LogosWalk Word Journal
Hearing God Speak through His Word

"But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word
in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance."
-- Luke 8:15 (NASB)

Archive for the '59: James' Category

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James 5:19-20 • Turn Them Back

Saturday, October 2nd, 2010
"My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
    —James 5:19-20 (NASB)

This is a profound instruction for any Believer during any age of history, but particularly so in view of the fact it is being given within the context of what should be done in the Last Days leading up to the Second Coming. The goal of the Gospel is the same from the moment of Christ's resurrection right up to the very last second before He returns again. But something even more profound is revealed here. At a time when spiritual darkness will be at its all-time pinnacle, we're provided with the opportunity to actually do something to alleviate its effects: turn "a sinner from the error of his way".

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James 5:7-8 • Be Patient

Friday, October 1st, 2010
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near."
    —James 5:7-8 (NASB)

I admit that if I had my way, every speaker, conference, and web site devoted to discussing the Second Coming would have to prominently begin by exegetically teaching from these verses. James doesn't diminish or de-emphasize the importance and place of "the coming of the Lord" in our life, he merely puts it all in the proper perspective by commanding "be patient".

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James 4:17 • Do the Right Thing

Thursday, September 30th, 2010
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin."
    —James 4:17 (NASB)

This is one of those simple, little verses with huge, eternal consequences both in its personal application as well as the theological. I think it speaks of the natural result of living a life of co-death and co-resurrection with Christ, of ultimately becoming like Him. Just as Christ constantly demonstrated His compassion, love, and mercy for all those He came across, so in becoming more and more like Him we're going to find that doing the minimum to get by is no longer the desire of our heart. This additional, personalized burden is not just knowing what WE are to personally do in all of life's situations, but actually DOING it.

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James 4:7-10 • He Will Exalt You

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you."
    —James 4:7-10 (NASB)

There are three very specific commandments here in regards to how we should approach God: "submit", "draw near", and "humble". This is curious to me in that there are myriad books, speakers, and conferences dedicated to enlightening us as to how a church is to conduct worship, and yet THE Book on the subject is rife with specific instructions on this very topic. Are you lucky enough to fellowship where this structure has been established as the basic framework for worship?

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James 4:1 • The Source of Your Pleasures

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
"What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?"
    —James 4:1 (NASB)

The more I try to understand James and the epistles in their original context to the Early Church, the more I realize not just how imperfect the Early Church was, but how similar it is in many respects to the church today. Perhaps the ultimate human deception is the one about "the good ol' days" when things were thought to be perfect and uncorrupted, but in reality were just part of the present trend spiraling downward even further. But as it was then, so it is now: people bringing their unresolved lust for the things of the world in to try and get it to live side-by-side with their spiritual desires.

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James 3:14-17 • Selfish Ambition

Monday, September 27th, 2010
"But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy."
    —James 3:14-17 (NASB)

I find it fascinating that in the earliest letter on record to the very first church in the history of this planet, that they experienced the same problems that are found in our generation's iteration of the church today. We always seem to talk about the Early Church in hushed, reverent tones in the context that they started out right and perfect and it was subsequent generations which introduced unhealthy elements that have undermined the church institutions that came later. And yet at the outset James is drawing attention to behavior in the Early Church which was "earthly, natural, demonic". When good intentions are overtaken by selfish ambition, the result is the same: hypocrisy.

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James 3:6 • The Very World of Iniquity

Sunday, September 26th, 2010
"And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell."
    —James 3:6 (NASB)

In case you haven't noticed, there are several terms repeatedly appearing in the Bible which describe sin. They're not perfect synonyms of each other but are used to express specific, different characteristics. The Holy Spirit through James does not say the tongue is "the very world of evil", or "the very world of transgression", or "the very world of wickedness", or any of the many alternative terms for sin, but "the very world of iniquity". Whereas the word for sin has to do with "a missing", and transgression means "to break covenant with", iniquity has to do with "a bending" or "curving". In other words, iniquity can only be committed by someone who knows God's Word yet purposely perverts or twists it to suit themselves. It takes "lying" to the more sophisticated and conscious level of "manipulation".

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