Bible Study: James Chapter One part 3.

Our Bible study begins now
May the spirit of God grant us divine insight in into his perfect word this morning

Take note of this, James says. Listen acutely, speak hesitantly and anger hesitantly too

This admonition I strongly believe is the key to a wholesome godly life. The truth is, one does not have to be a Christian to begin to apply this principle. If anyone, be it Muslim, Hindu, or atheist even, begin to love by this doctrine of listening patiently before reacting and carefully choosing their words, then people will admit they are godly. At least this is what it means to be wise, to listen hard and speak less.
The Christian whom the epistle is addressed to needs to put this into action more than any other person, this way we stand out in the midst of a barbaric crowd.

The reason James prescribed this pattern of lifestyle to Christians is that man's anger is not compatible with the righteousness of God which we carry. We can't say we are children of God and keep getting angry with our brothers for no good cause.
The only anger a christian is allowed to have is anger towards sin and evil deeds. This kind of anger should push us to act against it.
Therefore what is a christian to do about this, James says is to get rid of moral filth and prevalent evil in our society. Take note that this is a personal cleansing he is talking about. Then each one of us is to accept with humility the saving word of God.
Dear Livie, we need to be aware that James was addressing this to a generation of Christians to whom the subject of salvation through grace by faith in Christ is still a demeaning act to even think about let alone do.
This was written only about 20 years after Christ was crucified. Many of these people knew Christ personally. Many of them were in that crowd before Pilate chanting in anger, "crucify him".
These same people had chosen Barrabas the murderer over Jesus the Prince of peace and that decision was still fresh in their head. Now consider how humiliating it will be for these people to have to subject their lives to the Lordship of that same Christ.
They needed encouragement. James was doing his best about that.

James in his encouragement teaches them how to stay humble to the Word. Doing what it says and not just reading it alone.
The promise of God's blessing to the one who does as the word says must be a selling point for the early Christians just as it is with us today. James applied this hear. This is one striking difference in the message of Paul and James. Paul you might have noticed nearly never promises his readers the blessings of God as an incentive to do godliness or exercise faith in God. Paul fashions his message in the line of, offer yourself to the cause of Christ and leave the rest to God.

Anyway, that is a topic for a full bible study on its own, so I won't digress. In verse 26, he settled the matter of what the true religion among men should be. Remember at that time Christianity was a new religion. So there was bound to be cutting scrutiny on its integrity when stood against the others of that age. James went back to what he says in 19, if a man can't be slow to speak it does not matter which of the religions he belongs to, he has failed in it.
Then he went on to grade what God would accept if religion is ever considered before him. Look after orphans and widows and stay undefiled from the evils of the world.
Often times when I am faced with the question of whether a person or church is doing it right before God, I think about is scripture. It really doesn't matter whether one prays a hundred hours per day or sings worship songs like angels. It doesn't matter whether a church is as fine as heaven itself or that they are always on cable tv and holding glorious programs and conventions. What God asks from us is simply this, that we love one another in sincerity, giving help to those we know the world would not ordinarily give it to. And then doing our best to stay undefiled from a morally dirty world.

I pray the spirit of God keep us sanctified and help us to offer help to all those who want so that our religion towards God will be pure and faultless.
Amen.
Have a marvelous day, my love.

Bible Study: James 1 cont.

Let's do our bible study for today.

I pray that the spirit of God opens our minds to the truth of His word as we study

We are continuing from verse 12 of chapter one.
James says that there is blessing for he that perseveres under trial because his reward is a crown of life from God.
The striking thing about this verse is that the crown of life is meant for those who love God. So how will it then be given to those who persevere under trial?
What correlation does perseverance under trial has with loving God?
Let me take you to the book of Galatians. Chapter 5:6 tells us that our faith as Christians works by love. If we do not have love, our faith won't work. Therefore, if one has persevered under trials which is a product of working faith, it is an evidence that that one has love. Because faith again works through love.
Does it make sense?

When temptation of the flesh is the nature of the trial the christian is going through, then the person needs to watch out for his own evil desires. James says God does not get tempted, neither does he tempt other with evil. In him there is no guile or evil, so it is not in Him to show evil to man.
If man who carries evil desires in his heart gives in to it, then sin is birthed and that sin in turn gibes birth to death.
This reminds me of the story of Cain just before he slew his brother Abel. In Gen.4:6-7 God saw what was in his evil heart. God warned him, saying, sin is knocking at the door of your heart right now. If you are wise, you will resist it and rule over it. Cain did not heed to that warning. He allowed the sin brewing in his heart to control him into committing the first homicide.
Today, that same voice of God speaks to everyone who is being tempted by his evil desires. That same voice keep telling us to rule over our desires so as not to fall into sin. But how many of us listen?
Often times, like Cain, we fall.

