One of the things that I've learned through our study in James is that no matter how much the world is changing around me (either for good or bad), there is a dire need for followers of Jesus Christ to be steady and firmly planted in the Word of God (the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation).
If we stray from that, we won't just be without hope, but we'll be without a basis for all that God has done. Period. All He has done is manifested in His Word and in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Imagine what that means in terms of Christ living in me and in you!
No matter what is happening, His Word is the thing that changes us into His image, and continues to make us grow in the knowledge and understanding of His ways and His love. And it (He, the Word of God) remains unchangeable, which is why we can trust Him. And if we maintain the discipline to love His Word, it will be His Word that continues to mount up and show us how to be about His business, or as James exhorts, to be a "doer of His Word".
How fast does this take place? I guess it depends on the individual, and how much of Him we want, compared to how much of me I want to preserve? How much of my personality? How much of my old man or old identity? How much of the old things do I want to preserve and maintain?
Sadly, there are dusty old shelves in "the basement and attic of my heart," which I've been saving for a rainy day. "I might need that some day," I think to myself. Or, "I can make something out of that some day," I justify.
James has reminded me, along with the help of Paul, in Philippians 3:13-16:
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to [the degree] that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
"As many as are mature."
Let me assure us all, that the Lord has called us, men! Even if you think that you're deficient in this, there is a promise here, that, "God will reveal even this to you". He has not saved us to leave us on our own. He's not biting His nails, wondering if we'll make it or not.
But sometimes, there needs to be some house cleaning. Sometimes, we just need to heave those things on that dusty old shelf out, and the shelves with them.
Studying James has also reminded me that the exhortations he brings are not suggestions or nice thoughts. I like how Ken Bough, writer of the Introduction to Warren Wiersbe's Be Mature book, put it:
The central theme for the book of James is maturity. God wants us to grow up in our faith, and James tells us how to do it. In fact, about half of the verses in James contain verbs in the imperative form--these are not options, suggestions, or even good ideas, but requirements for Christlike living.
We've seen a lot of changes going on around us since we started this study in James, back around June 2019.
I've also seen a lot of growth in many of the guys during the study. My prayer is that we see men rising up, above and beyond the chaotic circumstances of the world, and continue to learn to stand steadfastly on the same truths that have withstood centuries of attempts to eradicate it - the wonderful, awesome Word of our Lord.
One thing I've heard the Lord asking me very loudly, lately: "Will you also go away?"
He doesn't ask us to change the world, or even maintain Christian liberties, let alone build His physical kingdom on this earth. While we don't ignore these things, His calling (or commission) to us is the same as it has been since the Church was birthed by our Lord: bring the message of His Salvation to the world; make disciples of all the world. It's not our concern to make them execpt it - but to simply deliver His message (part of which is to see His love in us as we do).
And to do that calling, we must abide in Him and His Word. Then, all of our concerns about the specific things we're supposed to do will be answered.
Hebrews 2:1-3
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard [Him]...?
Where do we go from here?
I don't have the definitive answer to that yet, so I will ask our Lord, and I encourage you to do the same.
To close this, I want to say how blessed I've been by some of the encouragement I've seen many many of our brothers passing around over the last week or so.
Though they are all encouraging, one message seemed to be an appropriate exhortation to continue steadfastly in our pursuit of blessing our Lord: One brother sent Psalm 115 in its entirety to a bunch of us. I'm only posting the first, and several last verses here:
Psalm 115:1, 11-18
1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He [is] their help and their shield.
12 The LORD has been mindful of [us]; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the LORD, [Both] small and great.
14 May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children.
15 [May] you [be] blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD's; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
17 The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the LORD From this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!
If we stray from that, we won't just be without hope, but we'll be without a basis for all that God has done. Period. All He has done is manifested in His Word and in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Imagine what that means in terms of Christ living in me and in you!
No matter what is happening, His Word is the thing that changes us into His image, and continues to make us grow in the knowledge and understanding of His ways and His love. And it (He, the Word of God) remains unchangeable, which is why we can trust Him. And if we maintain the discipline to love His Word, it will be His Word that continues to mount up and show us how to be about His business, or as James exhorts, to be a "doer of His Word".
How fast does this take place? I guess it depends on the individual, and how much of Him we want, compared to how much of me I want to preserve? How much of my personality? How much of my old man or old identity? How much of the old things do I want to preserve and maintain?
Sadly, there are dusty old shelves in "the basement and attic of my heart," which I've been saving for a rainy day. "I might need that some day," I think to myself. Or, "I can make something out of that some day," I justify.
James has reminded me, along with the help of Paul, in Philippians 3:13-16:
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to [the degree] that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
"As many as are mature."
Let me assure us all, that the Lord has called us, men! Even if you think that you're deficient in this, there is a promise here, that, "God will reveal even this to you". He has not saved us to leave us on our own. He's not biting His nails, wondering if we'll make it or not.
But sometimes, there needs to be some house cleaning. Sometimes, we just need to heave those things on that dusty old shelf out, and the shelves with them.
Studying James has also reminded me that the exhortations he brings are not suggestions or nice thoughts. I like how Ken Bough, writer of the Introduction to Warren Wiersbe's Be Mature book, put it:
The central theme for the book of James is maturity. God wants us to grow up in our faith, and James tells us how to do it. In fact, about half of the verses in James contain verbs in the imperative form--these are not options, suggestions, or even good ideas, but requirements for Christlike living.
We've seen a lot of changes going on around us since we started this study in James, back around June 2019.
I've also seen a lot of growth in many of the guys during the study. My prayer is that we see men rising up, above and beyond the chaotic circumstances of the world, and continue to learn to stand steadfastly on the same truths that have withstood centuries of attempts to eradicate it - the wonderful, awesome Word of our Lord.
One thing I've heard the Lord asking me very loudly, lately: "Will you also go away?"
He doesn't ask us to change the world, or even maintain Christian liberties, let alone build His physical kingdom on this earth. While we don't ignore these things, His calling (or commission) to us is the same as it has been since the Church was birthed by our Lord: bring the message of His Salvation to the world; make disciples of all the world. It's not our concern to make them execpt it - but to simply deliver His message (part of which is to see His love in us as we do).
And to do that calling, we must abide in Him and His Word. Then, all of our concerns about the specific things we're supposed to do will be answered.
Hebrews 2:1-3
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard [Him]...?
Where do we go from here?
I don't have the definitive answer to that yet, so I will ask our Lord, and I encourage you to do the same.
To close this, I want to say how blessed I've been by some of the encouragement I've seen many many of our brothers passing around over the last week or so.
Though they are all encouraging, one message seemed to be an appropriate exhortation to continue steadfastly in our pursuit of blessing our Lord: One brother sent Psalm 115 in its entirety to a bunch of us. I'm only posting the first, and several last verses here:
Psalm 115:1, 11-18
1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He [is] their help and their shield.
12 The LORD has been mindful of [us]; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the LORD, [Both] small and great.
14 May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children.
15 [May] you [be] blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD's; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
17 The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the LORD From this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!