James V: War

James V

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? (James 4:1 ESV)

War

Jesus summarized the Law of God in this way… Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength… and also love your neighbor as yourself.

This kind of law-keeping can not be done half-heartedly.  It can not be done unenthusiastically.  It can not be done casually.

In fact, it can only be done passionately.

Sometimes our two cats end up under a blanket on our laps, at the same time.  When they were younger it never went well.  I still have scars, I think.  Those two cats passionately opposed each other.  They were at war.  Lately, they are a lot less passionate.  So they can survive (and our laps can survive) their encounters.

When our passion for the Lord is passionate, and it is placed under the blanket on our lap with something that is NOT God-aimed, there WILL be conflict.  There WILL be a fight.  There WILL be a war.

Because two passionate things in our hearts can not co-exist.

So the answer is to either not be passionate about God (which He calls in John’s Revelation being luke-warm, and casts such folk away from Him), or not be passionate about NON-Godly things.

This is true, by the way, in our hearts, in our relationships, in politics, in international affairs, and in all conflict. 

The solution is not to fight louder… the solution is to be passionate only about one thing.  God.

James IV: Words

James IV

Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.  So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. (James 3:4,5 ESV)

Words

When I build a plastic model of a ship, the rudder is often a piece that I despise.  It is usually so very, very small.  It does not seem to matter, this small piece of plastic.  And yet, when I place it incorrectly, it really stands out.

Our words are like those tiny rudders.  We pay more attention to deeds than to words.  We pay more attention to thoughts than to words.  We pay more attention to desires than to words.

But words matter.

It is not true that only sticks and stones hurt.

It is not true that talk is cheap.

It is not true that words are irrelevant in relationships, character, and worship.

We show our faith by explaining our trust.  In fact, faith is not visible without words.

We show love by giving context to our actions. In fact, the same action could be selfish OR loving, and our words indicate which.

Words are the skeleton of our relationship with God.  With words we worship, we pray, we sing, we profess, we confess, we cry out to God, we give thanks, we hear His Word, we evangelize, we say, “Yes” to Jesus, or we say, “No” to Jesus.

Words are great.  Use them purposefully.

James III

 someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18 ESV)

Teamwork

On the bus rides back from out-of-town football games, we would argue about whether defense is more important than offense.  It was a silly argument because clearly both are necessary factors in a football strategy.  Sometimes offense carries more weight.  Sometimes defense carries more weight.

But they are both football.

Similarly, both faith and works are part of our Christian life.  We need both.  We do both.  We have both.  We express both.

But one is not superior to the other.  One is not ‘more’ than the other.

Christians have faith.  Christians have works.

They work together, like a team.

James II: Speed

James II

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19,20 ESV)

Speed

How frustrating when a driver decides to travel at low speeds on an Interstate.  Disrupted traffic flow, dangerous lane changes, and traffic jams inevitably result.  The highway is not the place for slow vehicles.

How dangerous when a driver decides to travel at high speeds in residential neighborhoods.  Endangered pedestrians of all ages, squealing tires, and fear inevitably result.  Small streets are not the place for fast vehicles.

Similarly, listen slowly and carefully, not with haste.  Similarly, speak with care, purpose, and caution, not with quick reaction and prejudice. 

And anger… while sometimes righteous and justified, should only be expressed with prayerful slowness, ponderous consideration, and the hope of avoiding anger altogether.

God’s timing is higher than our timing.  As in all things, God’s people submit our desires, reactions, personalities, and instincts to Him. 

The Messiah came when the time was full.  God does all things in His time.  Not according to our time.

The right speed at the right time leads to God’s righteousness in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

James I: Ironic Wisdom

James I

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5 ESV)

Ironic Wisdom

A gold-rush prospector must find gold as well as search for that gold. Exploratory surgery is usually harmful unless it discovers a medical solution.  And it is not satisfactory in a Hallmark movie for a young women to seek love… she also must experience it.

But when we ask God for wisdom, the act of asking HIM demonstrates wisdom.

True wisdom is trusting God’s way of doing things. So asking Him for wisdom is wisdom itself.

