Craig Cooper

When we approach the end of the book of James, we discover a reappearance of the key idea of patient endurance. James begins his letter with a call to patient endurance under a trial (1:2-4), and we discovered that holding up through difficulties and afflictions God allows in life is actually the pathway of sanctification, the progressive road of becoming more and more like Jesus in love, character, and mission. James’ conclusion to his letter (5:7-20) opens with the same theme set in a similar context to where he began. James encourages us to live with patient endurance by holding before us the prospects of the last Day when Christ returns.

The challenge for each of us is that the very circumstances that call for patient endurance often promote impatience and apathy. Remember that James is writing believers who have been scattered due to persecution. Many still face oppression simply for being followers of Christ. Therefore, James counsels these Christians to demonstrate patient endurance until the Lord’s coming. He proceeds to give four specific instructions concerning patient endurance.

Let’s begin by looking at James’ words in chapter 5, verses 7-9, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” James’s first instruction is to be patient and endure with the knowledge of the Lord’s coming (vv. 7-9).

In counseling us to demonstrate patient endurance until the coming of the Lord, James uses the example of the farmer who waits to reap from the earth a harvest. Nothing can hurry on the rains, and nothing can speed up the imminent return of the Lord. Therefore, as believers, we must “establish” our hearts, fix or strengthen them – have patient endurance. The prophet Isaiah shared this same teaching, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

James instructs us not to grumble or complain against one another as we wait. Instead, we need to watch our fellowship with others. James warns that such judging of others can lead to our own condemnation. We read in verse 9, “the Judge is standing at the door.” It’s biblically accurate that the true judge, our Lord, will bring every aspect of our service under review. For the believer, this is not a judgment of whether or not one is saved but what rewards one will receive or forfeit. The Scripture tells us that some believers will enter paradise with little reward (1 Cor 4:5). Keep this in mind, allowing our tongue to grumble and complain against another will rob us of the spiritual harvest through failure to cherish the family and fellowship of the people of God, our church family.

Then, we read, “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job” (James 5:10-11a). James’s second instruction is to be patient and endure amidst suffering. Remember, in context, James is writing to a church that is no stranger to suffering.

James shares two examples of those who demonstrated patient endurance in suffering from the Old Testament. The first example is the prophets. He invites us to look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord and suffered. However, they exemplified patient endurance amid suffering. Similarly, we are to show patient endurance when we face suffering.

The second example is Job. Job was blessed because he had patient endurance. Job shows us how the Lord uses suffering in our lives. Job’s suffering was not his own doing. Yet, he trustingly committed himself to the Lord, even while suffering. As a result, God showed compassion and mercy to Job and gave him much more than he possessed before the time of suffering (Job 42:12). In the same way, James encourages us that the Lord will be compassionate and merciful to us as we trust in Him, leading to our growth in knowing Him (v.11).

Look at James 5:11, “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” So the third instruction James gives us is to be patient, endure, and you will be blessed. It’s clear that the result of patient endurance during suffering will be God pouring out His blessings on us. The Greek term used by James for blessing is in the Septuagint (a translation of the Old Testament into the Greek language) and throughout the New Testament to define the kind of happiness that comes from receiving favor from God. Think about it. Our Lord offers us a quality of life that we can enjoy despite suffering and persecution.

Patient endurance has great blessings to bring, but the blessings must be safeguarded, and the danger arises from the tongue. James writes, “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation” (James 5:12). The fourth and final instruction James give us is to be on guard against your tongue. Why? Because experiences calling for patient endurance can quickly provoke looseness or rashness of speech. It would be great if only we could say that this would never happen among Christians, that we would never be duplicitous or offer misleading affirmations, promises, and undertakings to get our own way or get ourselves out of a tight corner. But, unfortunately, this is not the case. We must understand that an unguarded tongue is the chief threat to a life of patient endurance, focused on Christ, and right fellowship with others.

You don’t need me to tell you that life can be challenging. Even as believers, we can become tempted to be impatient and apathetic. James calls us to stay the course with patient endurance. After all, we can continue in patient endurance because we know the Lord is coming. Further, we can continue in patient endurance even in the face of suffering because we know we will be blessed. Lastly, we can continue in patient endurance but must be on guard against our very own tongue, which is a chief threat to such a Christ-focused life. The longer we walk with the Lord, the more we can look back with heartfelt thanks for the benefits reaped through experiences that, at the time, were full of grief and pain. Our Lord calls us to a life of patient endurance where we live without internal division with fellow believers, aren’t double-minded, and are wholeheartedly with Him. What awaits us is a growing relationship with our Lord today and a heavenly reward when He returns. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

In the New Testament book bearing his name, James writes about how to practically live as a follower of Jesus Christ. It makes the exploration of James a worthy journey for those who are investigating the things of Christ, as well as those who have walked with the Lord for many years and anyone in between. Following James’ teachings on living wisely and humbly, he warns of three traps people can fall prey to that would hinder them from living in such a way.

The first trap is defamation. James writes, “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor” (James 4:11-12)? Defamation is the act of communicating statements about a person that injure that person’s reputation.

