now with “curbside grocery pick-ups” serve as means that eliminate our need of waiting. We don’t wait for the 10 pm news or Sunday paper, but rather, we scroll through any number of apps on our phone to get the inside scoop as soon as and whenever we want it.

Now with that said, James writes to those suffering (much like us today in this COVID-19 season) and what does he say? Wait, be patient, be steadfast, endure, persevere. James helps us understand how to wait by giving us a couple of illustrations and examples. Look again at verse 7. James tells us to be patient like the farmer who “…waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it…” (James 5:7). Any farmers reading this post? For those of you who know me, I am certainly not a farmer with no hint of a green thumb in my body. But I do think of my dad raising cattle, and past summers with a long drought. My dad needed rain for his ranch, for his cows, and yet, there was nothing he could do to make it rain. He had to wait for the rain. And he also had to work hard while he waited for the rain.

So what does this look like for us? James 5:8 encourages us to “…establish your hearts…” (James 5:8). We reorient our perspective as the Spirit redeems our pursuits. We seek to honor Christ with the work of our hands while we wait on the Lord to bear the fruit. He calls us to be faithful as he bears the fruit from our faithfulness. And to the truth that “…the coming of the Lord is at hand…” (James 5:8), the waiting is worth the wait.

James then continues his exhortation to be patient with calling us to patience like that of “…the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord” (James 5:10). In the midst of suffering, of hard days, God calls his people to speak truth, to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are commanded to use our words to herald the beauty of the gospel, the redemptive story, the hope we have because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is this exhortation to proclaim the excellencies of God that James reminds us of Job’s example in James 5:11. James says, “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11). Job’s confession, repentance, and restoration didn’t happen until chapter 42. Just a reminder for anyone who hasn’t read Job lately. After forty-two chapters of suffering, of waiting, the purpose of the pain was revealed. And it is this example, that we remember.

The Lord shows compassion and mercy to us in the midst of hard days, hard weeks, hard months. There’s purpose in our pain. He isn’t wasting this season of COVID-19. As we wait for the stay-at-home order to be lifted, as we wait in the midst of other suffering, we remember. We remember his compassion, his mercy, his providence, his purpose. And as the Spirit establishes our hearts in what is true, may we wait well – in whatever “waiting room” we might be sitting in today.

Meetings cancelled. Weddings postponed. Disappointments continue. We all have and will continue to experience the effects of COVID-19 in both some similar and significant ways. Don’t hug your family members. Don’t shake your neighbor’s hand. And certainly don’t share a meal with friends. Yes, much of what we are experiencing feels so very foreign, so very unexpected, and so very uncertain. 

And yet, as Christians we must cling to what is beautiful, good, and true. We must remember what we know, what we can trust, what is certain. God himself. God has made himself known to us, He is not surprised by any of this, and He remains so very certain and stable in the midst of our circumstances.

The end of James 4 reminds us of our faith that perseveres. A faith that brings both peace and bolsters our perseverance. As we consider the end of James, be reminded of what James has previously said in this chapter. James 4:7-10 called us to be a people of humility, who walk in repentance, as we turn from our sin and turn to God. And now James continues this theme of humility as he closes the chapter. 

James 4:13 makes a claim that many of us might make. Just be honest, it’s okay. We (myself included) probably all do this. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’” (James 4:13). We make our to-do lists, schedule our meetings, plan our weeks. And then COVID-19 hits. And everything changes. Isn’t verse 14 just a balm for our current days? Check it out. James is right. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Our lives are a mist, and yet our God remains sovereign over both life and death.

So how do we respond to these realities? How do we recognize when we’re walking in entitlement and arrogance as described in James 4:13? How do we react to the uncertainties of our days? James 4:15 provides an example of the humility needed to persevere well. James says, “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that’” (James 4:15). Now James isn’t of course saying that before we do anything – unload the dishwasher, send an email, or attend a Zoom work meeting – we must say, “If the Lord wills, I will do this.” But rather, James encourages us to have this mindset. A mindset that both recognizes the sovereignty of God and responds in humility before God. It is this posture of submission that says, “God rules and reigns over everything. And I’m in desperate need of his sustaining grace for every single area of my life.”

