Day By Day - James 2
By David Passmore
Introduction:
In this chapter, James continues to teach us how empty our lives can be when we look upon the less fortunate without feeling real concern for them.
The Lord taught us early in our walk that what He gave to us was not only for us but to be shared with those who were not important or deserving in the eyes of society. Yes, it is hard to love those who will take advantage of us, but He calls on us to mimic Him, that is to “love unconditionally those who abuse us.”
Three Thoughts:
Point 1:
The Lord has told us in Psalm 23, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I WILL NOT WANT”. He has always and will always see to our needs and with enough to look out for others. He has taught us to step out in faith and care for those less fortunate. It is what He did, and we all know that
when we do obey, He steps in and fulfils His promises. No, we cannot go from house to house to see if our neighbours need help, but we can really pray for the Lord to open a way for us to share His love for them.
Point 2:
While in PNG during my time in the army, the Lord was reaching out to me putting love in my heart for the people of that nation. One day we had to fly up to the Indonesian border. On our way back to base we were told to stop at a village to bring back a baby suffering from cerebral
malaria. I told one of my men to get out of the plane and get the baby. His attitude was really alarming, as he had the attitude that James is talking about in verses 2-4. I went and got the child and nursed a very wet and smelly child for about forty minutes, Jesus was working in me.
I have often thought about how long Jesus pursued me, and how slowly and lovingly He taught me the principles of verses 3-4. He touched the lepers, who were complete outcasts in His time on earth. How can we who are His representatives set ourselves up as judges of any type?
Jesus reached out to the Samaritans whom the Jews hated; James is telling us to do the same.
When we all finally face Him, He will not judge us on our wealth or otherwise; He will judge us as to whether we were obedient to Him and His instructions to each of us.
Point 3:
Now we come to a controversial subject for some. But if read in the context that James wrote verses 14-26 then we see that, yes, faith without works is a dead faith. James is not setting faith against work, he is showing us a dead faith. A faith dependent upon tradition and set prayers which is what I believe was what I practiced before I was born again; compared to a live faith which He, from the first day of us being born again, involves us in.
I used to think that it was boasting to tell others what works the Lord had told us to do, until I read Paul’s accounts of what the Lord had him do. I then became aware that by sharing how the Lord has been able to use us in the tasks that He gave us, that others have then been able to share our testimony with people we may never have been able to reach.
James names Abraham as a man of great faith who was justified by works, and Rahab who was also justified by works.
James’ last verse reminded me of a group that we met in Thailand, who stopped their missionary work at 4:30 pm and would not answer to any calls until 9.00 am the next day. Faith without works is, as James said, “is dead also.”
Final Thoughts:
The Word tells us that He will supply all our needs and also those with whom we are to share those provisions, particularly with non believers. This reveals to them the Love of Jesus flowing from Him to them. That is how “Works” as they are usually called, can be used to preach the Gospel.
Introduction:
In this chapter, James continues to teach us how empty our lives can be when we look upon the less fortunate without feeling real concern for them.
The Lord taught us early in our walk that what He gave to us was not only for us but to be shared with those who were not important or deserving in the eyes of society. Yes, it is hard to love those who will take advantage of us, but He calls on us to mimic Him, that is to “love unconditionally those who abuse us.”
Three Thoughts:
Point 1:
The Lord has told us in Psalm 23, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I WILL NOT WANT”. He has always and will always see to our needs and with enough to look out for others. He has taught us to step out in faith and care for those less fortunate. It is what He did, and we all know that
when we do obey, He steps in and fulfils His promises. No, we cannot go from house to house to see if our neighbours need help, but we can really pray for the Lord to open a way for us to share His love for them.
Point 2:
While in PNG during my time in the army, the Lord was reaching out to me putting love in my heart for the people of that nation. One day we had to fly up to the Indonesian border. On our way back to base we were told to stop at a village to bring back a baby suffering from cerebral
malaria. I told one of my men to get out of the plane and get the baby. His attitude was really alarming, as he had the attitude that James is talking about in verses 2-4. I went and got the child and nursed a very wet and smelly child for about forty minutes, Jesus was working in me.
I have often thought about how long Jesus pursued me, and how slowly and lovingly He taught me the principles of verses 3-4. He touched the lepers, who were complete outcasts in His time on earth. How can we who are His representatives set ourselves up as judges of any type?
Jesus reached out to the Samaritans whom the Jews hated; James is telling us to do the same.
When we all finally face Him, He will not judge us on our wealth or otherwise; He will judge us as to whether we were obedient to Him and His instructions to each of us.
Point 3:
Now we come to a controversial subject for some. But if read in the context that James wrote verses 14-26 then we see that, yes, faith without works is a dead faith. James is not setting faith against work, he is showing us a dead faith. A faith dependent upon tradition and set prayers which is what I believe was what I practiced before I was born again; compared to a live faith which He, from the first day of us being born again, involves us in.
I used to think that it was boasting to tell others what works the Lord had told us to do, until I read Paul’s accounts of what the Lord had him do. I then became aware that by sharing how the Lord has been able to use us in the tasks that He gave us, that others have then been able to share our testimony with people we may never have been able to reach.
James names Abraham as a man of great faith who was justified by works, and Rahab who was also justified by works.
James’ last verse reminded me of a group that we met in Thailand, who stopped their missionary work at 4:30 pm and would not answer to any calls until 9.00 am the next day. Faith without works is, as James said, “is dead also.”
Final Thoughts:
The Word tells us that He will supply all our needs and also those with whom we are to share those provisions, particularly with non believers. This reveals to them the Love of Jesus flowing from Him to them. That is how “Works” as they are usually called, can be used to preach the Gospel.
Posted in James