A defamatory word may be perfectly true; we don’t need to tell lies to defame. The fact that something is true does not always give us the right to say it. Defamation is forbidden as a breach of loving humility. Unfortunately, one of the common expressions of our flesh (old self) is to attempt to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. My task as a believer is not to publicize others’ faults nor to privately berate them but to go to them and speak words of truth and life in loving humility. We avoid the pitfall of defaming others by seeking to walk in the lowliest humility with God, knowing that the way down leads upward in our ability to know our Lord and make Him known.

The second warning James has for us is against presumptuousness. We read, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:13-17). How do we guard against presumptuousness? James shares that first, we need to admit our ignorance (4:14). We don’t even know what is right around the corner. This fact alone ought to keep us humble before God, who created, controls, and apportions time. Second, we need to acknowledge our frailty (4:14). Our mortality should be enough to keep us from presuming we are in control and joyfully placing ourselves in God’s capable hands. Lastly, we need to accept our dependence. The very existence of tomorrow is as much part of our dependence on God as is our life itself and our abilities. We avoid the pitfall of being presumptuous by seeking to walk in the lowliest humility with God, knowing that He is in control and can be trusted.

The third and final warning James has for us is against covetousness. James 5:1-6, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

We discover in James 5:1-6 three pits of covetousness. The first pit to avoid is hoarding (5:2-3). Hoarding is a denial of proper use (Lk 12:33), of true trust in the Lord (1 Tim 6:17), and of godly expectancy (1 Tim 6:18-19). It’s wasting what God has given us to steward on His behalf. The second pit to avoid is fraudulence (5:4). Specifically, James speaks against dishonest and dishonorable paying of wages to employees by their employers. Thirdly, we are to avoid the pit of indulgence (5:5). The picture James provides through His choice of words is a life without self-denial, corrupt, and offering no resistance to sin where there is a promise of comfort and joy, which can ultimately come only from the Lord.

James calls out in no uncertain terms the sin of covetousness that acknowledges only money and self as lord and plots a pathway ahead where others suffer. James is not saying it’s a sin to save, be wealthy, or enjoy what one has earned due to hard work and God’s blessings. Covetousness is saving without regard to kingdom stewardship of what the Lord has entrusted you. Covetousness is gaining wealth by dishonest means and dishonorable practices. James calls those trapped in the pit of covetousness to repent! We avoid the pitfall of covetousness by seeking to walk in the lowest humility with God, knowing that nothing goes unnoticed by our Lord.

Would we be surprised by how often the Lord has taken second place in the way we think and speak of others, plan, and use our wealth, no matter how large or small? In our life of wisely walking with Christ in humility, the traps of defamation, presumptuousness, and covetousness must be avoided. We avoid these pitfalls by seeking to walk in the lowest humility with God, knowing that the way down leads upwards in our ability to know our Lord and make Him known, He is in control and can be trusted, and nothing goes unnoticed by Him. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

James writes about how to practically live as a follower of Jesus Christ. Two themes intertwined throughout James are wisdom and humility. It appears they both are meant to go together. Humility is of great importance to James, and as we’ll discover the Lord. It’s the main focus of the fourth chapter. We’re told that only as we humble ourselves in the sight of God will we be lifted up by the Lord (James 4:10). Although James makes that direct statement about humility, he also makes many indirect statements that have significant bearing upon living for Christ.

Humility is a personal quality in which an individual shows dependence on God and respect for other persons. The importance of this virtue springs from the fact that it’s found as part of the character of God. Since God humbles Himself, it ought not to surprise us that we are to do the same. The antonym of humility is pride. Pride is the excessive love of one’s superiority over God and others. James begins his teaching in James 4:1-10 on humility by looking at pride. James writes about the problem with pride. “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:1-3).

James writes about “quarrels” and “fights” happening among those in the church between Christians. Both of these words refer to interpersonal conflicts. James instructs us that we are involved in conflicts because of our desire for pleasure that conflicts with our very selves and others – simply put, pride. James uses the vocabulary of war to express fights and quarrels, animosities, and bad feelings among Christians, not because there is no other way to say it but because there is no better way to express the horror of it.

James moves from the effect of pride on our relationship with others to our relationship with God. As to prayer, it’s clear that prayer requests remain unanswered because whatever God would give in response would be spent on “your passions,” which would harm ourselves and our relationship with God and others. We find that the flow of prayer upwards and response downward is no longer operating. Interestingly, James does not say that God does not hear but that we do not receive. God hears. However, the answer is “no” or “not yet,” because we are incapable of receiving the heavenly gift. John shares with us the proper motive of prayer. “This is the confidence that we have toward God, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14). The focus of Christian living and the motive of prayer is the same – God has called us to deny ourselves, forsake doing our own thing, and seek and do the will of God.

At its heart, our problem is a spiritual one. So, how do we get right with God and stay right with Him? Let’s look at the rest of our passage to find the answer. “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:4-10). The strong language used in verse 4 takes up a theme woven throughout the Bible. The Lord has chosen a people for Himself. The church is the bride of Christ. When we forsake the loving choice of God choosing us, and we receiving Christ, violating intimacy with our Lord, we are indeed acting “adulterous.”