But when we don’t respond in this posture of humility, James boldly calls out our arrogance. James doesn’t beat around the bush when he says, “As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:16). Now, if we’re honest, we can all at some point find ourselves in this camp. We think we know what’s best. And yet, we must remember that our good and perfect God knows what’s best. Why? Because, he is ultimately what’s best. He’s writing a better story. He’s the author of our story. And yes, COVID-19 is now a part of all our stories. 

May our God who works miracles and keeps his promises continue to write a better story. May we respond today with a posture of James 4:15, entrusting all of our lives to what God wants rather than what we want. For every Zoom call and temporary business closing, our God remains on the throne. Let’s entrust ourselves and our days to the Lord. He hasn’t left us. He is with us and for us. And we get to look to him, our hope and our help, in this time of trouble.

Everyone is home. Your spouse. Your kids. Your roommates. Yes, everyone is home. Probably either all the time or definitely much more than usual. And how’s that going for your household? You probably know where I’m going with this. While I personally am loving this stay-at-home order, I recognize that some reading this may really be struggling with it. And it might not be due to the comfort of not being able to get out of the house, but rather due to the conflict within the house. 

James has much to tell us about our conflict and our response to conflict. Turn to James 4 and go ahead and read verses 1-12. It will help you see what James draws out as we consider our experience with conflict. If you remember, James 3 ended with him giving us two pictures of wisdom (wisdom from the Lord and wisdom from the world). Now, James opens his next chapter with giving us two pictures of friendship (friendship with the world and friendship with God). 

Look at verse 1 of James 4. James asks the question that many parents have probably already asked their kids today, “Why did you two get in a fight?” James says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1). Isn’t that the same question you ask yourself or others? And isn’t the answer the same? The fights are caused by the desires. Why does the toddler throw a fit? She doesn’t get to play with her new American doll. She doesn’t get what she wants. And friends, we are no different. Conflict arises when comforts go unmet. Anger surfaces when apparent needs remain threatened or withheld. Fights happen when fleshly desires aren’t fulfilled. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and read verses 1-5 again. Our sinful desires of our flesh only serve as a catalyst for our friendship with the world. These sinful desires are dangerous. Yes, I’m referring to verse 2, but no, James is probably referring to hyperbole with the vivid language he uses. The point is simply this: our conflict surfaces when our comforts (our desires) remain unfulfilled.

Look at verse 4. James explicitly says that “…friendship with the world is enmity with God…” (James 4:4). When we pursue friendship with the world, we not only have conflict with others and within ourselves, but we also have conflict with God himself. James goes so far to say that our friendship with God results in spiritual adultery against God when he addresses his readers as “You adulterous people!” (James 4:4). Throughout the book thus far, James has addressed his recipients as “brothers” but now he refers to them so very differently. And why does he do so? Ultimately, because our God wants what is best for his children, namely himself. Check out verse 5. James reminds his readers that God jealously longs over the spirit that he made to dwell in us. And this isn’t a kind of jealousy that we often see today (think social media, think reality TV shows, think jealousy at work/at home, you get the idea). This jealousy instead is based not on comparison, covetous, and insecurity but rather on the character of God – he is ultimately good and wants ultimate good for his children. 

And then to encourage us all, James reminds us that in spite of our “friendship with the world,” we can have hope. Why? Because of who God is and what God does. Look at verse 6. James says, “But he gives more grace” (James 4:6). Friends, this is incredible news. In spite of us, God remains gracious. He gives more and more grace. He gives us what we don’t deserve time and time again. And to whom does God give grace? The humble (James 4:6). Those who are needy. I think of a professor who gave me grace in seminary when I was really struggling. I was needy, aware that I needed help. I needed a miracle of sorts. And he gave me grace. And how much more does our merciful and loving God give us abundant grace in our time of great need?

