From Above

DEVOTION
JAMES
FROM ABOVE
James 3:13-16
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
NIV
Another mouthful of words I cannot separate or break apart for fear of not getting the whole of the truth. I am stuck on the same theme this whole chapter has been dealing with regarding being a teacher of the Word. If I am a true teacher of the Word I should be serving others rather than them serving me. I should be serving them by my good life, being an example to how they should live. Nonspiritual men do great deeds, great humanitarian works of service to their fellow men. Great deeds in the human effort are well done and I applaud them for all they do, but that is not the greatest deed for mankind. I believe it is in bringing Christ into a person’s life. I believe it is in serving my fellow believers by sharing his truths with them. I should be the light of the world, the salt of the earth and a mirror reflecting the image of Christ to all I come in contact with. If I understand the word of God correctly this is how I should be. I cannot allow myself to become like those who use the word of God for personal gain, for fame and fortune, for glory and praise from men. I know in my heart I do not desire such from men. Whenever I preach a good message from the word and men give me a ‘good job’ thumbs up comment, I feel awkward. I feel that way when others applaud the choir for a great song. Why do people feel they must do that? I suppose it is a form of encouragement and maybe I should accept it as such. I do not seek recognition from men, only from God. I am humbled because of how God uses me. I have no skills or talents for the delivery of his word by mouth of by words, yet he uses me to serve others by sharing his truths with them. I cannot think of any greater deed then to expose people to the truth, to assist them in their journey with God, to encourage them, exhort them and yes even some times correct their thinking regarding the truths of God. Is that too prideful? I know without doubt I do not envy or have selfish ambition in my heart. I do not boast about my great wisdom, but only about God. What he has done for me, in me and is doing through me. Am I alright then? I think so. I do not want to have any wisdom from the world or that which is nonspiritual, and of the devil. I only desire the wisdom from above.

Steady

DEVOTION
JAMES
STEADY
James 3:9-12
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
NIV
Once again the story continues about this false teaching, or spreading false doctrine. I see this in the examination of the word curse. Never before have I look into this but it has opened a large door for me. The Greek word translated to curse actually implies to doom men or to invoke evil upon them. The only way I could invoke evil upon someone is to teach them something other than the truth of the Gospel. I could go around praising God well enough, but if I preached or even wrote something which lead people away from the truth of God I would be in fact invoking evil upon them, or causing their doom. Is it any wonder not many should presume to be teachers. God is going to hold me accountable for what I teach far greater than someone who does not teach. Now not for my sin so much for I am in the same boat with everyone else on that matter, but for what I teach. If I teach falsely, I am in large trouble. My life, my faith, my understanding of the truth of God must be evident and match. I cannot live one way and teach another. I cannot live for God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and teach something else. When I consider this, I truly think I am in line with God’s truth. I believe with all my heart I do not lead people astray from his truth. I believe I am right on with my teachings. If I miss something it is not on purpose for sure. I do not with any intend teach something wrong. I pray I will hear from the Spirit whenever I open my mouth or pen a word regarding the truths of God. I wonder if this also applies to when other men speak about things which are against the truth of God. Should I speak up? By my silence am I endorsing their false beliefs? Is that a form of invoking evil upon them? Does this apply only to other believers or to non-believers as well? I would think simply the believers for there are expressing faith in God, but do not know the truth. They may be in the group who are blow to and fro by every wind of doctrine. These I am obligated by God to share lead to the truth. These I must speak up to. The non-believer is lost for sure and actually believes a false doctrine as well, yet they are not even praising God. Do I have an obligation to lead them to the truth? By my silence am I invoking doom upon them? I think so. Oh God help me! In everything I live and say I must be steady.

Deadly Poison

DEVOTION
JAMES
DEADLY POISON
James 3:7-8
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
NIV
What greater deadly poison can there be than a false doctrine? What could possibly be any worse than teaching false truths about God? How evil is it to use the Word of God to improve a person’s own position in life? Surely as I have thought about this speaking about gossip and speaking judgment or criticism regarding another, I do truly think it is all about the teachers and preachers who many should not presume to be. Taming the tongue from spreading falseness in order to gain fame and fortune or power over others can only be the greatest poison known to the spirit. I must be ever watchful of my own tongue for fear of becoming like so many others. Although I doubt I would ever gain any fame. Who am I? I have no great charismatic personality. I have no great looks. I do not have one of those speaking voices which demands attention. I have nothing to offer anyone other than the truth of God as he has revealed it to me and for that matter for me. What God shows me is for my life, I can only share those truths and if they have meaning for those I share with, than praise his Holy name. But I must still be careful not spread anything about his word which is not in his word. I know everyone talks about different interpretations of what the word says and many people can be right, and thus nothing really is that false, it is just a different way of looking at it. Wrong! God has only one way of looking at what he said. He is not a God of multiple choose. I simply or not so simply have to ensure I am not involved in anything other than listening to the Spirit. I do not want to spread deadly poison; I want to spread his truth. Lord, help me to know only you and your truth for my life and for those I have the opportunity and responsibility of sharing it with.

