Our New Testament readings for the next few weeks from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer take us to the Epistle or Letter from James. Most Bible scholars believe that the James who wrote this was the half brother or step-brother of Jesus. Though he was undoubtedly a devout and religious Jew, during the years of Jesus’s public ministry James did not believe Jesus was the Messiah, nor did he follow Him (John 7:1-5). Shortly after His resurrection from the dead, however, Jesus met with James, at which point he became a strong believer (I Corinthians 15:3-8). James became the leader, or bishop, of the church in Jerusalem, and is believed to have been martyred shortly before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. James’s letter to fellow believers is a practical one, giving us direction and counsel on Christian living.
As our passage begins, James reminds us that every good thing we have in our life, every blessing, comes from God (vs 17). This includes not only the good things specific to our life, like our family, friends, home, job, food, but also all of the beautiful things we see in creation. These are all gifts to us from our Heavenly Father. He is a wonderful Father, who never changes.
Next James gives us some advice that we could all benefit from following, and that is to be quick to hear, but slow to speak, slow to anger (vs 19-20). So many of us are just the opposite. We open our mouth and blurt out whatever we think when we should have kept it shut, and we are often quick to lose our tempers. Because our anger is so often self-centered and not upstanding, it doesn’t serve God’s purposes, and leaves a poor testimony. James tells us, in light of this, to get rid of all immorality and evil in our life (vs 21). The best thing to help us is to receive God’s Word in our heart. God’s Word, the Holy Bible alone, is what can save our souls.
James’s next instruction to his readers is a very important one, both then and now, which is to be a doer of the Word of God, not just one who hears or reads it, and does nothing (vs 22-25). This is a very important lesson that God wants us to hear. When we look into the mirror each day, our purpose is to see how we are. Does our hair need a touch-up brushing? Does a little of our last meal still linger around our mouth? Are our clothes on nice and straight? It would be foolish to look in the mirror, see this, and then walk away doing nothing. Are we that way with what we read in the Bible? We read of how the Lord wants us to act, the things that, as believers, we should be doing, we agree with Him, but then walk away and do nothing. James says that we are deceiving ourselves if this is what we are doing. Though the Scriptures are most unequivocal and explicit in stating that we are saved by faith and not works, it is also clear that if there is no fruit, there is no root. In other words, our believing faith will show forth by our actions. James says here that if we are reading or hearing God’s Word, but not putting anything we hear into action, is our faith really genuine, or are we deceiving ourselves? God promises that if we look into His perfect Word and follow it, we will be blessed in all we do.
Next James gives us another warning about our mouth and our word (vs . 26). I know that I can’t be warned enough about that! Here in this verse he is quite blunt, and tells us to put a bridle on our tongue. Just as a horse is brought under control by the bridle we put on him, we need to bring our tongue under control. How often we need to pull back on the reins of our tongue and stop what we’re about to say!
In closing our passage for today, James gives us a couple of good, practical examples of what we, as believers should be doing for the Lord (vs 27). James says that if we say we are Christians, then show it by helping the most needy in society. In his day those were widows and orphans. He also says to not let the corrupted conduct of the world soil us with its sins.
How are we doing? Let’s take a good look into God’s mirror, His Word, see what needs to be done in our life, straighten it up, and then go out into the world and serve Him.
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