Last night, Tanner and I finished eating a venison roast. Yes, we eat deer. It’s actually quite delicious. That aside, this roast really didn’t have much flavor. I followed a well-respected recipe, and yet, the roast lacked flavor. Too simple of a recipe in my opinion. Not enough ingredients. Well, this is not true of how James speaks of humility. He’s not lacking in “ingredients” or clarity of what a humble spirit looks like. He instead gives us several commands that reflect humility, multiple commands that portray submission. For the note-takers, you love this. For all of us wanting to grow in our love for God, we should all love this. These verses don’t lack flavor. They are sharp, bold, and so very clear. Read verses 7-10 again to see these commands. James tells us to resist the devil (James 4:7), draw near to God (James 4:8), pursue purity (James 4:8), see the severity of our sin (James 4:9), walk in humility (James 4:10). These commands thus help us to walk in humility, as friends of God and not friends of the world.

I recently finished reading Mere Christiantiy with my apologetics class (a.k.a. my CSW C.S. Lewis Reading Group). One central theme that stuck out to my students and me was that of pride. C.S. Lewis encapsulates the heart of pride when he writes, “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity). Pride breeds itself upon comparison and leads to both a lack of love for God and love for others.

James then connects our speech with our humility in James 4:11-12. He commands us in verse 11 to “…not speak evil against one another…” (James 4:11). James recognizes that when we are humble before God and others, it directly affects our speech. When we see ourselves and our sin accurately, we will speak to others and about others in a way of humility rather than arrogance. Our friendship with God will thus overflow into our friendships with others. Think James 3. Yes, I’m specifically thinking of James 3:9-10. With our words come both honor and dishonor. And of course, the encouragement is that God gives more grace (James 4:6). 

In the midst of conflict, how do you respond? Do you walk as a friend of God in repentance that James outlines in James 4:7-10? Or do you walk in arrogance, as a friend of the world? Where do you need to respond in greater humility, recognizing your faults and sin before God and others? May this season of stay-at-home orders and extra time with our household compel us all the more to both recognize the source of our conflicts and respond in humility before God and before others. And this is the good news – He gives more grace. For all the conflict we observe and/or encounter, our God gives more grace. May we receive this grace from our Father who deeply loves us and gives this grace to those around us who deeply need it. After all, we surely need it. We are all really needy. And our God is really sufficient.

So much talking these days – on the news, over the phone, in person (with social distancing, of course). And all of these words primarily revolve around COVID-19 and rightfully so. What should we do? What shouldn’t we do? How are we to respond? We are literally encountering the power of the words of others. Because of the words of others, students cannot attend school, employers cannot work, and others cannot leave their homes. Words carry power. Words can both protect and preserve. And James, himself, illustrates this for us in his third chapter of his letter to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion. 

But before jumping into James 3, let’s consider the words of others. Yes, right now, we are eagerly listening to the words of the governor and other leaders regarding the limitations due to COVID-19. My boss even yesterday said he has never received so many emails in his life. So yes, we (as people) are talking and often have much (and usually too much) to say. And yet, let us not forget that God himself is both the first to speak in history and the most important speaker in our lives.  Genesis 1:3 reads, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’” God himself creates with words. That is how important words are; the universe is created by them. And yet, man is also deceived not by the words of God, but by the words of Satan in the garden (think Genesis 3). Satan’s words both contradict and twist’s God’s Words. So yes, words carry immense power – both for life (God’s creation) and for death (Satan’s deception).

So how do we respond with our words? Well, the first verse of chapter 3 of James has had an incredible impact on my life. God used James 3:1 to literally direct me to leave my job in ministry and pursue seminary. Yes, check out James 3:1 if you haven’t already done so. Convicting right? James says, “Not many of you should become teachers…we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1). The weight and responsibility of teaching God’s Word should cause us all the more to walk in greater humility before God and his people, seeking the Spirit to equip us for the good gospel work of teaching.

James then backs up the great responsibility of teaching God’s Word with recognizing the opportunity for sin due to the destruction caused by words. Verse 2 highlights that we will all struggle with what we say (and how we say it). Look at verse 2, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body” (James 3:2). Does this verse remind you of another verse in this book? Yes, James 1:26. Turn over to it in your Bible or pull it up on your device. I’d recommend using a Bible though if you have one (more on that in a future post). James says that if you don’t bridle your tongue, your religion is worthless. And yes, this bridling of our tongue is a process in our lives as Christians, but that’s just it, we must recognize where we need to grow, less we deceive ourselves (and others).

