1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and
boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. (James 3:1-6, New King James Version)
"If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." The word translated "perfect" in this verse can also mean "mature", and I believe that is the meaning James had in mind. I believe that James made this statement to illustrate just how important, and how difficult it is to control one's own words. In fact, having full command over one's own words is such a difficult thing to achieve, requiting so much maturity, self discipline, and self control, that it can be assumed that one who has succeeded in mastering his own words will also have enough maturity and self control to bridle every other area of life. Indeed, if one will just ruthlessly tackle this one area, the other areas of temptation will seem easy to handle by comparison.
"Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell."
These verses indicate that our words have some power to steer our actions and our hearts. I know I have sen this happen in my own life before. When someone does something that irritates me just a little, if I take it God and forgive them, it is over with. It passes and doesn't bother me anymore. However, if I allow myself to start complaining, I find myself becoming more and more angry. My heart is turned in the direction of bitterness, and soon that tiny spark of anger becomes a great forest fire.
By contrast, I also have literally talked myself out of anger before. There have been times when I became angry by either a real or perceived wrong against me, and I've talked myself down, saying things like, "Well I know he shouldn't have done that, but lately he has had so much garbage in his life stressing him out. I guess its understandable." My heart then is steered toward empathy, and forgiveness happens almost on its own as I see things from the other person's perspective.
So our words do have the power to influence our hearts and steer out actions, but what is it that steers our words? The bit turns the horse, but the rider is the one who pulls the rein attached to the bit. The tiny rudder turns the great ship, but the helmsman steers that rudder. Who is at the helm of my life? Is it the "old man" as Paul called the old sinful nature, or is it the Holy Spirit of God?
LORD, I pray that you will be at the helm of my life, of my words, of my every moment and every choice. I know that often, I do not let You take the helm as You have the right to, but I am asking today Lord that you be both my captain and my helmsman. Take control Lord, I let go and give it you.
Who is at the Helm?
Dead Faith
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:17-24, New King James Version)
This passage is one of the most controversial in the Bible, Martin Luther even objected to the inclusion of James in the Canon of Scripture, God on the other hand, chose for it to be included. (I could get sidetracked down a long rabbit trail about how all of us at times would like to remove the parts of the Bible that inconvenience us, but I wont.)
What does this passage mean? At first glance it seems to be in direct conflict with verses like "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, New King James Version) So are we saved by faith, or works?
I believe the point being made in James is that true faith will always be demonstrated with works. If you believe that Jesus died to save you, then you will do the work of receiving Him. If you truly believe that Christ purchased you with His blood, you will begin to live in a manner that shows you no longer belong to yourself, but to Him. If you believe you are His, you will begin to live for Him. If you really believe that God knows best, you will do what He says.
Just as love accompanied by biting words is useless, faith without works is dead. (See "Useless Religion")
Abraham truly believed God's promises about Isaac, so Abraham reasoned that God would raise Isaac from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19) Abraham's faith was shown by his actions, if he had doubted, he wouldn't have acted.
The Bible is clear in many other passages that we are saved by grace through faith, that we cannot earn our salvation, that all of us have sinned and will sin again. So it is clearly not our works which save us. However, if your faith does not result in works, it is not truly saving faith.
One who has met the Lord Jesus Christ and has Him dwelling in their heart will be changed, always. If there is no change, there has been no rebirth, and "Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3, New King James Version) After we have been born again, we will still have our times of failure, we will still stray on occasion, but there will be no question that we have been changed, that we are not the same person we were before.
A caterpillar does not enter into its chrysalis and then emerge again as a caterpillar, a seed does not drop to ground and sprout again as a single seed. When we are born again, we will not see instant perfection, but we will see CHANGE. (1 Corinthians 5:17)
Pure Religion
This was orignally posted on homeschool blogger on October 15, 2009.
