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.