Submit yourselves, then, to God (James 4:7a).

I hate that word, “Submit.”  It sounds like I’m putting myself under someone else’s authority.

Oh.

It’s a scary thing, this submission.  By obeying God, I’m giving up power and authority and the ability to command my own destiny and call the shots and be captain of my fate and master of my soul–

What’s that, Beloved?  You say that all that “I did it my way” business is illusion, that when I think I’m in control it’s really the world, the flesh, and the devil who are pulling my strings?  You say that I’m bound to serve someone, and that there’s only one someone worth trusting with my obedience? That would be the One who has demonstrated, time and again, that he loves me and really, truly, knows what’s best?  You say that is the One I should give my life, my love, my service to–every day, every hour, every minute?

Wow, Beloved–you’re a smart one.

Happy Thursday.

But he gives us more grace (James 4:6).

Look back through the verses we’ve covered lately.  They don’t paint a very pretty picture of mankind.  Selfish, violent, hedonistic, adulterous–we are a pretty pathetic bunch of flesh.  And how does God respond?  Does he smack us with a rock?  Does he snap his fingers and turn each of us into a puff of fluff?  Does he withdraw his Spirit and disown us?

He gives us more grace.

Seriously?

But I didn’t deserve the first measure of grace.  Or the second.  Or… 

Beloved, I will never understand.

But I accept.

And rejoice

Happy Wednesday

Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? (James 4:5)

There are two ways to read this verse. One traditional view of this verse is that James is talking about our soul here, the “spirit” God put within us at creation.  He’s basically confirming that we are jealous at heart, constantly dissatisfied and longing for what we do not have.  That fits the passage, and it’s what many  translators think is the original intent.

But…I dunno…

Another reading of this verse capitalizes the word “Spirit” and renders “envies intensely” as “longs jealously.”  In this view, James is talking about the Holy Spirit, whom the Father has caused to live in every believer.  He is reminding us that our God gets really possessive when it comes to his relationship with us.

As a young teenager, I knew an adult married couple who boasted of their “Open relationship.”  It was the first time I had ever heard of that concept.  I wasn’t a Christian yet, but the idea that two people would pledge to remain faithful to each other–except when they didn’t feel like it–made me truly uncomfortable. Granted, both spouses were woefully unattractive, so I figured the whole point was moot. Still…

Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ does not do open relationships.

So, yes, I took the second translation here, recklessly casting aside the advice of experts  in order to follow my own thoughts on the nature of God.  I promise I’m not trying to start a cult.  If perchance you see me in the street today, please do not scream “Heretic” and throw fruit and shoes at me. 

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is  hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4).

Kind of intense, huh?

Hey, don’t blame me.  I’m just going where the Word takes us.  Sometimes the Truth is warm and supportive and gives you happy tinglies.

Sometimes this.  

But we need this, too.

God loves this world.  Make no mistake. He loves every soul he created enough to send his son to redeem it…at the greatest cost.

So, Beloved, love the people of the world.

But the spirit of the world, that there’s a different story.  The spirit of this world is fallen, corrupt, wicked, evil, flat-out icky.  

It is anti-Christ.  

I teach middle school.  I see kids change their entire persona–their hair, clothing, language, attitude–in order to emulate their friends.  So we grownup types hope and pray that they pick their friends wisely.

So, pick your friends wisely.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

You want something but don’t get it.  You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want.  You quarrel and fight.  You do not have because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures  (James 4:2-3).

Wow…those folks were a mess.  Good thing we’re not in the least like that, right?

Yeah

Question: what is it you want out of your Thursday, and why?  OK, so that’s two questions, but go with it.  Are you looking to glorify God today, or merely to feather your own nest?  It’s so easy to forget why we’re here, so easy to focus on ourselves.  But that mindset–that “looking out for Number One” bit — leads to discontent, dissatisfaction, and disappointment.  It will never, not even ever, make you the person God has called you to be.

Beloved, don’t beat yourself up about it.  Just take a moment to step back, take a deep breath, and recommit.  Offer yourself to Christ all over again. Give your stress and worry to him; let him provide what you need.