And then James continues to build his argument with not just telling us about the power of words but showing us. Yes, he gives us three illustrations in verses 3-6 to show us that the tongue carries great power. The control of a horse and a ship, both driven by such a small element. The fire that spreads uncontrollably yet just starts with a small flame. And so too, with our words, our words carry such power for our whole bodies and thus our lives. 

Given the power of the tongue, James warns of our inability to tame it ourselves in verses 7-10. Take a look at James 3:8. James says, “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8).  I know of a few dogs who are tamed really well, and I thank their owners for that. But for all of the tamed dogs (and children for that matter), James basically says, ‘Good luck, but you’re not going to be able to tame the tongue like you can tame your golden retriever or your young toddler.” And yet, if we are honest, we use our words both to bless God and then to hurt others (James 3:10). This predicament reflects our hearts. Friends, our words don’t just need to change, but rather our hearts. And the gospel promise for believers is that the Spirit transforms our hearts, which thus overflows through the words we speak out of our redeemed hearts. 

So this is the good news. There’s hope for us. God gives grace for all of the destructive words we have spoken and all of the destructive words we have believed. And God provides wisdom in himself that brings peace rather than chaos. James contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God in James 3:13-18. May we be those who seek wisdom from God that is “…first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). In all of the words we hear today, primarily about COVID-19, we must remember that we know the One who has spoken and continues to speak, the one who has authority over all. Let us quiet ourselves before Him that we may both hear from Him and speak of Him. And yes, that’s all I have to say. Enough words for today from me, anyways.

Cancellation after cancellation. Yes, we find ourselves in a most unexpected time with the effects of the coronavirus. But if there’s one effect of cancellation after cancellation, it is time. With no March Madness to watch, we have perhaps some unexpected time, maybe more time than usual to consider. And the back end of James 2 has much for us to consider. 

When you think of the book of James, I’m guessing one verse might come to mind. Look at James 2:17. Yes, James tells us that faith without works is dead. So faith acts; it is alive. James 2 also shows us that faith sacrifices (think Abraham) and yes, faith risks (think Rahab, not your friend who still decided to go to Europe last week in the middle of the coronavirus craziness). 

Before reading any further, take a minute and read James 2:14-26. Faith in our hearts is manifested by the fruit in our lives. But what does active faith look like? How does our faith both make sacrifices and take risks? Before I jump in and give a few thoughts, I just want to give a disclaimer. These verses are packed with truth as you probably know. And you might think these verses are confusing or seem to contradict other passages. The possibilities for misunderstanding these verses in James 2 are many. That said, I want to help us see clearly and accurately what Scripture is saying here as well as how these verses in James fit within the entire metanarrative of Scripture. These verses should both significantly challenge and change our lives, but I don’t want them to confuse us. So where there’s confusion, pause and ask the Spirit to help us read the Word as the Word reads us.

Imagine seeing someone laying down, seemingly unconscious, on the sidewalk as you walk out to grab the newspaper in the morning. Are you going to walk up to them and ask them where they are from or when their birthday is? No! You’re going to make sure they are alive. So too is James as he exhorts us to have a faith that is alive and active. And yes, James too converses with an imaginary person in this passage, a person who claims to have faith but has no works. But don’t miss this. James isn’t addressing someone with an immature faith with that of a mature faith. James is saying in verse 14, you have an active, saving faith or you have dead faith, a faith that doesn’t even really exist. The answer to the question that James asks in James 2:14, “Can that faith save him?” is absolutely not! Saving faith overflows as an active faith. Saving faith bears fruit.

Now consider verses 15-17. Yes, these verses might sting a bit. Do they sound like the words of Jesus himself? Read Matthew 25:35-46. Yes, as we minister and serve the poor and needy, Jesus reminds us it is as if we are caring for Christ himself for that person bears the image of God. James is hinting here at the same truth. While acts of mercy are not the source of our salvation, acts of mercy do show our salvation. Friends, if we fail to help the needy, we must consider our great need before our Redeemer and how that need has been met in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is this posture as recipients of mercy that we do extend mercy.

