James 1:1

Please read James 1:1-18. We will be paused here for quite a while! So this will be our daily reading  as we work our way through! 

Today's focus: James 1:1. 

James, a  bond servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is James? James is the half brother of Jesus. Born to Mary and Joseph. He is not one of the original disciples whom Jesus called. In fact, James would have not identified himself in the way he starts his letter during the life of Jesus. 

Jesus brothers did not believe he was the Christ at first. During his lifetime James was with his brothers as the called out Jesus to show who he was in John 7:2-5. How does one go from disbelief to belief? From standing aside to dying a martyr's death? The power of the resurrected Savior.

We can sometimes this day and age just say the "resurrected Savior," devoid of the power and truth it represents. We tie it so tightly into our ' Easter Story,' that we lose the centrality and necessity that Jesus, being risen from the grave is a key point. He died AND ROSE AGAIN. He fulfilled the prophecies and conquered death and now sits on the right hand of His Heavenly Father; yet we can be dismissive of the miracle of this momentous life changing reality. James lived on both sides of the testaments. He knew the Old Testament well, grew up in the household of Jesus, Son of Man, and then became a follower of Jesus Christ His Lord post resurrection. He came to the place and then lives zealously in the truth that Jesus is the Christ! And we get to see the transformation. 

It is therefore, no little thing that James does not identify as Jesus' half brother but as his bond-servant. A slave to Christ willing serving His Master.

Jesus appears to James after His resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:7. He is then likely found in the upper room Acts 1:13-14. Through faith in Jesus Christ now and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit James becomes a pillar of the local church. We actually see him time and again, perhaps without notice. He is a leader in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:13) is called a pillar by Paul in Galatians 2:9, and Paul would go to visit him twice that we know of, one his first mission to Jerusalem after his conversion and on his last journey through. James is known historically as James the Just. 

Foxes Book of Martyrs has his death recorded in his 90's by being cast down from the top of a temple and then beaten to death with clubs.

This is James. Identified in God and the Lord Jesus Christ. May our new birth in Jesus Christ and the indwelling of His spirit within us, so too change our identity and titles. In our culture people typically ask your name and then quickly followed by what do you do for work? We can become identified with a trade. My hope is that I become identified souly with my Savior. Not that I am the wife of so and so or mother of them, and them...but as Jenny, servant of the Lord and my Savior Jesus Christ. We can be so consumed or motivated by our identities we hold or identities we desire- may ours be Christ in every way.

Portion B of verse 1, we find James writing to the 12 tribes of the dispersion. After reading many commentaries the prevailing thought seems to be this would have been early Jewish Christians, thus the 12 tribes reference; and they would have started to be scattered abroad. After the martyrdom of Stephen in Acts chapter 8 the church scatters. At the time of this writing most likely James son of Zebedee would have too, already been killed, Peter would have been imprisoned by Herod (Acts 12). The church was right off the ground in an intense season of persecution. This letter was written to those early believers as a way to live the faith they are now professing. Keep in mind this is written, much like several other letters of the New Testament to those in times of trials and persecution. Keep in mind what is addressed... but also what is not. 

James teaches and urges with zeal to live a life worthy of the calling of Christ. The church we attend today was built of the blood paved roads of those who went before us. Who to live was Christ and to die was gain! May we use the book of James to calibrate how and why and to whom we serve, to whom we point to, and to how we love. 

Worship today: Why did life get harder

(just a forewarning I cry often when I hear this song, a beautiful, true, honest song before the Lord)

Introduction to James

James. 

Please read James chapter 1.

 

Today will be a brief outline and then tomorrow we will dig into James 1.

James is considered the earliest written book of the New Testament. With the only exception possibly being the book of Galatians. This then, would have been the first book written to the very earliest of the Christian church. James is also designated as a "general letter," going back to early church historian Eusebius in his writings "Ecclesiastical History." Often New Testament letters are written to a church or people specific IE to the church of Galatia (Galatians), however this book along with 1,2 Peter; 1,2,3 John and Jude seem to be written to the church at large or a general audience. 

James is said to be the proverbs of the New Testament by some scholars and others consider it almost a commentary to the Sermon on the Mount. To that effect we will look closely as those parallels when we get there. (verses within chapter 2,3 and 5).

James is the half-brother of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet as he writes he does not claim this distinction. He claims one of servitude as a bondservant of God. We will discuss this in depth tomorrow.

James writes this book to encourage and exhort the believer to not just say they believe in Jesus but to LIVE in that exclamation.

This is what drove me to this book right now. There is a lot of noise around us. A lot. From pandemics to conspiracies to racial tensions and injustices to political pandering and diatribes and the unrest of an election year. As I scrolled through social media I found myself concerned, confused at times anxious and fearful and yet wondering what is a believer's response.

James will teach us. He will guide us and at times correct us. It is so relevant today where we are such a 24/7 news and knee jerk reaction society. Where we are full of anger and fear and frustration. Where believers are trying and struggling to hold dual citizenship as Americans and then citizens of heaven; to no avail, because truthfully to follow Christ we must have one leader, one Savior, One King. Our hope must be found in one place so that are actions and speech and response spring out of that commitment and loyalty. 