Wisdom does not come with experience, or long years, or much learning, or having a big brain, or being cautious, or being bold.

To be wise, choose God’s way in every situation.

Hebrews VI: Certainty

Hebrews V

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” (Hebrews 6:13,14 ESV)

Certainty

I always imagine that the author of Hebrews smiled when he wrote this verse.  It is kind of cheeky.  Of course, God had no one he could swear by.  He is the TOP of every pyramid.

But while perhaps cheeky… it is also profoundly important.

We know He will keep His promises because He IS the top of every pyramid!

Nothing really can stymie Him… so His promises will be kept.

No one can oppose Him, despite what they might think… so His promises will be kept.

He already SEES all of time and space, and His promises are made in that knowledge… so His promises will be kept.

God is not merely a title… it is a description of who He is.  And He is not a watered down Marvel Superhero idea of a god.

His promises are not merely hopes.  They are facts.

Hebrews IV: Rest

Hebrews IV

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,  for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:9,10 ESV)

Rest

One summer I worked at a produce center.  We received harvested produce from a few miles around, packaged it, and shipped the food out to regional grocery stores. 

I learned two things in that job.

First, I received a Forklift Driver’s license.  I do not list this because it is pertinent.  I just liked my Forklift Driver’s licence.

The important thing I learned was that it is a good thing to desire rest.  I had always thought that rest was an annoying part of my schedule.  I wanted to DO things… not rest!

But I worked hard enough that summer, probably for the first time in my young life, to NEED rest.

We Christians need rest.  And it is a good thing to desire that rest.

I am not referring to taking a nap, or vacation, or a camping trip.

I am talking about resting from our labors in the Kingdom of God, against God’s enemies.

He promises us rest.  We have the rest available every Lord’s Day.  Take that rest! 

And more than that, we have that rest coming for eternity.  Heaven is rest from fighting sin and sin’s effects… fighting anti-God worldviews… fighting a Spiritual battle that we barely understand.

That rest is coming… and it is great!

Hebrews III: Real Confidence

Hebrews III

For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.  As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:14-15 ESV)

Real Confidence

When a teenager, my uncle hired me as an assistant to the assistant to the assistant in a plumbing remodeling job.  He owned the company, and brought me on to replace a house’s heating system. 

But I was just a kid, really.

I had no confidence.  I muddled through, asked a lot of questions when I could, learned a lot, and did a pretty good job.

But I had no confidence.

I knew I was not dependable, really.

Decades later, I found out that my uncle stopped by the job site every evening after I left.  He checked what I did, and was pleased.  He kept checking, just in case.

I wish I had known that back then.

HIS knowledge, ability, and experience would have given my confidence.

Christ can give us that confidence in our daily walk.  Because our expectation of heaven, comes from our confidence in HIM, not ourselves.  We know we are not reliable.

But He is reliable.  He is sure.  He is absolutely our savior.

Hebrews II: Like us in EVERY way

Hebrews II

Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17 ESV)

Like Us in EVERY Way

We are very used to the idea of Mass Production.  Make one successful Model T, and then you can copy it exactly, multiple times, in the factory.  Each Model T, coming off the assembly line, is exactly the same (in everything that matters.)

My favorite pet was a wire-haired fox terrier in my childhood.  Every pet I have had since then ends up being compared, at some point in my mind, to that dog.  And no pet has been exactly like Kelly. 

Jesus Christ replaces us on the cross.  Jesus Christ replaces us during His earthly life. 

He can only do that because He was made to be like us.

Not in hair color, sense of humor, food preferences, or sleep patterns.

But in what matters.

Jesus took on a physical body capable of suffering, pain, and death.

He possessed a human heart, mind, and will, experiencing emotions such as sorrow and distress.

He lived under human conditions, navigating life in a fallen world and facing temptation, yet remained sinless.

Unlike humanity, Jesus did not inherit a sinful nature, though He was tempted in all ways as we are.

And thus He, and He alone, can be our savior.