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27, New King James Version)
However, I think this idea can also be extended to include than just those with physical needs. There are many today who have no spiritual guidance or foundation. Raised in homes with no knowledge of God, they are wandering through life, spiritually destitute, searching for something they can't put into words. In a spiritual sense, they are equal to orphans and widows, no headship, no covering. They desperately need someone to show the way. To extend a hand of friendship, of love, and lead them to the Lord who loves them more than any parent or spouse ever could. Any person who is involved in any kind of evangelism or discipleship is reaching out to these spiritual orphans.
Of course, there is second part to the verse above, keeping oneself unspotted from the world. How does this look, and how does it differ from legalism? Each person will probably answer this a little differently, and we should all seek the Lord's will in prayer on this matter. However, there are some basics I believe would apply to all.
Certainly, it means that we should not engage in willful sin. It is obvious that someone who steals or commits adultery has become spotted by the world. But is that all means? Just not to willfully sin?
What about watching TV? Browsing the internet? Pursuing money? I am not being legalistic, I watch TV, I enjoy the internet, and I certainly wouldn't complain about it if someone gave me a check for a million dollars! I don't think doing those things, or having money automatically makes you worldly. I think though, that it is a matter of both degree, content, and attitude. What is important to you? What consumes most of your time?
There have been times when my attitude and priorities have gotten all messed up, and at these times I can actually feel myself becoming more and more "spotted".
It is also a matter of degree and content, I'm not talking about obviously bad content here, I am talking about subtleties that reflect a worldview based on materialism, evolutionism, and rebellion, here is where degree comes in to play also, if I spend the majority of my time watching shows that feed my mind thoughts contrary to God's word, eventually I will find myself thinking from that perspective. When I begin to assimilate the thought patterns and worldview of the one who wrote the script, it is a sure sign that I am becoming spotted by the world, and it is time to repent and turn to Jesus for cleansing.
Much of this can be solved by spending less time in these "leisure" activities, and more time in God's word. If I am exposed to one hour a week of some less than perfect worldview, but am being washed daily in God's word, the one hour is not likely to affect me much. However, if I am spending more time exposed to the world than to God's word, I will be affected.
Again, each person will need to seek God for their own boundaries and limits with some of this, some people may feel God leads them to never watch TV and get rid of their computer, others will feel that God allows them more leniency than I do.
The answer is to seek Christ with an open heart, ask God's leading, and be willing to obedient to whatever He says.
Useless Religion
"If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless." (James 1:26, New King James Version)
I find it difficult to to write a devotion focusing on these verses, because I struggle so greatly with he taming of the tongue, and equally with the control of my written words. It almost seems hypocritical for me to write about how important it is to keep our words submitted to Christ. So I just want the reader to be aware that I am not writing this because I think I have it perfected, rather I am writing this because I so greatly need to grow in this area that God has led me to meditate on these passages. I, perhaps more than anyone else I know, am often too quick to speak, before I have all the facts, too quick to give my opinion, often to the wrong person.
When it comes anger, or wrath, I do a little better, but not much. I am not often angry, but when I do become angry the intensity of it is disproportionate to the situation at hand. fortunately, through the grace of God, my anger is not expressed in physical violence, but my words can often do as much damage.
This passage is very direct, at the times when my words are out of control, my religion is rendered useless. No one is going to see the love of Christ through me. It does not matter to the world that I love Jesus if I don't show love for those around me. Even if deep in my heart, I know I do have love for the other person, if that love is hidden under wrath and biting words, what good does that love do? It is useless.
I am so thankful for God's forgiveness, so thankful that He does not abandon us when we fail, because I have failed many times. I know I need God's help, I need let God's Spirit guide me, rather than my own feelings at any particular moment. I pray that His Spirit will lead me and help me. I pray that I will follow where He leads.
Because, "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."
(James 1:23-25, New King James Version)
I wouldn't look into a mirror, notice that my hair is uncombed, my face smeared with dirt, and my teeth encrusted with old food, and then just walk away and go about my day. NO, I would clean up, comb my hair, and brush my teeth before leaving that mirror. So should it be with God's word, "the perfect law of liberty". When God's word exposes some failing or weakness in us, we need to bring that thing before God and let Him help us get rid of it. Otherwise, our religion will be useless, and our witness paralyzed.
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