Looking in the mirror

Do you ever slap yourself on the forehead and say "I knew better than that!!"?  I surely do!  I cannot count the times that I hear a sermon or read a passage of Scripture or just plain remember a Truth and think - "I used to do that right but somewhere along the line, I've stopped".  Or I find myself repeating the same commissions or omissions over and over again.


How does that happen to us?


Well, basically,


we're human!


And humans forget.  Like James tells us
 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing


Just like I look in the mirror everyday to check my hair and makeup before I leave the house.  More than once, if I have time!  And then, based on what I see, I adjust.  And tweak.  And look again.  Because I can't remember what I look like from one glance to the next!


It's the same with our spiritual life.  God's Word is the mirror that we look into in order to know what we look like spiritually.  And, based on what He shows us, we adjust and tweak and look again.  And what helps us remember what we saw is to obey what He shows us to do.  Being a doer, not just a hearer - or a looker !!


I love what the word "intently" means in Greek - it means to stoop down and focus.  Isn't that powerful?  We don't need to merely read God's Word - we need to humble ourselves and examine how to apply what it means to live it out.  It means being willing to let the Word show us where we need to adjust.  And then to obey it.  That's what helps us remember.


This mirror of God's Word that we are to look into isn't just another law to follow.  Thankfully not.  Rather it is the perfect law...the law of liberty. 


What does that mean - a law...of liberty?  Seems contradictory.


Except that it's not.


The perfect law is the Gospel of Christ.  He fulfilled every point of God's law  - which we can't do - and, in so doing, He set us free from our inability to keep it.  God counts His perfection as ours...and then He abides within those who believe in Him and transforms us into people who look like Him.  Not immediately, to be sure.  But, little by little, as we obey Him -- being an effectual does and not just a hearer of His Word -- we grow in our likeness to Him.  Blessed in what we do.

It's Nike Time

James 1:21-22


²¹ Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves


We spend an awful lot of time trying to fix ourselves.  An awful lot of energy and money, too.  And I don't mean physically (although that's true as well!) but I mean emotionally, relationally, psychologically.  Even though we are slow to admit it, I think deep down we know that much of what's wrong in our lives has to do with the fact that we are broken people.  People that "need fixing".


Trouble is, we don't know how to do it.


I think this verse tells us.


When James uses the phrase "save your souls", I don't believe he is referring to the establishment of a relationship with Christ.  Rather, I think he is explaining the "working out" of our salvation - the sanctification process whereby Christ-followers are transformed (slowly as it may be!) into the image of Christ. 


It's about "fixing ourselves". Making whole and healthy the parts of us that are broken.


Our self-image.  Our relationships.  Our speech.  Our attitudes.  Our priorities. Our treatment of others.  Our use of resources. Our own selves.


Here's what James says:


1. Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness- Get rid of the wrong stuff.  Take personal responsibility (as in, it's not your parents' fault or your mate's fault or your boss's fault or your circumstances' fault) and get rid of the things in your life that don't line up with holiness. 
2.  In humility - have a correct assessment of yourself.  Not only take personal responsibility but also see yourself in desperate need of God's grace.  That becomes the point at which He showers His favor upon you --- when you realize and acknowledge your need for it.
3. Receive the word implanted - The Word was implanted in you when you trust Christ for salvation.  Now you need to embrace it.  "Receive" means to embrace and accept like an organ transplant.  Let it become part of you.  Mediate on The Word.  Memorize it.  And then,
4. Mind it.  Prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves. As you study the word and learn what God tells you to do, then, well, just do it.  Nike Time.  Just do it.
Obey what He shows you.


That's what transforms you.  Changes you.  Fixes you.  Saves your soul.


It's Nike Time, y'all - just do it!

Don't get mad...get quiet?

James 1:19-20


¹⁹ Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰ for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.


The context for this passage is the topic of trials.  Pretty safe to say, then, that it applies to each of us every day....we're either in the midst of a trial, just coming out of a trial, or headed into one soon!  So, it's pertinent.


What counsel does Brother James have for us?

1.  Be quick to hear.


There's a difference between "listening" and "hearing".  We can "listen" for the sound of the whistle but until it reaches our ears and conveys the message to our brains, we haven't "heard" it.  Same is true for the sounds around us.  James is telling us to "hear" what is said in such a way that we comprehend the message.  Sound advice. 

Quick to hear whom?


God, first of all.  In the midst of life, He is speaking to us.  In our pleasure, He whispers "be grateful and know that all good gifts come from Me".  In our concern, He urges us to trust Him.  In our pain, as CS Lewis puts it, God "shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
We must be attentive to what He is saying.  Quick to hear.


Also, we must hear those around us.  May we not presume we know what they are saying before we hear their words!  Proverbs 18:13 declares If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. 
Many many times conflict could be avoided if we would be quick to hear what another is saying rather than assuming we know already.


2.  Be slow to speak.
The Greek word for "slow" here implies control. Not slow as in lackadaisical or negligent but rather managed, regulated, disciplined.
Wow.  What a difference that kind of speech can make!!
Just think about what Proverbs 10:19 says - When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. 
          

Proverbs 12:18 explains why we should be controlled in speech - Rash words are like sword thrusts

Ouch.  We've all been the victim of sword jabs like these.

And we've all dispensed a few to others, as well.

                   
3. Be slow to anger.
Proverbs 16:32  tells us why it's profitable to be slow to anger             

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city

But what else do we need to know about anger?

Mainly, that anger is not a sin.  It's a emotion.  It's like an indicator light on the dashboard of my car - when it starts flashing, it's a sign to check under the hood.

Same with anger.  When that emotion surfaces, we need to check our hearts and see what's going on in there.