James continues to build this argument for an active faith in James 2:18-20. Yes, he continues to use an imaginary person, not that we would ever know anyone like he is describing (hear my sarcasm). Look at verse 19. James makes it crystal clear for us here that faith is not simply intellectually ascribing to something, like the demons do. Nor is it simply an emotional response of the heart based on the overplayed worship song of the year. But rather, faith reveals itself through obedience, through action. And for that, keep reading in James 2:20-24. Thank you, James for all of the rhetorical questions in these verses. And for not beating around the bush in verse 20. We get it – dead faith doesn’t save and doesn’t act, and living faith does save and does act.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Read James 2:21-24. How can James say in verse 21 that Abraham was justified by his works? We must recognize that there’s both a positional righteousness we have before God (salvation) and a practical righteousness we have before God (sanctification/our daily lives of growth as Christians). When James refers to the “works” three times in verses 21-22, he is referring to the works as fruit of an active, saving faith. These are not “works” that earn salvation but rather reflect salvation. In the sense of Abraham’s faith that “…was completed by his works” (James 2:22), his faith is matured by his obedience. And so too with us right? The more we obey God and walk in actions of obedience, the more our faith grows. The growing fruit reflects the growing faith. The sacrifice of Abraham serves as an example of sacrifice for us. Now God of course, isn’t calling you to offer up your son on the altar, but what might God be asking you to sacrifice? Security of your job? Finances? Time? Other comforts? 

And in light of considering an active faith that does works and makes sacrifices, James closes the chapter with a punch. Yes, good ‘ole Rahab. Take a look at verses 25-26. Was she not radical as James describes her as a “prostitute justified by works” (James 2:26)? And yet, as she had received abundant grace, she took great risks “…when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way” (James 2:25). Rahab knew judgement awaited her, and yet she feared God and thus obeyed, taking a risk by allowing the Jewish spies to stay in her home. Rahab risked much so that God’s people might take Jericho and thus spread God’s glory. 

And so, how do we respond to these words and these examples? James has shown us that faith does works, faith makes sacrifices, and faith takes risks. Where do you need to examine where your faith is lacking in fruit? Where is God calling you to be obedient in good works, generous sacrifices, and significant risks? I’m not talking about coronavirus risks and works, but maybe. May all of us grow as people whose faith bears much fruit for the good of the church and glory of God. Now, go wash your hands, stay away from the coronavirus, and get to work.

 “Mrs. Stevenson, are we your favorite class?” I am literally asked this question most days at school. And yes, as a new teacher, I quickly made the mistake of telling the 10th graders that they are my favorites. I know, not wise on my end. But don’t you have favorites? For the parents reading this, don’t you have a favorite child? For the March Madness fans, don’t you have a favorite bracket buster team? Tough to answer, but James himself calls to consider favoritism in James 2:1-13.

First things first, context is key. James begins by addressing the fellow Christians and then commands them to “show no partiality” (James 2:1). And he tells them to not do so as they “hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1). James reminds them to be so caught up in the glory of Christ that partiality does not in any way surface. Friends, this speaks to the  bigness and majesty of God over, through, and in all! And, if we are captivated by this, we will not be Christians who show favoritism. 

And then, James puts a bit more flesh on his argument in verses 2-11 of chapter 2. . Look at verse 5 again. God chose the poor  “to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom” (James 2:5). God’s choosing reflects God’s grace giving. God has given his people, his poor and needy people, the gift of faith and identity as heirs of the kingdom. Friends, this is incredible news. We’re called to see others as image bearers of God, in need of the grace of Christ. It is this grace of Christ that compels us to not show partiality.

But James builds his case all the more with verse 8. Look at verse 8 again: “the royal law according to the Scripture” (James 2:8). Look again at James 2:8-9. James is saying, if you “fulfill the royal law according to the Scriptures”…”you are doing well” (James 2:8-9) – you are crushing it. But if you “show partiality” – then you are a lawbreaker. James is dialing down that if you show favoritism, according to James 2:9, “you are commiting sin”. And thus when we walk in favoritism, we are dishonoring God himself. Favoritism dishonors man and thus dishonors God who made man in his image. Look at verse 10. James says that if you break one law (which newsflash – you do),  you are guilty of breaking the whole law!