My prayer for this study, as long and as intense as it plays out is that it changes us forever. That we do not take cues from social trends or news networks but that we emanate the love of Jesus Christ because that is what our heart and mind knows best. May we learn to be women saturated in the Word. 

Verse to mediate on for the week: 1:2 Consider it a joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials

Worship: Take my Life

Last read through

Good morning!

     Today is our last read through. I have to be honest here. It was SO hard for me to sit and read this morning. I woke up late, meaning some of my kids were waking up with me, needed to get breakfasts and work lunches gathered; assist a cranky 6 year old with every life dilemma possible, and found myself frustrated. It is a reminder to me how much I have to be purposeful to be in the word. And not just in it- but immersed in it. I must have read the same sentence 12000 times today. I felt like it would be impossible to actually gather anything from my time in the Word and prayer. In fact as I write this my youngest hasn't stopped talking to me. And now my eldest. 

    So today I want to offer the gentle hope that we just need to be in His Word. Be purposeful, be present in it. Today, at some point find the time to sit and read through the book of James. Or listen to it. Monday we will start James chapter 1 which I think I can safely say we will be in for several weeks. 

Meditation for the weekend: 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

Worship Song: God the Uncreated One

Pure and vain religion

Good morning!

As we read through James I am amazed at the richness and relevance of the book. Today as we read through, think through and jot notes on pure and vain religion. What James writes about as a faithful witness and what is not worthy of the Lord. There is A LOT packed in. As I read, a million times over I am convicted of things in my heart, mind and on my tongue that must change. We are living in a world where everyone has the ability to have a platform...may our platform be Christ. 

Today's meditation: If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. James 1:26

OUCH. AHK. UGH. This can be me at times, heart breakingly so. Our bridle must be His Word so that we are guided by truth and profess truth. Nothing else can speak into a situation with peace, comfort and love than the very Words of God. If scripture is God-breathed, we then have the ability to speak that into situations. The way for this to occur effortlessly is to be saturated by the Word. Not my social media, not the news, not Instagram or paraphrased efforts of truth- but the Word of God. Living and Active. 

This is an article by Mark Dever of 9Marks which I found incredibly helpful about my online comments.

Worship for the day: His Mercy is More

JAMES

Good morning friends!

We are finally starting our James study, and while although it might feel very random of me to start on a Wednesday (lets be honest most things I do feel slightly random) I fear if not today then when!

Our schedule will look slightly broken up in July as we will be coming and going- please look for either the email or this posting or our FB group to see week by week what to expect. Starting August 1 we will resume our normal M-F study and still yet a virtual study a few times a month. 

I am not sure how long it will take us to get through the book of James. There is A LOT packed into these 5 chapters. A lot of meat and a lot of reflection that will be worth chewing on and meditating through. James feels very relevant right now. I have been wanting to study this book deeply and now seems like a good time. ( It was between this and Galatians) 

Please use these next three days with me well. The goal will be if you haven't gotten to already, to familiarize yourself with the entire book. It is 5 chapters, it can be read in a sitting and it you can try reading it through once in the morning and once in the evening. Or listening to it on audio bible. I will do this often while folding laundry or weeding or cleaning bathrooms. 

Then pray. Pray over our study, our time in the word, over the women doing this with us. That we would come to know our Lord even more and that our hearts and minds would be transformed and renewed.

And lastly...worship! Give thanks back to God for His Word, His truths, His promises. He is a good God. Again in this study I will be adding worship songs each week. 

So today: James chapters 1-5 <3

Isaiah 6

Good morning,

     I was struck by something I read this morning and wanted to hop on and share.

     Some of us live in regions that look like they will slowly be reopening; some of us, live in regions that feel as if we might suffocate under the weight of these orders. Where ever we are these are crazy perilous times. What are we to do?

   Read Isaiah 6. It is a profound moment. The study notes of my bible struck deepily as I pondered this moment and I wanted to share the hope and encouragement that lies within this scripture.

   Things were changing for the people of Israel, the leader of the past 50 years had died and the future felt uncertain. God granted Isaiah this experience and I believe we can pull from it very much so right now.

   1st thing to note- Isaiah looked up- He had to look up because God was seated on high.  He saw that God is absolutely holy, sovereignly ruling from His glorious throne (Reformation Heritage Bible). Worshiping and serving God with a correct view of who He is has never been more important. Do no look into yourself for strength right now, it will be weak and flawed. Do not look out to the world for guidance- it is incredibly opinionated and political and conspiracy laden. Look to God, He is ever good and never changing. More so, look to him correctly, allow yourself to mediate in His holiness and set your compass there.

    2nd thing to note: Isaiah in light of God's holiness looked inside himself and saw his own uncleanliness and unworthiness. He saw himself as a sinner. He saw God's holiness and it showed him his own wretchedness. This is good. We are not compatible to God. I am reminded in this with our current situation- I do not know better than He what is needed for me, for my town, for humanity right now. This is a mess. Regardless of it be judgement or man's wickedness or simply the result of a fallen world where sickness comes and conquers. What I am responsible for is my reaction and interaction; and there are many moments I have needed to repent for. My aroma has been at times a stench of my attitude rather than a pleasing sacrifice.