Anger isn't the sin -- it's the response of our souls when what we want to be is not achieved.  Aristotle defined anger as "desire with grief".   We want something (might be comfort or pleasure or significance).  And something -- or someone -- blocks the reaching of that goal.

Result -- anger.

No, anger isn't the sin..... but what we do with it can be.

So James urges us to be slow in what makes us angry, be controlled in how we handle it. When that light is flashing, check under the hood.  What is at the root of this emotion?  Is it a right desire?  Or a selfish one?  After that introspection, then we can ask God what we should do about it. 

Oh, and then we should be quick to hear!

In the remaining verse, James reminds us that anger won't fix the problem we're trying to solve.  Because underneath every desire, every longing, every wish is really a soul that needs the righteousness of God.  And nothing else will satisfy.

Don't judge a gift by its package

James 1:16-18
¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^{[a] 18} Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures


  The preceding verses in this chapter address the fact that the Enemy of our souls presents temptations in the midst of our trials.  He sends the temptation in an attempt to thwart God's purpose in the trial.  God's purpose is to make us perfect....Satan's is to make us fall.


The root of most every temptation can be found in these verses....the temptation to doubt the goodness of God.


And to be truthful, we are very easy to deceive!


When we are suffering in a trial, the Enemy wants us to doubt God's goodness, His capability to help, His faithfulness.   And to believe that something (or someone) else is the answer to the bleak feeling in our soul.


So James reminds us of the Truth.


The Truth about God's character.


1.  His goodness to us.  He only gives good gifts.  Sometimes we are confused by the package they come in, but we need to know that everything He gives us is good.  And if there is a gift we are seeking but He is withholding, well, then, it isn't what it seems because No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly  (Psalm 84:11)


2.  His power for us.  When James describes God as the Father of Lights, it is helpful to know that not only does the word "lights" convey energy, warmth, and light, this word specifically means THE SOURCE of light - one that is never kindled, never quenched....it gives the light.  Surely this Source is able to keep His promises to us!


3.  His consistency with us. No variation or shifting shadow...no natter what our circumstances, God's Word is always true.  He is not a respecter of persons and He never changes.  He is always good.  Always powerful.  Always loving.


4.  His Love towards us.  He chose us.  Not because He had to but because He delighted to.  Of His will, He chose us.  He doesn't love us because He made us.....He made us because He loves us.


 During a trial, it's hard to hold onto to the truth.  We get distracted by our pain.  And that makes it easy to fall for the temptation to doubt God's character. 


Don't let that happen to you. 


Everything God does is good.  He loves you.  He is able to keep His promises.  Always.

The devil made me do it

A group of us gals are spending our Wednesday evenings digging into the book of James.  I am notoriously slow about getting through verses - took us two weeks to get ourselves out of verse 1!  But the time has been sweet.  And rich.  I love these folks.  And we are loving the treasures we're uncovering in His Word.


Here's a couple of jewels from recent weeks....


James 1:13-16English Standard Version (ESV)
¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers


In the midst of trials, there always comes a temptation.


Remember from a couple of weeks ago - we examined God's purpose in trials -- to proof our faith, to make it more precious and valuable.  Going through this process (if we cooperate with Him!) results in a life "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing".  (James 1:4)


And that is what we long for - to lack nothing, to be whole, complete.


However, the Enemy is opposed to God's purposes.  When he sees a trial coming our way, rest assured that he has a counterplan for us.


That's where the temptation comes from.


So when we're considering trials a reason to find joy, knowing that God is at work in our lives, producing a precious faith, completing us and supplying all we need so that we lack for nothing, well, it's at that point that the Enemy of our souls opens his arsenal of weapons.


He wants us to fail the test.  He doesn't want us whole and complete and drawing near to our Father.
So he tries to get us to fall.....


What does a fall look like?
Any number of things.
Depends on what appeals to the one in the trial.


Might be to get angry and declare "it's not fair".  If we don't process this appropriately, a full fledged pity party can ensue and bitterness is likely to set in.  Resentment towards those around us, including God.  "How could He do this to me?"  Questions like that.  Understandable...but not helpful.


Or the enticement to follow a path of destructive behavior might be his choice of armament against us.  Opportunities for wickedness and folly present themselves, usually disguised as much more benign than they really are.


Or the appeal might even be to abandon faith altogether.  After all, what's it gotten you so far, the Enemy whispers.


And if one takes the bait, if one fails and falls, then the normal tendency is to blame The One who is Sovereign over all.  Surely this failure is somehow His fault.


James stops us short in this line of thinking.  No, he says.  That is deceptive thinking.  Don't be deceived, he warns. 

Yes, the trial is from God.  But the temptation is not.  It's from our own inner desires.  Our "lusts" - the desire to please ourselves - is present within us.  And if we don't know/believe/act on the Truth, we will believe that something other God's plan will get us out of that trial, fill up the hole that's screaming to be filled up, or satisfy the longings of our soul.  It is oh so very easy to be deceived into thinking that something...or someone...will slake our thirst, appease our appetite, mollify our yearning....and we bite the lure the Enemy dangles in front of us.


We bite.  Sin.


But the decoy that entices us fails to deliver what seemed to be promised.


Instead, the process of death is set in motion.


Maybe not instantly.  But surely.  If we don't let go of the lure and run towards Truth, death is inevitable.  In the form of the end of a dream or a relationship or even a life.  Death of trust and faith and blessing. 


In a trial, God's purpose is to produce a faith more precious than gold.
The Enemy, however, is bent on destruction.  Yours.  And mine.


We don't have to fall, though.
Next time we'll look at how to beat him at his own game.