James proceeds to instruct us that we must not deceive ourselves into thinking we can live full lives in intimate fellowship with God when we set our hearts toward the stuff of earth. The account given in the Bible of the hearts of people is that by nature, we are sinful. In our flesh, we are corrupted by sin. The spirit that naturally dwells in us produces all kinds of evil. However, when we receive Christ as Savior and Lord, His Spirit indwells us making us more and more like Him in love, character, and sharing in His purpose.

Further, the grace of God, which is contrary to the spirit of the world, corrects and cures the spirit that naturally dwells in us. It’s the work of the Spirit that teaches us to know the difference between pride and humility. After all, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Therefore, we should resist pride in our hearts. The good news is that God gives help to the humble. In fact, to the humble, the Lord gives grace upon grace.

In Christ, we can live humbly. But how? James shares with us three actions empowering us to live humbly. Action number one, we need to submit ourselves to God (v. 7). As followers of Christ, we must have no doubt whose side we’re on. To live humbly in Christ, we must first acknowledge that we are indeed His, awaiting His leading, and ready to act when it comes. Secondly, we need to resist the devil (v. 7). We can never be truly humble if we’re unwilling to actively resist the devil. Resist is not a word of attack but defense. It speaks of one who is manning a defense at camp, knowing the enemy’s pressure is ceaseless, and she is constantly under fire. We do well to notice that it’s those who have submitted to God who are commanded to stand firm against the devil. I love the promise, “resist the devil, and he will flee!” lastly, we draw near to God. Fellowship with God, and its accompanying blessing of His fellowship with us, does not ‘just happen;’ we cannot drift into it any more than drifting into Christlikeness. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we obediently place God at the center of our life (drawing near to Him), and He enables us to walk in the power of His presence.

Humility is essential to the Christian life. James presents us with a practical picture of what it looks like to take this journey with Christ of living humbly (James 4:8b-9). We come to the Lord and, empowered by His Spirit, we begin walking with Him in God-honoring ways. His motives become our motives. We affirm in word and deed that we are His and His alone. We repent, not only acknowledging our sins but feeling remorse that we have sinned against God; we turn away from our sinful path and walk His righteous path. We depart from the shallow laughter and temporary happiness we craved and, instead, walk in the goodness and fullness of life in Christ.

The promise to the person who does this, who acts by submitting to God, resisting the devil, and drawing near to God, is that those who humble yourselves before the Lord; he will exalt (James 4:10). The prideful one, with all his excessive love of his superiority over God and others, along with all the sinful acts and desires that came with such thinking, now find themselves humble, showing dependence on God and respect for others. The way up is down. The lowly one becomes the lifted one. Think about it. There is a marked advantage to humility—eventually, it brings honor and, with-it genuine blessings and abundant life. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

One of the lessons that James addresses throughout the book bearing his name is wisdom. James mentions two kinds of wisdom in James 3:13-18. One wisdom produces divisiveness and worthless sin, while the other brings a harvest of righteousness. According to St. Augustine, “The greatest good is wisdom.” These words could supply a decent summary of James’ teaching on godly wisdom.

No doubt, genuine wisdom from on high begins with knowing God. Therefore, godly wisdom is not merely intellectually understandable; it must be demonstrated practically in the Christian life. James shares how the believer is to live with wisdom in James 3:13-18.

The word James uses for wisdom in these verses means practical knowledge. Remember that context is king! What has James already shared with us about wisdom? We discover earlier in the book, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). James assures us that when we ask God for wisdom, with a willingness to walk in it, we will receive it.

What James writes in James 3:13-18 helps us understand what wisdom from above is and how it should be used. James begins by helping us recognize earthly wisdom as opposed to godly wisdom. In verse 14, we discover that earthly wisdom is full of bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting, and lying. Through James’ description of earthly wisdom or wisdom from below, he tells us that it brings strife, division, cruel deception, and attempts to lie against the truth.

James goes further and describes three sources of wisdom from below. What are these sources? The first source is earthly or from the earth’s worldly system. The second source is unspiritual. Now, unspiritual wisdom is not necessarily identifiable. The natural person, unaided by the fullness of the indwelling Holy Spirit, is not wholly aware of that which the Spirit approves. Third, and lastly, the source of earthly wisdom is demonic. This term is self-explanatory. James teaches that wisdom from below comes from the devil himself.

After describing what earthly wisdom is and where it comes from, James shares two results manifested when this kind of wisdom is present. What are the two results of earthly wisdom? The answer is found in James 3:16, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” The first result is disorder. This is a condition that reflects instability and confusion. The second result is every vile practice. Rather than giving a long, specific list of the various forms of vile acts that will be present, James simply makes an inclusive statement, which includes them all, “every vile thing.” Righteousness will be absent, and every vile thing will be there.