    3rd thing to note: He looked to the alter to see the greatness of God's grace that provided the cleansing and atonement for his sins. We now have the privileged of knowing and experiencing first hand the greatness and depth of that grace through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross! Jesus IS ENOUGH!!!! He is enough when circumstances are good, he is enough if we are sitting in a jail cell, or laying on a bed during a chemo treatment, or surrounded by children who are running amuck, or sitting in isolation. In Jesus we have everything we need. We have the glorious joy of being able to fellowship with His Son at every moment and turn and breath.

    4th thing to note: Isaiah was able to look out to the world who who need this message. Are you looking out to a world that needs this good news? That is we lose everything that we have the one thing that can never be taken? That when our hope is rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ our Lord we are free forever? That whether in life or in death we have nothing but gain? Are you able to plant seeds of salvation right now or are we too busy looking inward at our current situation and that we are prevented at looking up to the glorious high throne of God and the truth that Jesus Christ is seated at His right hand. He came as it was predicted- and He is coming back again.

     Sister this situation is HARD- regardless of where you are, but we have everything we need through Jesus Christ our Lord and His living active Word. May you cling to what is right and good and help others build their house upon the Rock. Every moment of every day may we be reminded of this. Worship for this thought.

Be kind to everyone

2 Timothy 2

I have been chewing through some thoughts for quite a while now, about a Christian's response to Covid-19. I have sat and watched and seen so many things from foolishness to outright anger and civil disobedience. I have prayed and pondered and waited to share these thoughts.

Then I came upon 2 Timothy today. Paul is teaching young Timothy how to shepherd the flock. He is teaching him what it means to be entrusted with the gospel. And as believers, co-heirs in this; we too have been entrusted with the Gospel. This advice is for us too.

I first need to jump to 1 Peter 2:13-25 because I think it lays out how we should be responding. We are to be under the authority of those put in charge with us, even when we disagree. As long as they are not asking us to disobey God.And as of now, we are not. We are not being stopped to preach, or teach, we are not being told we cannot share the Gospel with our neighbors- in fact we are being given one of the greatest opportunities of our lifetime to display the gospel to our neighbors through both word and deed. We are not being told we cannot gather- even if at the time its only electronically; we cannot have knee jerk responses to things not occurring. 1 Peter says it is GOD who puts our leadership into place. He knew where we would be located, under which governor and which town when Covid-19 struck - why do we question His Sovereignty? Be subject for the LORD's sake to every human institution...for this is the will of God... Live as people free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil but as living servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King. These words are literally meant for moments like this. Where we feel a need to interject our 2 sense. As Americans I firmly believe we confuse civil liberties with biblical commandments. We are NOT guaranteed freedom in anything other than Christ. Yes as citizens in American we have rights; but make no mistake our citizenship does not lie here. My question for us today- does our response to the leaders put over us proclaim the Gospel story or does it look like a worldy response? This is hard for us Westerners, we have never had to live under communism, or oppression or slavery- yet these verses were written when there were leaders who HATED Christians. Yet Peter does not teach civil disobedience but to use the opportunity to be Gospel witnesses. This book was written to Christians in persecution for their faith yet no where do we read words to incite a rebellion.

Peter goes on, for this is a gracious thing, when mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly...For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. Jesus Christ is our Supreme example. And he did suffer under unjust political and religious persecution. Yet he did not rebel; he did not slander- he bore witness to His father. Does your response cause others to sin or stumble? Or are you pointing people to the Cross with your response to Covid-19?

Jumping into 2 Timothy 2 now... I was struck by the simplicity and beauty of this passage for a timely manner.  Paul is discussing false teachers; but I ask, if we reject a biblical narrative to the pandemic; are we becoming false teachers as well? Paul says, But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness and their talk will spread like gangrene. Does your Social Media platform please the Lord as an aroma or are you so set on misinformation and your rights that you spread hate and fear?  Have nothing to do with foolish controversies; you know they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach and patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. So this really struck me- am I living in a way that I can demonstrate the gospel to my neighbors? If I have non believing neighbors who are terrified of getting sick- am I offering the hope of Christ or fear mongering them by demanding from a system whose leaders do not turn their head to the right or the left without God's permission?

I am reminded of Chinese Pastors right now- they do not teach their congregations how to petition the government but how to be gospel witnesses in prison. So that by their behaviors others might come to Christ.

We have but one purpose- to glorify God, our we showing the love of Christ Jesus to all those around us? Does our response teach of the hope that is within us? And maybe the question is, is our hope in American freedom or in Christ who sustains all things? When this is over; will people ask us how we managed well in our shackles? Do not grow weary in doing what is good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up! Sister- may we respond that our language is love and our determination the Gospel- may we not become gangrene in a world already full of fear. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earthly things.

May Jesus be your portion but today and tomorrow, amen. <3

P.S. Bible study will start again this week- look out for further detail.

Undone