So yes, favoritism matters. It’s a serious sin. And thus, James calls us to consider divine judgement (James 2:12). We will be judged by our words and actions.  James is saying – don’t mess with favoritism. God will judge us based on what God has said matters. And yes, favoritism matters.

And yet, before you pause here without finishing this blog thinking, “Wow, Lacey, another gut punch. I can’t do this. I can’t speak and act well enough for God.” Well, you’re right. You and I can never do enough to stand before the judgement of Christ. And yet, we remember that we need the mercy of Christ.  Look at verse 13 of James 2. This is the message of the gospel – we need mercy. And what is mercy? Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. When I don’t sign my student’s card, I give them mercy. They deserve a card mark, and instead they get a warning. And we need mercy that “triumphs over judgement” (James 2:13). And you know what is amazing, justice and mercy met in the cross. We should be judged, we should receive death for our sin, and yet we get what we don’t deserve – salvation, the righteousness of Jesus. When you have received that kind of mercy, you give it to others. 

So friends, as we have received mercy, we will extend mercy. When we are forgiven, we forgive others. When we receive mercy, we give mercy. But the opposite of this is also true, when we don’t give mercy, we show that we haven’t received mercy. And again look at verse 13. James says that “judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy” (James 2:13).  We want judgement with mercy. We don’t want judgment without mercy. And may this gospel application grow us in showing mercy rather than favoritism. Is it difficult? Yes. And for these commands, there’s grace. Receive that grace as you give it. May mercy triumph over judgement all the more in our lives.

October 22, 2016. Walking around Dallas Cowboys Stadium, hopeful yet lost. Tanner and I were enjoying our second date of a country concert, and yet, we were absolutely lost. The excitement for the second date had completely overshadowed the fact that we could not remember where Tanner’s white chevy truck was parked. Tanner had parked his truck, and we could not remember where it was parked. And don’t we do the same thing. We do something and then forget. We read the Word and then forget what we have read.

Friends, we’re just too much like the man James describes at the end of James 1. He tells us in verses 23- 24: “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like” (James 1:23-24).

But before we consider how we fail to remember God’s Word, how do we receive his Word. Look at James, giving us more of those 54 commands that he promised. He tells us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” in verse 19. James first tells us that we should: receive God’s Word with humility. Don’t come to the Word with your guard up, like I know what this says which might lead to anger and/or disregard for the Word. Come humble and ready to listen. But don’t we sometimes do the opposite – we come ready to talk and argue about why we don’t have to obey the Scriptures.

Think about instruction in your life. When the doctor gives an aging grandpa instruction, he diligently follows the guidelines to improve his health. When the plumber gives you instructions about your pipes, you don’t try to tell him he is wrong. So too, are we to respond to God’s Word – not slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to anger – like we might do with other instruction in our lives, but rather with humility, being  “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” in verse 19. For this anger, James says, “does not produce the righteousness of God” (verse 20).

And then in verse 21, James gives us yes, yet another command: “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness”.  So how do we receive the Word? Do you treasure it? Do you read it with arrogance or humility? Do you come to the Word with neediness? If not, what affections of this world do you need to “put away” (verse 21) so that you can grow in your affection for the Word? 

And then look again at verses 23-24. James contrasts this kind of man with another man who doesn’t remember the Word. He uses the analogy in verse 24, of a person who looks at his face in the mirror and then can’t identify himself. He forgets what he looks like. James is saying – don’t forget. Remember with intentionality. 

As I mentioned earlier, Tanner and I didn’t remember where his truck was parked. We failed to remember with intentionality, and so to, do we often follow the same suite. This command to not forget reminds us of all the times through the redemptive narrative that God tells us to remember. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, God gave his people his law, before the people go up into the promised land. And then Just a couple of chapters later, God warns his people to not forget his commands and decrees (Deuteronomy 8:10-18).

Friends, we need to remember God’s Word with intentionality. And how do we remember? We memorize. We meditate. Psalm 119:9,11 “How can a young man keep his way pure, by guarding it according to your word….I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”  Scripture memory is an essential discipline for every Christian. I know that memorizing Scripture can be difficult, but consider Psalm 19, verse 10 “The Word is more precious than an abundance of pure gold.”  So the question is, do we value Scripture? We value our shows, our sports, our songs. We seem to memorize those things we value most. Think about it. Convicting right? 