After describing the characteristics, sources, and results of earthly wisdom, which comes from below, James describes godly wisdom, which comes from above. In doing so, James provides the most comprehensive and helpful definition of wisdom in all literature. The definition includes the following descriptions found in verses 17 and 18. First, those found in James 3:17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Godly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, and merciful. The word James uses for “mercy” is not used in the New Testament except about God Himself and godly people. Mercy is a part of the very character of God. God is the source of mercy (2 Timothy 1:2), and God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4). Further, godly wisdom is full of good fruits. Jesus declared that only by abiding in Him can we produce good fruit (John 15:4-5), and Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit for us in Galatians (Galatians 5:22-23). Then, we discover that godly wisdom is impartial. James warned against the sin of partiality earlier in the letter (James 2:1-9). Godly wisdom shows no partiality or favoritism. Wisdom from above is demonstrated by welcoming others as God has welcomed us (Romans 14:1, 3). Godly wisdom is also sincere. The word James uses here comes from the same root as our words, “hypocrite” or “hypocrisy.” Godly wisdom is without hypocrisy or pretense; since it flows from God, it manifests itself in truth and sincerity.

The last description of godly wisdom is found in James 3:18, “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Godly wisdom produces a harvest of righteousness. Therefore, godly wisdom is not only to be recognized; it’s to be lived.

To understand how we should be living and enjoying the life of wisdom, let’s consider two questions that James answers for us. The first is, “How and where do we get wisdom?” James 1:5 gives us the answer, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God is the source of wisdom, and it’s ours for the asking. The second question, “Who is actually wise and understanding?” The answer is found in James 3:13, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” In other words, those who actually possess godly wisdom are those who humbly manifest good conduct and works in their daily lives.

The good news is that such wisdom is available to us as we trust in our Lord. It’s our personal responsibility to seek God-given wisdom. But, also, we must realize that God-given wisdom cannot be had unless our lives are kept in a right relationship with God Himself, in which we are nourished daily with His grace. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

As one works through the book of James, he/she discovers that faith and God’s gift of wisdom are central to the book’s teachings. Some biblical scholars even compare the book to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. The book of James answers the question, “How are we to live as followers of Christ?” In other words, James deals with the practical application of God-given wisdom.

When we look at James 3:1-12, the first verse of chapter three does not seem to fit with the rest of the passage’s instruction on controlling the tongue. But hang with me a moment. We read in James 3:1, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” James’ words here are few, but his teaching regarding the weighty responsibility of serving as a teacher is clear.

James shares two truths about being a teacher. The first truth is that not many should become teachers. In the New Testament, we discover that teaching is one of the leadership gifts given by the Holy Spirit. As true of any ministry, we should engage in ministry only when we are called by God and gifted by the Holy Spirit to do so. If you teach, do it to the glory of God, and if you don’t teach, do whatever God calls and equips you to do for His glory.

The second truth is that teachers will receive stricter judgment. Given the weighty privilege and responsibility of teaching the truth of God’s Word, there is little wonder that God would require a high standard of quality and faithfulness. If a teacher’s instruction harms God’s people, he or she will “reap what they sow.” We’re to understand that God will judge those who teach His Word. We also must realize that a stricter judgment will come from brothers and sisters in Christ for those who teach. Here is where this verse ties in with the rest, which deals with controlling the tongue. Realizing that teaching is a weighty privilege and responsibility, teachers need to take great and prayerful care in what they say about God’s Word because they can expect strict judgment from the family of God and from the Lord Himself.

Now, let’s move on to the rest of our passage about controlling the tongue. James 3:2-12 leaves little doubt that the tongue is difficult to control. James shares two assertions that help us understand how to control the tongue. The first assertion is that no one can on their own control the tongue (v.2). Further, He shares three contentions regarding the tongue. The first contention is that the tongue is a little member but boasts great things (vv. 2-5). To support this contention, James shares three illustrations of a bit in a horse’s mouth, the rudder of a ship, and a small fire. With a bit, one can control a horse; with a rudder, one can control a large ship; and with a spark, one can ignite a huge forest and destroy it by fire. So, it’s with the tongue; it’s very small but very powerful and significant.

The second contention is that the tongue is a fire – set on fire by hell (v. 6). In supporting this contention, James makes three statements about the destructiveness of the tongue. The first statement is that the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness (v. 6). The Greek word for unrighteousness is a powerful word referring to moral decadency. The second statement is that the tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body (v. 6). As a world plagued by iniquity, the tongue cannot be held in isolation. In fact, the tongue corrupts the entire body. Just as a rudder affects a ship and a bit affects a horse, the tongue affects the body and brings corruption. The third and final statement is that the tongue not only corrupts the body but also sets on fire the entire course of one’s life (v.6). The tongue not only corrupts the physical body of people but also brings corruption to their entire life. It affects not merely what we do but what we are.

The last contention James shares concerning the tongue is that the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (v. 8). The concept of “restless evil” is well represented by J. B. Philips’ translation of the New Testament, “The tongue is an evil always liable to break out, and the poison it spreads is deadly.” The evil James describes is not passive but is actively on the attack as a deadly poison. We can summarize from these three contentions that (1) the tongue is a little member but boast great things, (2) the tongue is a fire – set on fire by hell, and (3) the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison?

James leaves no doubt that no one can, on their own, control the tongue. The tongue is an enigma; it defiles the natural order created by God (vv. 10-12). James explains that a spring doesn’t flow with both fresh and bitter water, nor does fresh and salt water flow from the same spring. Fig trees don’t bear olives, nor does a grapevine produce figs. Yet out of the same mouth can proceed both blessings and cursing (v. 10). The conclusion of James is clear. The significance and influence of the tongue are great.

