Category: Random Thoughts

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Overview of James

I have been pondering my way through the book of James (along with my family) and in October I am going to be preaching a three part series on the book. I have titled the series “Patience, Practice, and Position: A brief overview of the Book of James.” Reading through the book I have picked out three themes that I will be focusing on.

The first theme is patience. We see this idea pop up in the first verse as this letter is written to the twelve tribes that have been scattered. James then begins to address the issue of trials and temptation and in chapter five he looks at suffering. Wisdom seems to be a key point in handling these issues.

The second them is practice. This letter is full of things that we can practice. Listening before speaking, treating everyone fairly, living out your faith, and asking for help when you need it.

The final theme is position. James looks at who we are and how we should be around others and around God.

I will be writing more on each of these themes as I develop my sermons. In the mean time read through James and then read it a couple of more times. See if you can find these themes and how if applied in your life you might live differently.

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The Adopted Child

The idea of adoption is something I am passionate about. You see both my kids are adopted. While reading in Romans 8:12-17, Paul writes these words:

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

Here Paul wraps up our salvation by saying we are God’s adopted children with all the rights and responsibilities that go along with this.

As I think about adoption there are three points I want to highlight. First, there are costs associated with adoption. In our case, the mothers of our kids had to give them up, I am sure this was not an easy thing to do. For one we know the reason was the the mother wanted a better life for her child. In God’s case, He had to send His Son to earth to pay the penalty for our sins. The cost, Jesus died on the cross. The second point is that we have a new identity as a result of adoption. The birth parents of our kids lost all rights, responsibilities and obligation to their kids when they signed the adoption papers. Conversely, my wife and I took on these same rights and obligations. In the same way since we are now God’s children we are heir with Christ. We need to live our life in such a way as to reflect this. Neil T. Anderson in his book Victory over the Darkness does a great job of spelling out who we are in Christ. The last point I want to make is that adoption leads to a greater sense of intimacy. My son shared at an open mic about how happy he was that we came and got him and made him part of our family. Needless to say there as not a dry eye in the church after that. But it got me thinking, when was the last time I really thanked God for sending His Son to die for me? Next time you take communion think about that.

So what does it mean to you to be a child of God? Should you be living your life any differently if you took to heart the idea that you are an heir with Christ?

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Picking up on James

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 (NASB)

I talked about the first part of this passage a couple of postings ago. Now I want to come back to the last part of the verse, keeping oneself pure or unstained by the world. As I read this my thoughts keeping drifting back to Matthew 22 and the passage where Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment, he replies love God and love your neighbor. The first part of this passage is about loving your neighbor and the second part seems to fit “loving God.” You see if we love God with all we have, we won’t have time for things of the world. I know, this is easier said than done. Then again, who ever said being a Christ-follower is easy? James is writing about trials in the first section of chapter 1. This entire letter is written to the twelve tribes who have been scattered due to persecution.

So how do you stay unstained? Do we do it by loving God (Mat 22), focusing on God (Col 3), serving others John 13). I would answer yes to all of these. We also need to align our belief and values with what the Bible teaches. We need to live out a Biblically informed faith.

Here is a challenge that I was given and that I pass along to you. Take a passage of scripture, the Beatitudes, this passage in James, Col 3 or Matthew 22 and live them out. Ask yourself what would my life look like serving widows and orphans, setting my heart on things above, loving God with every fiber of my being? Then apply what you have learned for a week and see how God can use you and transform you into His likeness.