Philemon II: Even More

Philemon II

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. (Philemon 21 ESV)

Even More

When I do not particularly enjoy a task, or duty, or job, I do what is required, but I tend to do only the bare minimum.  This might include doing the dishes, reading instruction manuals, and answering phone messages.

But when I DO enjoy the task, my attitude is very different.

I want to do more than required.  Mowing the lawn is like that, for me.  Writing a sermon is like that, for me.  Preparing a meal for loved ones is like that, for me.

And Paul knows that Philemon views his tasks, particularly the requests being made by his friend and pastor, Paul, with enthusiasm and joy.

Not merely doing enough to squeak by.

But eagerly, gladly, doing more than required.

Sometimes our godly tasks become routine or tedious.  Things like daily devotions.  Or tithing and almsgiving.  Or being patient.  Or praying.

Let’s have a MORE attitude.

Philemon I: Nobody's Perfect

Philemon I

For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. (Philemon 7 ESV)

Nobody’s Perfect

Scripture is on the opposite track than our present cancel culture.  And to be clear, it is not just one side of the political spectrum that condemns a person for a particular failing.  Both sides (all sides) do this. 

But not Paul.

He is writing to Philemon with some serious criticisms.  A slave of Philemon’s, Onesimus, has run away.  And both Philemon and Onesimus are Christians.

Yet Paul begins his letter praising Philemon for his refreshing work in the Kingdom of God.

Yes, Philemon is a slaveholder… and maybe not even a very kind slave owner.  Today, we are not even sure what that phrase would mean…

This is about more than cancel culture, though.  This is about how Philemon is viewed by Paul, and how we are viewed by God.

I have done some pretty serious sinning in my life.  And if God canceled me for them, I would be completely doomed.

But God sees more than my sin… He sees my sins erased by Christ’s atoning work.  AND God sees the value that I am to His Kingdom, even with my terrible sins!  He sees that value in the same way He sees my sin, actually.  He sees Christ instead of my sin, and the sin is erased.  He sees my efforts in the Kingdom of God, and sees them as awesome and wonderful because really, in fact, behind the scenes, in God’s eyes, He sees His beloved Son at work in me.

Christian Cancel Culture denies the power of Christ over every part of our lives.

Titus IX: to show perfect courtesy to all people

Titus IX

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)

to show perfect courtesy toward all people

Good manners, similar to showing perfect courtesy, seems to be going out of vogue.  We want to say what we want whenever we want without regard to those around us.

But as the People of God… we can present the gospel with our courtesy, with our manners, or with our politeness.  Because it shows respect, selflessness, and love.

Sometimes the world gets this more than we seem to.  Consider these quotes.

Jane Austen:  "Manners is what holds a society together. At bottom, propriety is concern for other people".

Jonathan Swift: "Good manners is the art of making people comfortable")

Adam, in the 1999 movie Blast from the Past: "Manners are a way of showing other people we care about them"

The delightful Dowager Countess from Downton Abbey: "Why do the rituals, the clothes, and the customs matter so much? Because without them we would be like the wild men of Borneo."

Titus VIII: to be gentle

Titus VIII

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)

to be gentle

Gentle is an unpopular word in the world AND in some Christian circles.  It seems to imply weakness, softness, femininity in males, and EXTRA femininity in females.

But that is not what Paul reminds us to be.

A gentle man (or lady) is not weak, but one who uses authority, ability, position, and opportunity to do good… to help the helpless, rather than win a contest… to put others first, even when (especially when) you could rule by might… to be filled with compassion, passionately… to be active, with every muscle and bit of will that you possess, to bring joy to everyone in your life.

Gentle is humble, because others come first in your gentle mind.

Gentle is risky, because you risk losing in the world’s contest of life.

Gentle is difficult, because we usually aren’t built that way.

Gentle is fun… because it is so very rare.

Titus VII: to avoid quarreling

Titus VII

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)

to avoid quarreling

When considering Paul’s reminder, I really wanted a cool etymological connection.  If quarreling had the same root as quarry… then Paul could have been saying, “do not DIG for disagreements.”

