This passage continues to overwhelm me with beauty and clarity and truth. If we respond to the word of God in anger, or pride, or self-justification we will not be able to produce the righteousness of God. We will have zero fruit if we are constantly debating the Lord on why we are less sinful or need less work or less change, or above the law; especially compared to the 'other guy.' If we respond as spoiled children who when don't get their way or are told no, or are corrected- by fits of rage,anger or outright rebellion we will miss the fruit of the Spirit.
Therefore, a key study word as we have learned, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness. What does this look like? Ephesians 4:22 and 1 Peter 1:23 reminds us we are to be putting off our former selves. Those desires, or practices that were done when we were outside of Christ. When we come to Christ the old is gone and the new has come! Do not keep picking up you rags and trying to put them back on! Don't pick up the filthy cloak of obscene talk, impure thoughts and desires, gossip, slander, malice, anger and trying to wear it! Cast it aside! Throw it out and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! To seek Christ we must die to self.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Kingdom of God. James is reiterating that. What is the Kingdom of God? Eternal salvation. The meek, those who receive the Word will inherit the Kingdom.
There will be a link at the bottom of the study to a fantastic sermon on the verse blessed are the meek. Especially as Westerners, meekness might not be something we understand or aspire too. Quite frankly in the demand for our constant rights and needs; we fail to demonstrate meekness on a daily basis. Perhaps we have it wrong? What does it look like to be meek?
In the study notes of my Bible there is a beautiful comment, " When the Word takes hold of a person it is as if it were engrafted, or rooted, into their very being." We get the Word grafted into our hearts. And out of this we produce fruit that pleases our Savior. Take a close look at your heart today. Are you bearing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control? Or is their little evidence to your encounter with Christ and His Word? His implanted Word, which is able to save your soul, is the Gift of Salvation. In John 1:1 we learn In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
His implanted Word- is Himself. Therefore, do not respond in anger, or the putting on of filthy rags. May we radiated the Light of Christ to those around us, because we allow Him to be the Light within us.
Sermon Link: Nate Pickowicz Matthew 5:5
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