So, where’s the hope? The problem with our tongues is spiritual, and to find the answer, we need to remember that when we look at Scripture, context is king! James has already instructed us back in James 1:16-18 that God is the source of all good and available to help in every situation. If we need wisdom, we need only to ask for it (James 1:5). Remember that James’ first assertion is that no one can on their own control the tongue. So, how do we control the tongue? We find the answer in James’ second assertion. To control our tongues, we need to approach our perfect God for help – only by His power and wisdom can we control our tongues.

Every good and perfect gift comes from Him alone (James 1:16-18). Only a perfect person can control his/her tongue (James 3:2). Only God is perfect. Since God is the only One who is perfect, He is the only One who can control any of our tongues. Our deep need is to be in a saving relationship with God; we need to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. We need to be forgiven of our sin. We need to be controlled by the Spirit of Christ, enabled by His power to control our tongue and our whole being. The good news is that when we give ourselves over to the Lord, He controls the master switch of our life. He gives us all we need to control not only our tongue but all of our life. Let me say it plainly. By the power of our Lord, leaning into His wisdom, we can control our tongue, speaking words of life while living the life. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Here we are, a few days into the new year. In a way, it’s just another week. Yet, moving into a new year is a reminder of new beginnings and fresh starts.

It’s important to invest time reviewing what we have accomplished over the past year as well as what remains undone. But such contemplation can only take us so far in our journey of progress. To move forward, we must move past our failures, build on our successes, and apply what we’ve learned from them to achieve our new goals and objectives.

One of the challenges of moving into a new year is not allowing the failures and successes of the past to trap us, robbing us of the opportunities that lie ahead in this new year. An old proverb goes, “Yesterday is a cashed check, tomorrow is a promissory note, and today is the only cash we have on hand.” Again, we ought to learn from the past and, certainly, plan for the future, but living in the moment with an understanding of the gift of renewed opportunity is crucial.

For us to rightly move forward, we must look to the Lord. He invites us to move forward with Him amid all life’s circumstances. When we come to Him, He receives us and empowers us to press on with His leading to seize the moment.

In Lamentations 3:22-23, we read, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” God’s “steadfast love” speaks of His beneficial action on His people’s behalf. Such workings of the Lord in a believer’s life “never ceases.” In the context of this verse, Judah had been unfaithful to the Lord, but the Lord continues to be faithful. Each day provides us with a new opportunity to make progress by leaving the past in the past and living today for the Lord.

The Lord’s “mercies” or compassion go the second mile by replacing judgment with restoration. God displays great care for us when we fail by providing a new opportunity. God is always willing to begin anew with those who turn to Him and repent.

Paul writes, “I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Notice that Paul’s life is purposeful, for he constantly aims toward God’s goals for his life. Paul focuses on being in perfect fellowship with Christ forever. This is a worthy goal for all of this in this new year.

So, yes, this week is just another week. But let the new year remind you of new beginnings and opportunities. Place your trust in the Lord and let Him lead you into this new year and, more specifically, this new day. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

The all-important message of Christmas is Immanuel – God is with us. Whether you are a happy person, a hurting person, a lonely person, or a sorrowful person, we can find encouragement in this gospel truth: God is with you, will help you, and will strengthen you. This is a message worth embracing and sharing with others.

The real reason for Christmas is found in the angel’s pronouncement to the shepherds that first Christmas night, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12). We discover that the purpose of Christ’s coming was not to merely present us with a sweet picture of a baby lying in a Bethlehem manger but to be our Savior. There is a lot we can celebrate about the Son of God being born by such modest means. The picture of Mary and Joseph and the Christ child in a stable with shepherds visiting is worth reflecting upon. The scene is quite awe-inspiring. However, I would encourage us to go beyond the manger scene. Christmastime is about more than the Christ child lying in a manger. The angel declaring Him Savior means Christmas is about much more. Christmas is about God coming to earth in human flesh so He could die on the Cross to pay for our salvation, which makes available to each of us life abundant.

People rarely think about the Cross at Christmastime, and few look at Philippians 2:5-8 as a Christmas passage, but both address the true meaning of Christmas. Paul writes, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8). Paul clearly connects the thoughts of the birth of Christ and the Cross that awaited Him.

As Paul writes about God becoming a man, he goes on to express the ultimate reason God chose to demonstrate this incredible act of love. Paul writes in verse 8, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” There is something noteworthy about the Greek word we translate as “form.” It’s the same word used in an account from ancient times to depict a king who exchanged his royal garments briefly for the clothing of a beggar. Consider how the Spirit of God inspired Paul to use this phrase and specific word to describe Jesus’ coming to earth. When Jesus came, it really was a moment when Almighty God shed His glorious appearance and exchanged it for the clothing of human flesh. For the purpose of our salvation, God laid aside all of His radiant glory, took upon Himself human flesh, and was manifested in the very likeness of a human being.