If quarrelling had the same root as quiver (a stretch, I know), then Paul could be saying, “do not have MANY arguments and disagreements… but hone them down to some key ideas.

While these might be helpful concepts to help us see what Paul meant,  neither of those words has anything to do with quarreling.

But instead, the roots of quarreling have a connection with a word that denotes a hissing, angry, scowling, threatening sound.  And that makes sense.

Paul is not saying never to disagree with untruth.  But do not quarrel.

Let our disagreement be colored with hope, with the joy of Christ, with humility… not with a hissing, angry, scowling, threatening tone.

Titus VI: to speak evil of no one

Titus VI

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)

to speak evil of no one

This reminder dug into my heart.

Paul, a master of words… said exactly what God wanted him to say here.

He did not say, speak evil of no one, OTHER than dirty rotten sinners.

He did not say, speak evil of no one, OTHER than people who have proven themselves evil.

He did not say, speak evil of no one, OTHER than when people badmouth US.

He did not say, speak evil of no one, OTHER than our foolish, ignorant, stubborn, childish opponents.

He did not say, speak evil of no one, OTHER than Cain, Nebuchadnezzar, Judas Iscariot,  Adolf Hitler, and THAT President you might despise.

Talk is not cheap, you see. 

I think about Christ Jesus defending me before God’s throne.  He could have PLENTY to say about me, honestly.  But He chooses to speak no evil of me… but to take MY evil on Himself.

Speaking evil of others denies the hope the power of the gospel. The joy of fellowship possible in the Spirit.  The love of the Father. 

Speak the gospel instead of evil.

Titus V: to be ready for every good work

Titus V

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)

to be ready for every good work

The key here is the word, “ready.”

Many years ago, some college friends and I organized a 24/7 dart gun game, called “Assassin.”  We all carried dart guns around campus (and off campus) and hoped to tag other players of the game, without being tagged ourselves.

The game did not have a down time, other than Sundays.

And we had to be ready to defend, ready to shoot, ready to fire, ready to tag, ready to avoid being tagged, ALL the time.

I did not win, because I lacked eager focus.

The young man who won, won because he loved the idea of the game… and was excited to be doing what was expected.  He never tired of it.  He never let his guard down.  He finished as strongly as the rest of us began.

That is like the Christian life.  Rather than go through our days, looking forward to rest, what if we went through our days ready to act kindly.  Rather than organize our schedule, ensuring that every box is ticked, what if we went through our day making sure we had time for acts of random goodness.  Rather than, as we work, rest, and play, making sure we are pleased with our accomplishments, we worked, rested, and played, in ways that were good for those around us.

I know… easier said than done…

But Paul reminds us because it IS something we can do.  Christ gives us the example, the ability, and the power.

Titus IV: to be obedient

Titus IV

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)

to be obedient

Our society has elevated the rebel (with or without a cause) to a high position.  We smile at the independent, disobedient toddler.  We cheer on the television character who fights against ‘the man.’  We admire the finger-gesturing speeder who evades a traffic cop.  We turn rebels into heroes, disobedience into nobility, and self-rule into a desirable status.

But we are not our own masters.

We serve Christ… our King… and He notices our disobedience.

In fact, He died because of it.

In fact, He purchased our forgiveness that our disobedience causes.

In fact, Paul’s reminder to be obedient… maybe even to be KNOWN in our culture as obedient… should not need to be said.

Obedience does not lead to salvation.  But Christian’s obedience stems FROM our salvation.

We obey to show we love the Law giver.  But we also obey because He has loved us.

It is not a restraint.  We get to do what He made us to do.

Titus III: to be submissive to rulers and authorities

Titus III

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)

I intended to move on from this verse, on to the next key verses in the remaining books of the New Testament.  But the more I thought about it, the more strange these reminders of Paul to Titus sound to our western, modern, quick-minded overly clever world.

So while still TECHNICALLY following the “Key Verse” paradigm… we will spend a few days looking at THESE key reminders and verses from Paul.

to be submissive to rulers and authorities

When we modern, particularly conservative, Christians, think about submitting to rulers and authorities we get our backs up right way.  Delightful democratic ideals have taught us, incorrectly, that WE are our own masters.