Can Must Will

DEVOTION
JAMES
CAN MUST WILL
James 3:3-6
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
NIV
It surely is a far better thing for me to just keep my mouth shut than get myself into a situation described here. I know I have to be guilty of making some kind of comment about somebody of something which qualifies me of for being guilty. Gossip would have to be the mix here as well. Judging or assessing, whichever, must also stand in this column. It is just so easy to forget and get catch up in conversation which leads to me on this path. Why is this? I have to set forth on a new beginning each day not to make one comment which qualifies as negative about anyone. It seems everyone is always talking about someone else rather than about topics of importance which effects life itself. Should I simply say I can’t comment, or should I just keep silent? Should I say that comment is gossip and we should not continue this conversation? Maybe I should just not comment, but then I might be considered rude by not participating in the social exchange. I think not only must I not gossip but I must bring it to the attention of the group that this course of conversation is becoming gossip and it should stop. I also cannot help think this also deals with what I say about what I believe. If I continue to confess false doctrine, not that I ever would, but if I did that talk would bring about corruption to my lifestyle and set the course of my path to destruction and perish. I must be careful to speak the truth of God and only the truth of God. In light of the whole of chapter four I have to believe this speaks to this issue about teachers of the word. False doctrines will bring about a false life. Untruth will bring about corruption. Too many men have already proven that. Too many have corrupted the truth for God with their tongue and it has set the course of their life on fire. I cannot allow that to happen to me. I must obey only the truth of God, preach only his word, his truth, his ways. But again why or how can I be so sure I have the truth? I have examined myself. I do not preach or teach or write for personal gain but only out of obedience to his call on my life. I do not seek fame and fortune, although I must admit a little of both might be nice if God allowed it. Sometimes I don’t really know why I bother. I am not sure anyone listens. Maybe because I am not perfect, I have open faults, and people think I should be perfect, I should practice perfectly all I preach. I should, but I cannot. Yet I can be careful as to what I say, about people and about the truth of God. That I can do, that I must do, that I will do.

Not Many

DEVOTION
JAMES
NOT MANY
James 3:1-2
3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
NIV
There is doubt there may well be too men who teach or proclaim they know the way to salvation, but are actually unsaved themselves. I am sure James was bringing that though forward due to so many voices with so many false teachings. Not much has changed today, of that I am sure. True I am not a perfect man, and I completely rely on the cross of Christ for my salvation. I serve a risen Savior who now sits at the right hand of God. They are men who teach or preach who are not qualified or called by God to do so and I am concerned about this. I know God has bestowed his truth into my being and called me to teach it. I am not frightened of this warning for I know this judgment is for those who are not called but teach their own brand of salvation rather than Gods. I do not have to be perfect, in fact I cannot be, yet I can teach and preach without fear of condemnation from God because I teach his word without reservation as well as without falsehoods. I absolutely believe what God says. If he did not say it I won’t believe it, nor will I teach it. I know some people ask me how I know I have the real truth or why do I think I am right and so many others including scholars are wrong. My answer is simply because God said so. Does this sound prideful? Why do I think like that? I believe it is true with all my being. I do not want to know what other men think the word says, I want to know what the word says as God spoke it. Sure there are many good men who preach and teach the same truth I do. Many good men have been called by God to preach his truth and are doing well, being blessed by God because they do preach and teach his truth. With these men I will stand but I will oppose all those who pervert the gospel for they own gain. I desire to be among the not many.

Faith and Deeds

DEVOTION
JAMES
FAITH AND DEEDS
James 2:14-3:1

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. NIV
How can I break this down into a smaller amount? I cannot, I must not! It is all in all the same idea, and thus must be dealt with as such. Do I have any works which accompany my faith? Even though he speaks of helping the poor by more than prayer, he offers Abraham and Rahab as examples which are act of service to God. Doing something beyond the human realm such as offering a son to God is action for sure. Although I did not offer my son, I was not angry with God when he thought best to have him rather than I have him. Does that count? I expressed my faith to all. But that was then, what about now, is one act all that matters or is it a life full of action? Is serving my brothers and sisters through preaching, teaching and writing acting out my faith? Must I provide for the poor? Maybe it is doing whatever God asks of me. Maybe that is acting out my faith, whatever it is. Surely some are called to feed the poor; others are called to speak the truth to the rich. If God desires me to do something, if he calls me to some form of action, I believe I have always been ready and willing to act. Sometimes following his calling has caused some short term hardship, but in the end I have always been blessed. Sometimes it seems foolish to others, but I do not care. Is my not having any savings an act of faith? I must solely rely on the graces of God for my daily fare. How much action if enough? I think it is a life of faith, a life of believing, a life of trust, a life of obeying, a life filled to the brim with God which fulfills this idea of faith without deeds is dead.

Mercy

DEVOTION
JAMES
MERCY
James 2:12-13
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
NIV
Does this imply being critical of some of my fellow believers? Is a critical spirit lacking mercy? I fear I might have some confessing to do. Mercy allows for all the imperfections in all others who I come in contact with. Heaven knows I have no perfection within my being so why than should I have any course for criticism of any other? I should not, and from this moment I will not. How could I have allowed that kind of thinking into my spirit? Oh right, it was not criticism or judging, it was assessing. It is wrong to simply assess what if obvious? That is just a rationalization of judging. Can I judge as long as I have mercy? I suppose if I judge someone to be acting in a manner that is not Christ-like and show mercy to them it would be alright. How does that work? I cannot turn a blind eye or spirit to the offenses of my brothers and sisters; I would not be much of a shepherd if I did that. Sharing the word of God, I believe is an act of mercy and compassion toward those who have offenses, so they might be reminded of the standard God has set forth. I too need that reminding on a daily basis. To ponder in some portion of His word daily brings about a better me. But is my sharing the word through preaching, teaching, and writing a form of speaking and acting as if I am going to judge by the law? I surely have to make every effort to be the man of God he desires me to be. I must follow my calling from God. Even in these later years of my life, I must continue to demonstrate mercy and compassion for all who fail God because I also fail him even in the administration of my duty. I need his mercy as much as anyone else. So then, judge others condition as I judge mine and be merciful toward them by sharing the truth assisting them in their journey with God. No condemnation because not one of us is any better or worse than the other, I am no better or no worse than any of my fellow believers. Therefore mercy to all for we all need it.