Jesus, our King, not only humbled Himself and exchanged His royal garments with the clothing of a servant (human flesh) but, out of profound love for us, was “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Jesus, God incarnate, was willing to stoop to any measure needed to bring us salvation. Jesus being born, born in a modest stable, lying in a manger (an animal’s feeding trough), demonstrates the attitude of God humbly lowering Himself to become like a member of His creation to offer salvation to each of us. According to Philippians 2:8, Jesus humbled Himself and chose to go to any measure in order to provide us with salvation and His eternal presence.

The late great storyteller Paul Harvey told the story about a family on Christmas Eve. This family had a tradition where the Mother and children would go to the Christmas Eve service, and the Father would stay home. Then, when the family returned from church, they would all gather to open up their presents.

The Father was not an evil man, but he just couldn’t believe in the childhood stories anymore of God coming as a baby, lying in a manger, and dying on the Cross for our salvation. So, as the family left for church, he sat by the fireplace and read a book. Suddenly, he heard tapping on the window. It was a bird flying against the glass of his window, trying to get out of the snow into the warmth of his home. The man had compassion for the bird and went outside, hoping to bring it in. But, as he approached the bird, the bird just flew against the window even harder. Pretty soon, the bird flew into the bushes below the window, half frozen yet too afraid to be caught by this huge man. The more the man tried to reach for the bird, the more the bird flew frantically into the snow and thorns of the bushes. Finally, after a few minutes in the cold and seeing the bird continue to injure itself, the man yelled in frustration, “Dumb bird, can’t you understand that I’m trying to help?” The man paused and thought, “If only you understood, you wouldn’t fly away … if only … if only I could become a bird and get you to understand.” Just then, the church bells rang, as they always had on the hour. But when the man heard the bells this time, he fell to his knees and began to cry, saying, “Oh, God, I didn’t understand. Oh, God, I didn’t understand.”

God’s Son came in human form so that we might understand from where we have come, why we were separated and how we could be restored to Him. He was willing to come and die so that we can have abundant life in Him, our living Savior. This is what Christmas is all about. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

When I consider that first Christmas, one of the things that stick out to me is the role of the shepherds. When I was in High School, I was in a Christmas production at our church, and I played a shepherd. There is really no skill needed to play a shepherd. I didn’t even have any lines. If all I had was my experience playing a shepherd, I would have thought they played a small part in the account of Christ’s birth, but I would be greatly mistaken. They played a significant role that first Christmas. They are common people doing an ordinary job, and God shows up in a way that can only be described as quite miraculous.

We read in Luke 2:8, “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” The shepherds spoken of here had a very specific purpose. We know that they are in the field outside of Bethlehem. Due to the proximity to Jerusalem (I can remember standing and seeing the lights of Jerusalem from these actual fields), some scholars have suggested that the flocks here are temple flocks raised for sacrifice. What’s most interesting is that in Christ’s time, shepherds were kept from participating in the religious activities of their communities due to them being considered unclean. Nevertheless, the shepherds served as an important part of life in Israel as they provided sheep to be sacrificed in worship as well as to eat, wool for clothing, and all kinds of much-needed goods. Still, they were not considered respectable, especially by the religious elite.

Then, we read in the next verse, “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear” (Luke 2:9). We read account after account in the Bible of how the revelation of God’s glory, such as the appearance of angels, elicits fear among people. I mean, go figure. I would have also feared the appearance of an Angel in the night sky.

The account continues in Luke 2:10–12, “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’” The angel says, “Fear not!” Ya…right! The angel continues, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news.” The one born in this stable would bring salvation as the one and only Savior and Lord of the world. God intends for us to receive this proclamation of the angel as “good news” because of God’s salvation, brought by the birth of our Lord and Savior.

What happens next is remarkable. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased’” (Luke 2:13-14)! The peace the world seeks is the absence of conflict, which will not happen for any length of time on this side of paradise. Even then, it can’t bring peace to a person’s heart. The angel told the shepherds that genuine peace was to come. The Bible teaches us that true peace can only be found in Jesus, who is Savior, the anointed One, and God Himself. Further, the peace Christ brings is blessed fullness. This peace is not the absence of conflict but a peace that exists even amidst conflict; it’s peace with God and within our very own hearts.

The angel states, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” The Greek word used for “all the people” is where we get the word laity. The laity is not a mere Christian category but a term referencing all the people of God. Followers of Christ, His church, are those being spoken of when the angel says, “all the people.” Therefore, the peace God brings is available to all but is possessed by people who receive Christ as Lord and Savior, who bring glory to God. When we give glory to God in the highest, receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord, He fills us with His peace, a blessed fullness only He can provide and for which our hearts long.

The account concludes, “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them” (Luke 2:15-28). The shepherds probably checked stable after stable till they found the one with a baby. Those whose witness was not even acceptable in the courts of the day share the good news with others. How truly wonderful that the shepherds aren’t only spectators of Christ’s birth but evangelists telling others what they have heard and seen. In fact, those who receive God’s peace in Christ can’t help but share the good news with others.