But we are not.  God is God.  Jesus, particularly, is King.  And His reign is over every aspect of our lives.  Not a moment, not an idea, not a sphere, not a decision is made, under our own authority.

We do have authority… but only as God (King Jesus) has delegated it.  In fact, this is so true, and so ignored, that I feel the need to state it very clearly.

All authority on earth comes from God.

Whether the earthly wielders admit it, notice it, adhere to is, or act like it.

Our place in this delegation of authority is to submit. 

That is hard to hear.

It does NOT mean we are ordered by God to obey unGodly commands.  But those actually occur in our society a lot less often than we like to think.

We are not, in Paul’s reminder to submit, supposed to submit ONLY to this commands we agree with politically, emotionally, and personally.

Think of Daniel and his friends.  The government which ruled the exiles had MANY commands that these young Hebrews disagreed with.  But the place they made a stand was only where the King’s commands demanded that they purposefully and openly serve false gods.  I imagine they made their discontent with the other, smaller laws, well known.  Daniel was not ever a quiet man.  But they submitted.  Notice, they called the human leader KING.  (They did not post ‘not MY king’ on their websites…)

Submitting to the uncomfortable, the different, the other, the impractical, the silly, the hard, the selfish, is EXACTLY what we are reminded to do.

This is exactly what Christ Himself did… submitting to Judaism.  Submitting to the Romans.  Submitting to the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.  All the way through a crown of thorns, and death on a cross.  He did not compromise His principles.  But He saved His people.

Because in submitting like THAT… Jesus obeyed God, the delegator of all authority.

Remember to do likewise.

Titus II: Weird

Titus II

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)

Weird

These reminders sound old-fashioned, simplistic, un-modern, and maybe not very American.  But these statements of Paul’s to Titus’s church-folk are undoubtedly exactly what they needed to hear.

And we do, too.  Paul here takes potshots at his readers… and this mind sound like potshots against us, too.

So be it.  Let’s apply these reminders to US.  Not to our neighbors, or frenemies, or enemies.

Think about how more righteous, peaceful, and joyful our society would be if we submitted to our God-brought authorities.  Obviously not when authority goes against God’s word.  But both conservative and liberal Christians are often only willing to think submission when OUR party is in power.

And obedience? In situations where public obedience is asked, we obey when convenient, easy, or what we would have done anyway.

These days we seem ready to do every self-protective work… and do not pay attention to simply doing the obvious good thing.

We speak evil of others frequently… whether justified or not… which is SO different than Paul’s reminder here.

We do not avoid quarreling… we seek it, and elevate it as a civic (or religious) virtue. 

We choose defensive or offensive mindsets rather than gentleness.

And courtesy… I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes:  Manners are things we do to make OTHERS feel comfortable.  We do not do that.

I think Paul is reminding us of these things, too.

Titus I: Remembering

Titus I

 For we ourselves were once foolish, (Titus 3:2 ESV)

Remember

I had a celebrity for a guitar teacher in my youth.  At least a celebrity for me.  He played the guitar on a radio show, The Children’s Bible Hour.

He was a rare breed, as a music teacher.  He never rolled his eyes at my mistakes.  He never guilted me into practice.  He did not criticize my repeated ignorance or backsliding of knowledge.  He was patient while still being exact.  He was understanding while still asking dedication.  He smiled a lot, I thought, for what looked like a grumpy old man.

When I eventually stopped taking lessons from him, I asked him why he acted so different than my other teachers.

He replied that he remembered what it was like to learn.

We Christians need to remember that teacher’s outlook.

Maybe you are not a teacher, a preacher, or a spiritual guide.  But you still teach, present the gospel, and point people to Christ every day… whether you are aware of it or not.

And our gospel-ing is better when we remember our own sin, both past and present.

Our gospel-ing is better when we remember our own struggles, both past and present.

Our gospel-ing is better when we remember all the ways WE needed Jesus… as well as the ways we still do.

Call it remembering. I call it remembering Paul Storm.