And yet, James gives us some encouragement in verse 25. The last four words of the verse read: “…blessed in his doing” (James 1:25).  James is telling us that there is a glorious blessing with the obedience to God’s Word. Joy follows obedience, yet joy is not always present in obedience. For the parents, think of your children. They don’t always have joy in their obedience, but joy follows their obedience. And it’s true for us as well.

May the grace of King Jesus continue to help us to not only be hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word. Let’s not forget and rather intentionally remember, both where we park our cars and the promises of the Word. 

Jeweled crowns and fishing hooks. Anyone else have these images in your mind after reading James 1:12-18? 

James has exhorted his readers to persevere in trials. And then in verse 12, he calls his readers “blessed.” But what kind of blessed? Blessed like that feeling I have when I drink out of a coffee cup that says “blessed”? And how in the world, do I consider those suffering to be “blessed”? Here we see one of the many times in James that he specifically alludes to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). One of the keys to understanding and correctly applying James recognizes that James relies heavily on what Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount. 

But what does James mean when he says “the crown of life”? He definitely doesn’t mean jeweled crowns worn by the kings of England. Rather, picture the Boston marathon runner who will receive the crown next month on Marathon Monday in Hopkinton Square. And yes, the “crown of life” that James speaks of in verse 12 represents not a physical crown of glory but rather the eternal reward of glory. Think 2 Corinthians 4:17, not shiny jewels. 

And James adds a “plus 1” to our trials. Yes, every trial has a plus 1. Every trial is accompanied with temptation. When our jobs seem difficult, we often find ourselves tempted to not trust God’s provision. When a family member becomes sick, we question God’s love. And yet, we must remember this: God may test us, but God does not and will not tempt us (James 1:13). You and I are responsible for our temptations. 

So let’s consider two spheres regarding our temptations: the presence of sin and the practice of sin. First, the presence of sin. If we understand our responsibility in temptation, then we must always understand where sin is present. Look at verse 13 again: “God cannot be tempted with evil.” And this is because God is perfectly sinless. God always resists sin, evil stands as a foreign language to him, like me learning Greek my first semester of seminary.

Now look at verse 14. Thanks James, for pointing the figure at us. We are the guilty one. The chocolate is on our hands from the cookie jar. While God is perfectly sinless, we are positively sinful. Now some of us might be thinking, maybe James is going to tell us that Satan causes us to sin, but he doesn’t. Now hold on, yes Satan is involved in the temptations of this world, and we’re going to see that later in James 4:7. But James wants this to be crystal clear for us – the responsibility for temptation and sin are on us – our distorted desires are to blame. 

But let’s be real. We all want to point the finger at someone or something else. We want to say that it is the fault of our parents, our friends, our long days of work, our government, anything right? Now yes, different factors affect us, but it’s not your long work meeting’s fault that you come home in a sour mood and lack patience with your household. 

God’s Word is clear. We point the finger for our sin on ourselves. And anytime we are seeking to justify ourselves and our actions, we are probably walking in sin. The problem is with us – at our core. “For I know nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh.” Romans 7:18

So that’s the presence of sin – you and I. Now to the practice of sin – it doesn’t just happen. There’s a process to the chaos.

• Look at verse 14. We are “lured and enticed”. Think of the garden (Genesis 3). Eve distrusts God. The heart of sin is unbelief. We don’t believe God knows what is best for us. We question God. We walk in deception. Think of the serpent’s question, “Did God really say?” Gen. 3:1. And then, out of distrusting God, we are dissatisfied and deceived in our desires.
• And what’s the last word of verse 14? Desire. The language here refers to that of a baiting hook. I don’t know a lot about fishing, but I do know you hide the hook. Temptation is done the same way – it appeals to our desires like that of bait on a hook, attracts us, but doesn’t tell us that it will kill us! Think about how a struggle with pornography or adultery or dishonesty at work starts. 
• Sin starts with disordered thoughts which lead to disordered desires and then to disobedience. Look at verse 15. The desire is conceived – “formed”. And sin is birthed.
• And how does this go for us? What’s the last word of verse 15? Death. This is the result of our disobedience. We are destroyed. Adultery can kill marriage i.e. divorce. It’s destroyed. Think of the smell of death. A dead animal stinks. Think of when you walk outside and smell that dead skunk or rat. We need to sit in the weight of this imagery. Sin will kill you. 