I believe the shepherds were never the same after coming to Jesus. These events changed their lives. How does the good news change yours? If you believe the message the angels shared, you can never be the same. How are we to respond? We receive Christ, His peace, and then share the good news with others. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

One of the themes of the Advent season, the Christmas season, is joy. It’s central to worship, as worship ought to be an expression of joy. This season is a time of personal worship through devotion and remembrance of Christ’s coming, as well as His Second Coming.

We can’t look at the Christmas account without mentioning Mary. We can surmise that Mary was a young girl in her teens. She had a solid knowledge of Scripture but, like most people of her day, would not have had a copy of God’s Word. Her familiarity with the Old Testament must have come from hearing it regularly read in the synagogue. Scripture had settled in her heart, and we can confidently assume it was readily on her mind. When we look at Mary, we see an example for all believers of faith, humility, and obedience to God’s will.

When reading the account of that first Christmas, we discover that after hearing the astonishing news from the angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of the Messiah, Mary went to visit her older relative, Elizabeth. Elizabeth was over six months pregnant with John the baptizer. As Mary greets Elizabeth, John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaims, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42)! In this miraculous way, God confirmed His promise to Mary, which the angel Gabriel had spoken.

What happens next is extraordinary. Mary’s response is a poetic song of praise to God. It’s known as the Magnificat. The title “Magnificat” comes from the first word in the Latin translation, meaning magnify. Mary’s song is filled with allusions to Scripture, revealing how deeply she cherished God and His Word. It’s found in Luke 1:46-55 and expresses faith in God, her love for Him, as well as a deep understanding of Scripture. The result is an example of joyful worship for all believers to emulate.

The song presents the attitude, object, and motive of joyful worship. We read in Luke 1:46–48a, “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.’” These verses teach us the attitude of joyful worship. Notice that Mary’s worship is internal as she worships with her soul and spirit. She worshiped God with all she was and had, praising Him with her mind, soul, heart, and strength.

Not only is Mary’s worship internal, but it’s intense. “Magnifies” in Greek literally means “to make great” or “to enlarge;” figuratively means “to exalt and celebrate” and “to esteem highly.” It’s a word that expresses genuine praise and pronouncement of glory. Simply, the Magnificat is the outpouring of deep emotion and joy.

Not only is Mary’s worship internal and intense, but habitual. Mary’s worship is a way of life. The way the word magnified is written suggests that worship occurred as a continuous flow of Mary’s life. Genuine worship is not self-focused but God-focused, honoring Him from a heart filled with His joy.

Finally, as we look at the attitude of joyful worship, we discover that not only is Mary’s worship internal, intense, and habitual, but it’s marked by humility. Mary demonstrates her humility by declaring, “He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.” She expresses her wonder and amazement that God would choose to bless her. Mary did not view herself as anything but a servant of the Lord who was flawed like the rest of humanity. In fact, in the New Testament, she is the first to identify herself as a servant or “bondservant” of God. The attitude of joyful worship is internal, intense, and habitual worship marked by humility.

Not only does Mary demonstrate the attitude of joyful worship, but its object. Look at what she declares, “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior’” (Luke 1:46-47). Mary’s object of her joyful worship is God, her Lord, and Savior. All believers’ worship needs to focus on God being the Savior and Lord of their lives. Mary acknowledges that she, like everyone else, was a sinner in need of a Savior. Like all true worshipers, Mary had an exalted view of God and a humble view of herself. Such humility God requires and blesses. Mary knew the coming Messiah, Jesus, to whom she was to give birth, marked the apex of redemptive history. Jesus would save those who receive Him as Savior and Lord from their sin. The very purpose of His coming was “to seek and save the lost” so that they can be found and saved, offering life everlasting. Mary demonstrated the object of joyful worship, which is God, our Lord and Savior.

Lastly, not only does Mary demonstrate the attitude of joyful worship and its object, but also the reason for joyful worship. Look at the rest of the song, “For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever” (Luke 1:48b-55). Mary shares the reason for joyful praise in her song.

In verse 49, we discover that the reason for joyful praise is that God is mighty, the mighty one, who has done great things for her. Further, these great things are so wonderful that all generations will call her blessed. To be chosen as the mother of the Messiah was a great honor. The thought that she was flawed like everyone else but chosen by God to bear her Savior and ours was a reason for joyful worship. This understanding that God has mercifully and lovingly sent His Son to save all who receive Him is the theme of believers’ worship throughout eternity (Rev 5:9). However, Mary’s worship went beyond herself to embrace all God would do for others in the future, like you and me, and unto Christ’s return.

Mary praised God for the salvation offered to all who enter into a saving relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. The final section of Mary’s song, verses 51-54, recounts what God had done for His people in the past. They mention God’s mighty deeds. We even have statements that can be applied to Christ’s second coming, when all will be made right. Think about it. Mary praises the Lord for what he has done, is doing, and is yet to do. The reason for joyful worship is God’s mighty and great works He has done for us.

