James VII: The Easy Route

James VII

…is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. (James 5:13 ESV)

The Easy Route

We make things so complicated.  Because some things ARE complicated! Many years ago I trained for a yacht race in Australia.  I might have wanted to jump in the vessel, and start sailing, but many necessary steps were a part of leaving harbor under sail.

Brain surgery is like…. well, brain surgery. We can’t pick up a butter knife and perform such medical procedures.

Learning a new language, despite the hopes offered by new Apps, is a mind-bending exercise of learning vocabulary, grammar, and foreign concepts.

And suffering… we act like suffering is a complicated problem, too.

But James says… when we suffer:  Pray.

Because our suffering is always complicated, the best solution is to talk with the Most Complicated Person in the Universe, God Himself.

Because our suffering is always immense, the best solution is to talk with the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, All-knowing God.

Because our suffering is always personal, the best solution is to talk to the One who loves unconditionally, completely, and salvifically.

Suffering?  Pray.

James VI: If

James VI

Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:15 ESV)

If

We act like fortune tellers, sometimes.  We predict we will arrive at our destination at a particular time.  We predict our paycheck will be a certain amount.  We predict students will learn at a certain pace.  We predict political results, economic patterns, and the weather.

And such predictions are usually iffy.

But God’s people know something very grand.

Tomorrow depends on the will of the God who loves His people.

A grand thing, because His tomorrows are always the best.

A grand thing, because He is more reliable than a car’s engine, a payroll accountant, or a child’s mind.

A grand thing, because He has all knowledge, beyond political analysts, economic data, and temperature gradients.

The Will of God makes all His ‘if’s reliable.  Because of God.

The Will of God makes all our ‘if’s hopeful.  Because of God.

The Will of God makes all ‘if’s peaceful. Because of God.

Better Friday

1. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

2. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). 

3. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

4. “Dear Woman, here is your son!” and “Here is your mother!”  (John 19:26-27). 

5. “I am thirsty” (John 19:28).

6. “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46) 

Good Thursday: Underdog

Good Thursday

Underdog

My favorite cartoon was Underdog.  I am not sure why.  But one thing I remember most was the end of many episodes.  Underdog would be in trouble, some bad guy about to kill Polly Purebred, or some other dastardly victory. 

And the announcer’s voice would always say, “Looks like this is the end… but don’t miss the NEXT…. UNDERDOG show.”  The dramatic music would start and I would urgently wish it were tomorrow.

Looks like this is the end… but don’t miss the NEXT show.

That is a lot like Maundy Thursday.  Things were looking grim.  The crowds were not quite as enthusiastic.  Leadership, both state and the temple, were planning Christ’s death.  The new kingdom was being trodden underfoot instead of being at hand.

It looked like this was the end… but Jesus had told them all not to miss the NEXT part.

Because He was coming back from death.  It wasn’t the end, or anything like it.  Hope hadn’t fled, it had just become something better.  The things that seemed wrong, were so very, very right.

But this isn’t just something that happened 2000 years ago for our intellectual consideration.  It is something to which we can hitch our wagons.  Something we can relish.  Something we need.

We often feel like “this is the end.”  Financially, politically, emotionally, we are often as trapped as Underdog or as despairing as the disciples.  The Resurrection tells us, “Looks like this is the end… but don’t miss the NEXT part!”

Each apparent end is a beginning.  Each apparent failure is a fresh start.  Each valley’s low point is the start of the next slope up.

But it only gets better with the Christ.  Without Him it really IS the end.

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.