Every good and perfect gift comes from God. That is James' way of telling us that whatever evil desires in man's heart is not good and neither perfect. God is the one that gives riches and adds no sorrows. If we are tempted to wrought evil in order to get riches or something else we so desire, let it be known that it is not from God and will always come along with sorrows.
In verse 18, the Apostle speaks like Paul and Peter. 1Peter 1:23.
God has given birth to us by His words, this he did of his own will. We didn't compel him to, the devil did not force him to. He did it of his own will and he did it by his word, Jesus Christ. By so doing, we became the first fruit of all creation. We become preferred first to all he created. The restores the original order of creation. It restores the dominion Adam lost to the devil in Eden.

I pray that the wisdom of God will flood your mind today in all you do so that his power will be evident in you to all. Have a lovely day. God bless you richly, dear Livie.

Bible Study: James 1

Like I promised you last night, we resume our bible study this morning.

We will be studying the book of James.
Apostle James addressed this letter to the group of churches in different cities.
He wrote in verse 1 that this is to the 12 tribes scattered among the nations. You see, unlike Paul who was a minister unto the gentiles, James was the guy running the gospel show in Judea. His primary focus was on the Jews.
So he goes here talking to the tribes of Israel.

Sweetheart, let me take you through a bit of history. At the time of this letter was written (AD45, which makes it the oldest book in the new testament), a large population of original Jews were scattered all over the world out of Messopotamia to as far as Asia minor and Southern Africa beyond the Ethiopian empire and beyond the Euphrates up north.
This was about 4 centuries after the exile into Babylon and dejection of the remnants in Israel and 2 decades after the rise of the Roman empire which saw the total destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and further dispersing of the Jews into new Alexandrian cities.
So when James the just as he was called wrote to these people, he is contending with the conflicting new cultures in their heads and as well the over zealousness of the new faith proclaimers.

Being aware that their presence in foreign lands with alien gods and religions presents a handful of troubles for Jewish Christians, he begins his letter by telling them to not lose faith when faces with diverse challenges. This is only a testing of their faiths.
As Christians we need to be constantly aware that each time we face a tough situation that makes it seem as if God isn't on our side any more, it is only a test of how much we trust God to know better.
He has said he will never leave us or forsake us. Hr has told us he is the God that watches over us and rewarder of those that diligently seek him. We know he is the God that sees the ending from the beginning. Now it is not enough to know these things, we must know to let that awareness stay in our heads during trying times.
This is what it means to have faith in God. You see, faith is not a feeling or a sign. Faith is a knowing. It is making God and his word our reality over what we are going through.
So James says that if one is able to go through trials and come out of it shinning, one thing that has been gained is the ability to persevere through the next phase of trials which is obviously going to be tougher.
This is knowing that the God that has led you through the previous trial is big enough to take you through this present one. Life is a series of one trial or challenge after another. This is true for everyone, whether you believe in Jesus or a lump of clay at the back of your compound.

What James is saying here is, as a Christian, your faith gives you perseverance and perseverance is what brings you to the full state of spiritual maturity where you no longer lack anything.
In verse 5 he says that if wisdom is what is lacking, then one should just ask God.
When we ask God for wisdom or anything, we must not entertain any doubt in our heart about us getting the request met. Anyone who asks and doubts is not fit to receive.
If you ask God for wisdom, then believe you are wise and begin to act wise. Stop thinking you are limited in wisdom. That's what king Solomon did (though you know I'm not much of his fan). He asked God for wisdom and when it was time judge in wisdom he just trusted his judgement as one who God has given wisdom.

I so love the point he made in verses 9-11.
He says the lowly guy has to take pride in what makes him big and the big guy take pride in what makes him low.
If you think life has knocked you to the curb, look deep within, there must be something about you that is worth celebrating. Something commendable and admirable. James says the little guy should take pride in those things. These are one of the verses that make the bible the best material against depression. Anyone in a position where they are thinking Sir life is worth nothing can read this and be lifted.
Then he also says to the person who thinks he's balling. Hey dude, look here. Your pride is not in your possessions or what you know but rather in what makes you humbled. This is critical because when we think we are flying is when we lose our wings.
A man cannot keep winning unless he discovers how to keep finding reasons why he can lose. That way, his pride is not in what makes him win but in what could cause him to lose. This echoes what Paul says to the church in Corinth. See 2 Cor.12:9-11 and compare the thoughts. God's strength can only be made perfect in what makes us weak.
The man that tinks he's high will not seek God if he can't find a weak point of his life and if he does not seek God the it's only a matter of time before he falls.
Hence it makes