So how do we need to respond? We fight through our trials; we remain steadfast (James 1:3-4). And we flee our temptations. But don’t we often do the opposite. We want to run from trials and fight through our temptations, thinking we are strong enough. We aren’t. Friends, we must flee the temptations and fight through the trials. 

James has definitely come out of the gate in this letter – hard and fast. You’re going to face both trials and temptations. So how do we respond? We need to remember that God is both sovereign and faithful. Look at verse 17: “there is no variation or shadow.” In the midst of change, God doesn’t change.  Don’t believe the lies. Trust him in the trials and turn to him in the temptations. God’s goodness remains unchanging, reveals his grace, and reflects eternal glory (James 1:17-18). 

Friends, take heart. God has saved us from our sin, and he will sustain us in our struggles. We can thus fight through trials as we consider them a pure joy and flee from temptations, the bait on the fishing hooks, with confidence in God’s sovereignty and faithfulness. After all, there’s the crown of life awaiting us.

I love homes. Shopping for them, looking at them, visiting them, buying them. Yes, scrolling through Zillow brings me great pleasure. And as we all know, home inspections are required when buying a home. Following a detailed inspection report and a check for a couple of hundred dollars, the worry sets in – “should we buy this home?” The unsteady foundation, the increasing cracks, the aging roof. And yet, the home inspection is required to buy a home, it reveals all of the problems of a house, and thus is painful to observe, and yet, profitable if the end results in shiny house keys to your new home.

And so too, with trials.  The beginning verses of James show us that trials are required, revealing, painful, and yet oh, so profitable. James exhorts us in our response to these trials in verse 2, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of various kinds.” The command to “count it all joy” (James 1:2) addresses how we think. This is not about how we feel. When the world is crashing in on you, how do you count it all joy? Think of John 11. When Lazarus died. Jesus didn’t say, “Count it all joy.” He comforted them. He wept with them (John 11:35).

Look at verse 2. “Trials of various kinds.” Various means – well, various. Small trials, big trials. Minor trials, major trials. Trials of course are not joyful in and of themselves. Depression is not a joy. Divorce is not a joy. Cancer is not a joy. But these trials can be joyful when we realize they are under the authority of a sovereign God who is accomplishing his purpose through them. 

Friends, we can rejoice in trials not so much in what they are, but in what God sovereignly accomplishes through them. And what does God accomplish through our trials? The goal of shopping for a house is buying a house. The goal of trials is – well, look at verses 3-4; “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:3-4). The testing of our faith produces steadfastness.  What is steadfastness? Endurance. And endurance must finish its work in you, so that you may be “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4). This is the goal. What does Paul say in 1 Thessalonians 4:3? The will of God is our sanctification. God’s goal in our life is our maturity in him, growth in his likeness – for our good and his glory.

Friends, consider a trial you are facing…whether major or minor, and now think of James 1:3. If James 1:3 was your chant – your lifestyle. If the goal in the trial is simply to fix the circumstances, it might not get fixed. But if your ultimate goal is to know God and grow in him, you will achieve the goal. Trials are joy when God is the goal. Trials help us to know God, love God, trust God.

And for these trials, we need wisdom. None of us are as smart as we think we are, right? And just as James does in verse 2, in verse 5 he gives us a command, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).  So why can we ask God? He gives generously. This is a beautiful promise to us. God gives wisdom generously, abundantly. He pours out wisdom without hesitation.

Just as a home buyer seeks wisdom from a realtor, mortgage lender, and home inspector, we too are to seek wisdom from the Lord. God’s wisdom displays his grace to us. The trials we face have purpose. There’s purpose in the pain. May we humbly seek God’s wisdom in the midst of our trials. God is wise, and he is both for you and with you. Painful, profitable, required, and yet rewarding – are our trials. May the Spirit continue to grow us in godliness and give us wisdom. Here’s to the purpose in the pain in our trials – for our good and his great glory.