James 5:19-20
There are no repeated words or lists in this passage. The key words are wander, save and cover over. The main point is that we, as the family of God, need to be looking out for one another. I wonder if James had the words of Cain in mind when he wrote this passage: "Am I my brother's keeper?" The answer through the rest of Scripture, especially under the New Covenant, is yes!
I've seen, over the past few years, that followers of Jesus are becoming increasingly aware of the role of community. I do not travel this path alone - of course, Jesus, through his Spirit, travels with me but that's not all. I am part of a band of travellers, a fellowship and I don't just succeed in my quest by getting to heaven but we succeed when we all get there together. Formerly, following Jesus was individually based - it was my personal relationship with Christ that mattered ("though none go with me, still I will follow").
James' words remind me of the team development activities I did at camp. There was a goal that had to be accomplished but if team members were run over, hurt or ignored in the process, the task was not successful. James is reminding me that I have a huge responsibility to my brother and sister. If none are going with me, my mandate is to turn back and help them find the path again, not to just forge on without them.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
in the words of MC hammer
James 5:13-18
The key word in this passage is "pray". It's repeated many times throughout the passage. In almost a repetitive list, James says that the solution to being in trouble, happy or sick is to pray. As an illustration of the power of prayer, James points to Elijah who prayed to make the rain stop and then prayed again to re-start the rain. James' main point is that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
This is an extremely timely passage in light of the events at LCI. The response to this is to pray. Yes, the school and police need to take actions but ultimately God's plan is more powerful than the threateners plan and God's ability to keep our students safe is way greater than the school's ability.
Even beyond that, my first response needs to be prayer. I am wired to start putting strategy in place but I need to pause before that kicks in and just pray: to ask God for help, to praise him for his goodness, etc. So, let's pray.
The key word in this passage is "pray". It's repeated many times throughout the passage. In almost a repetitive list, James says that the solution to being in trouble, happy or sick is to pray. As an illustration of the power of prayer, James points to Elijah who prayed to make the rain stop and then prayed again to re-start the rain. James' main point is that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
This is an extremely timely passage in light of the events at LCI. The response to this is to pray. Yes, the school and police need to take actions but ultimately God's plan is more powerful than the threateners plan and God's ability to keep our students safe is way greater than the school's ability.
Even beyond that, my first response needs to be prayer. I am wired to start putting strategy in place but I need to pause before that kicks in and just pray: to ask God for help, to praise him for his goodness, etc. So, let's pray.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Just be patient...
James 5:7-12
I remember when I was younger and all those speakers would pull out their charts and talk about how soon Jesus was going to come back. They wouldn't specifically state a time but they were pretty sure it was going to be right away. I don't hear that kind of talk anymore. It's been a long time since I've been filled with wonder at the idea that Jesus could come back today. I wonder what happened to all those guys and their charts?
Maybe people got tired of waiting. Maybe the reason that I haven't been stopped short is because all those times I was, Jesus didn't come back. James tells his readers to be patient. He uses a very vivid word picture of a farmer waiting for the harvest. I think this word picture is very appropriate: the farmer doesn't just wait idly for the harvest - he works the soil, maybe even irrigates, fertilizes and weeds but all his efforts don't hurry the harvest. The harvest will arrive in the proper time. As we wait for Jesus and the coming kingdom, we don't sit idly by. We work hard but all our work will not hasten Jesus' return. Jesus will come in the proper time.
James compares our waiting for Jesus with the prophets' waiting for the fulfillment of prophecy. I wonder what they were thinking after they made their bold predictions and faithfully spoke the words that God had given them. I wonder if they were ridiculed when their words didn't prove true right away. I wonder if they argued with God and questioned him. I wonder if they felt like fools. James says that we regard those prophets with honour because they persevered i the face of delayed fulfillment and in the face of persecution. James calls us to be as patient as the prophets.
He also uses Job as an example which is kind of weird to me. Job isn't someone that I would immediately describe as patient. He complained bitterly. He questioned God and demanded that he come and defend himself. He did not exhibit the characteristics of a patient person and yet James calls him patient because he did not abandon his faith in the midst of severe pain. James is calling me to do the same. Don't give up. Don't let the circumstances of life dictate what I will believe. Don't let Jesus' "delay" cause me to stumble. Yes, I should be longing for and looking for the return of my King but in the mean time I must continue to patiently work. The harvest will come in its proper time.
I remember when I was younger and all those speakers would pull out their charts and talk about how soon Jesus was going to come back. They wouldn't specifically state a time but they were pretty sure it was going to be right away. I don't hear that kind of talk anymore. It's been a long time since I've been filled with wonder at the idea that Jesus could come back today. I wonder what happened to all those guys and their charts?
Maybe people got tired of waiting. Maybe the reason that I haven't been stopped short is because all those times I was, Jesus didn't come back. James tells his readers to be patient. He uses a very vivid word picture of a farmer waiting for the harvest. I think this word picture is very appropriate: the farmer doesn't just wait idly for the harvest - he works the soil, maybe even irrigates, fertilizes and weeds but all his efforts don't hurry the harvest. The harvest will arrive in the proper time. As we wait for Jesus and the coming kingdom, we don't sit idly by. We work hard but all our work will not hasten Jesus' return. Jesus will come in the proper time.
James compares our waiting for Jesus with the prophets' waiting for the fulfillment of prophecy. I wonder what they were thinking after they made their bold predictions and faithfully spoke the words that God had given them. I wonder if they were ridiculed when their words didn't prove true right away. I wonder if they argued with God and questioned him. I wonder if they felt like fools. James says that we regard those prophets with honour because they persevered i the face of delayed fulfillment and in the face of persecution. James calls us to be as patient as the prophets.
He also uses Job as an example which is kind of weird to me. Job isn't someone that I would immediately describe as patient. He complained bitterly. He questioned God and demanded that he come and defend himself. He did not exhibit the characteristics of a patient person and yet James calls him patient because he did not abandon his faith in the midst of severe pain. James is calling me to do the same. Don't give up. Don't let the circumstances of life dictate what I will believe. Don't let Jesus' "delay" cause me to stumble. Yes, I should be longing for and looking for the return of my King but in the mean time I must continue to patiently work. The harvest will come in its proper time.
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