Like Mary, we too can experience such joy that leads to joyful worship when we, like her (1), possess an attitude of humility leading to a deeply internal, intense, and habitual life of joyful worship. Then, as we (2) make our Lord and Savior the object of our life of worship. Lastly, when we (3) understand that the reason for our joy, our joyful worship is God’s might and the great works, He has done for us. The key to allowing that first Christmas to impact our present Christmas is acknowledging our need for the Lord, His wonderful works, and His offering us salvation through Jesus Christ, which leads us to engage in a lifestyle of joyful worship of Him. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Advent prepares us to celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s a season of devotion and remembrance of Christ coming in the flesh and moving into our neighborhood, so to speak, as well as anticipation of His Second coming. God demonstrated His love for us by sending the Savior. Remembering that first Christmas allows us to make our current Christmas celebration one to be remembered. Advent is a journey of sorts. We are exploring the gifts of Christmas delivered by and through Christ: hope, love, joy, and peace. We are going to look at love.

It would be right to see, at least in part, the Advent journey as a journey of love. John reveals to us God’s view of love in 1 John 4:7-16. This passage speaks of God’s love for us, as well as the love He intends for us to have toward others. Last year Americans spent nearly a trillion dollars on Christmas. This is shocking. They also spent almost a hundred billion on their pets. Why? Because they loved their family, friends, and, yes, even the family dog enough to give. Now, I’m not saying God loves us like our dogs or that His love for us doesn’t exceed that of those we love most deeply, but it demonstrates His love’s selfless and sacrificial nature. God does what he does for us out of love. He loves us. It is so important to dive deep into the love of God. We ought to explore a love that manifested itself by God entering the world through His Son that first Christmas. Here’s the point: God’s love that sent Christ into the world that first Christmas, which has been present since before the world’s creation, is abundant enough for us all to receive and share with others.

The history of the world, the Sacred account of Holy Scripture, is a love story from Genesis to Revelation. Creation, to now, to the unforeseen future, is the story of God’s love for people (you and me) and His plan of redemption to bring us back into a saving relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. No doubt, the love of God came spectacularly in the stable in Bethlehem. But Jesus’ birth was the culmination of a long history of love. This love of God that sent Christ to us then is the love He has for us today, this Advent season; it’s not something new. Psalm 139 declares that God knew us intimately before we were even born. Paul writes in Ephesians 1:4-6 that it’s important to realize and accept that God’s love does not depend on us. His love is not something we have to earn or perform or maintain. God’s love start’s with God, not us. God’s love for us existed before even we did and will continue throughout eternity. The reality of God’s love can be mind-blowing. However, we must accept that God’s love for us exists beyond the constraints of time, space, and our limited understanding. The love of God is worth focusing on, meditating on, and basking in during this season of preparation and always. In fact, receiving God’s abundant love begins by accepting that it originates with Him and Him alone.

Despite what we know in our heads, believe in our hearts, or even confess with our mouths, a struggle exists to live in the reality of God’s love for us. God’s love is far beyond ours or anything else we have experienced, making it difficult to embrace. Here’s the good news, despite our inability to completely grasp God’s love, He does love us – He loves you! God’s love is unconditional. His love is constant. His love does not disappoint. God’s love is pure, perfect, and plentiful. Think of Mary and Joseph. God chose them to parent Jesus. They were ordinary people. How about the shepherds? They were ordinary workers. A smelly band who were divinely told of Christ’s birth and the first recorded witnesses. Then, we have the Magi (the wise men). They are a foreign group of mystics. Yet, led by a star, they come to worship the Lord. Look beyond the typical picture of that first Christmas. Where would you fit into the scene years ago there in Bethlehem? Where do you find yourself in the here and now? No matter where you are on the journey, God’s love is for you.

Paul writes in Ephesians 3:17-19 that God’s love is deep, wide, long, and high. His love doesn’t rise and fall on the waves of our fickle feelings. Even when we feel distant from God, He is still close to us. Nothing can shake God’s love. Nothing can tear the believer away from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). His love will never fail us now as we await the celebration of Christ’s birth this Christmas or when He returns at the Second Coming and His ultimate work is complete. The truth is that receiving the abundant love of God continues as we walk in the knowledge of its unfailing consistency.

Christmas can be a wonderful time to gather with friends and family, but it can also be challenging. The nature of God’s love is that it’s unending and unlimited and cannot be contained. God does not want His love to be contained. We are instructed in God’s Word to love others. We are even to love the unlovable. To love can be easy at times and so hard at other times. Sometimes the hardest people to love can be the closest to us, living in the places we live, work, go to school, and play. The people we are called to love may drive us crazy. Practically speaking, the Advent journey of love is about God’s love in us overflowing to others.

We can’t love with Christ’s love in our own strength. We can’t self-manufacture selfless love for long. It must come from the true source of love, and it can. We must cease trying hard to love others and experience the depth of God’s love in a way that overflows from our life to the people around us. When we boil it all down, receiving the abundant love of God continues to be a blessing as we allow it to overflow to others.

The gospel truth is that God is love, and He sent His Son as a sacrifice for us due to His eternal love that originates with Him and Him alone. Secondly, we can rely on God’s love and walk in the knowledge of its unfailing consistency. Lastly, the love of God, which He first had for us, enables us to love others by its overflowing from our lives to others. Advent and Christmas is a great time to receive, grow in, and put this love into practice. I pray this Advent season, this Christmas, will find us basking in God’s love and sharing it with others. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!