A Daily Devotional – James, the Epistle – Personal Meditation (17)

A Daily Devotional – James, the Epistle – Personal Meditation

Comment: Here we are; at the end of a very practical epistle. James has provided practical understanding for both the Jew and the Gentile. In that, ‘faith’ by itself is impractical for the child of God. The testing from God and the temptations of the devil are common among God’s children, these two realities of life will mature you and me by using our faith in God for His glory (Rom 8:28-30). I would encourage us to read and meditate on Romans 8:1-39 as I believe this chapter in Romans; also, solves the challenges revealed in the epistle of James.

Devotional: Personal faith in God does not mean that the object of my faith is me, but it does mean that I chose to believe in Jesus/Messiah (The Christ) and that He alone is the reliable object of my faith. Thus, everything that comes into my life ought to be processed through the Holy Spirit of Life in Christ by faith, because I have been freed from indwelling sin – Romans 8:1-11 and through the Spirit I also am God’s child – Romans 8:12-17.

Suffering (testing and temptations) are present in me, but I know through the Spirit and the outworking of personal faith, that this love for God is causing all things to come together for His glory – Romans 8:18-30. If God is for us (and He is) who can lay charge against us; Psalm 44:17-36 a Psalm of the sons of Korah compared with Romans 8:31-39 reveal that the sufferings of this present day are the same as those throughout time, in this we can take great comfort knowing that all the children of God suffer.

James 5:19-20 – It is possible that these common sufferings could cause a child of God to wander from the Truth. Also, it is possible for someone to turn that wandering one back to the LORD. If God opens that door for you or me to bring a brother or sister back from a multitude of sins by failing to walk in the Spirit by faith, God will forgive and deliver that one from the sin unto death. Confidence in the LORD and compassion on the sinning one, is the practical faith that James writes about – 1 John 5:14-17.

A Daily Devotional – James, the Epistle – Personal Meditation (16)

A Daily Devotional – James, the Epistle – Personal Meditation

Comment: We live in troubling times, but wait just a minute! Are these times any different than those times some six thousand years ago, when Adam and Eve rejected to walk by faith in God? No, these times are no different, but do not blame them, you and I would have done the same thing. Self-will, which is the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, is as desirable to us as it was to them; see Genesis 3:6 and compare 1 John 2:15-17. Human self-will is not of God our Father, but of the world in which we live. God, in His Word to us, calls us to return to His Will. What is His Will? “Adam, where are you?”

Devotional: In previous devotionals; specifically Psalm 119 we looked at prayer and meditation. Now when I observe the words of James here in chapter 5:13, my mind races back to the Psalms. Psalms are the meditations and prayers of those who suffer and those who are cheerful. We should observe the Psalms daily.

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; see 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. At times we are cast down, but we must remember… we are never conquered because we are able to see the invisible.

Not all human sickness is the result of a lack of personal faith; so, the question might be, should we know the difference? No! Why? Illnesses are common to all of us as a result of the fall which we looked at earlier in Genesis. Physical illnesses and death fell on all of mankind as a result of sin, personal faith in God provides eternal life to you and me where there is no sickness and death, in the meantime we will, in this physical body,  will endure illnesses. See again 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, especially verse 16.

Churches are gatherings of God’s children and as a family we should pray for ‘one another’. Some of us are physically related to each other, while others are spiritually related; either way, we are the ‘one anothers’ of God who are re-birthed in Christ Jesus to do ‘good works’, Ephesians 2:10. We are to pray over the sick, sometimes it is necessary for the elders of the church to pray specifically for someone who is ill. I will not comment on the use of “anointing oil” this procedure is not common these days, but what is common is the fervent prayer of a righteous (faithful) person, avails (provides) much.

A Daily Devotional – James, the Epistle – Personal Meditation (15)

A Daily Devotional – James, the Epistle – Personal Meditation

Comment: 2 Peter 3:8 – But, beloved, do not forget this ONE thing, that with the LORD one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing than any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Do we, God’s children by personal faith in the Christ/Messiah have things in our lives to turn away from? “Do any of us lack patience?” Let him or her ask God, God gives us patience; it will be given if we ask! James 1:5. We are not to live by personal faith on our time schedule, but on God’s, which is not slack as some of us think.

Devotional: There are many observations around the world that reveal the impatient, impulsive and emotional wreck of human life. Believers of the gospel of God ought not be counted in this massive disaster, yet time after time when God’s children get caught up in the details of life it is because they have fail to wait on the LORD’s mercy. What if the farmer dug up his potatoes before the harvest time? Would those small marble like potatoes sell, or provide delight to one’s palate? 

We grumble over things among one another as if we are the judge and jury. This; if we were ‘spiritually concerned’ would never happen; meaning that because we have little or no perseverance, we judge wrongly. The Judge who is standing by the door “same as Revelation 3:20” is the valued Friend of Ecclesiastes 4:12. As brothers and sisters of Christ, should we not consider the examples of God’s prophets who spoke in the Name of the LORD as an example of suffering and patients? Yes! And again, I say yes.

Blessed are those who endure, consider the endurance (perseverance) of Job. Do you think that James speaks idly, in his epistle? No! No not at all. The LORD’s intended outcome for Job was full of compassion and mercy, and so it will be for you and me, when we learn patience by enduring the trials arranged by the LORD. In this; Do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No”, otherwise you fail the test and fall into judgment, and you may have to do it all over again.