Trust him.

That’s going to free you up to care about important stuff.  Kingdom stuff.

Whaddaya say, Beloved?  Let’s you and I give it a shot today, huh?

Happy Thursday.

What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (James 4:1)

The word translated Desire here comes from the same root as the word hedonism, or the pursuit of pleasure for its own sake. 

So, there’s your Greek lesson for the day…you’re welcome.

The point is, Paul is not talking about good, lofty desires here.  He’s not talking about the desire to be a better person, to end hunger, to grow closer to God and further the brotherhood of all mankind.  He’s talking about selfish, fleshly, ifitfeelsgooddoitI’minitformemememememememe desires.

Oh, those desires?  Yeah, those.

As you move through your day, take careful note of the things that cause friction between you about the folks in your world.  Are you offended by unrighteousness and ungodly ways?

Good

Does the lack of justice and love one for another grieve your heart?

Fine

Are you bugged because stupid people keep getting in your way?

Yeah…there’s your problem.

And uh, you know, mine.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness… (James 3:18).

You know, for a long time I’ve been reading this verse wrong.

I thought it said, “Peacemakers who sow peace…”  I figured it was a, “You reap what you sow,” kind of passage.  But that’s not what it says in my Bible.  It says, “Peacemakers who sow in peace…”

So what does that mean?

Well, first of all, James is talking to those who are peacemakers, dedicating themselves to bringing peace between Man and Man as well as between Man and God.  Does that description fit you?

Something to chew on, ya?

Then, James says that they are sowing in peace.  They are not stressed.  They are not striving.  They’re just planting seeds.  I’m not a farmer, but I’ve done a little gardening, and I’ve learned a thing or two.

Thing One: There’s a lot you can do to ensure a good harvest.

Thing Two: There’s a lot you can’t.

Gardening is a lot like farming which is a lot like our spiritual lives.  You prepare the soil, plant good seed, water well, guard against weeds and critters, and trust God for the rest.  If you realize that the harvest is not on your shoulders, that God is ultimately in control of what grows, then you can be at peace, doing your best and trusting God for the outcome.

I’m not saying it’s easy…I’m just saying it is.

So, once again, it all comes back to trusting God. You can no more create spiritual fruit than you can force rutabagas to appear.

Not that you would want to.

You may have noticed that wherever I start with one of these devotions, I end up in the same place—trust God.

I guess I’m kind of a one-trick pony.

Sow in peace, Beloved.  He’s got the harvest covered.

Happy Tuesday

The wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).

I got a great new app.  It’s called “Sincerity.”  It automatically scrolls through my contacts list, picking names at random.  It then matches each name to one of a list of encouraging Scripture passages.  Once a day, it sends an uplifting message to the people in my life, letting them know that I’m thinking about them, and that I care deeply.

Except I’m not.

And I don’t.

OK, you’re right; there’s no such app.  And if there were, it would be terrible.  But, for a moment, you were thinking, “Hey…”

Weren’t you?

One of my favorite poems is called Psalm of Single-Mindedness, by Joe Bayly.  It begins like this

Lord of reality, make me real.

Not plastic

Synthetic

Pretend

Phony

An actor playing out a part

Hypocrite.

I don’t want to keep a prayer list—I want to pray…

The poem goes on from there, but you get the picture.  It has been my prayer so often that I have a copy of the poem taped to the inside cover of my Bible.

So, Beloved, are you walking into your day fueled by the knowledge of His love and the power of that love to change the lives around you…or are you just saying what you know you’re supposed to say and doing what you know you’re supposed to do?

Don’t rush past this—chew on it for a bit.

There’s no power in going through the motions.

Even if they’re good motions.

May I make a suggestion?  Pray that God would blast through your hypocrisy today.  Pray that he would rub your soul raw, that you might feel this world as he does.  Pray that God would break your heart all over again.

It will be painful, disturbing, dangerous maybe.

But…

Don’t just walk like you mean it, Beloved.

Mean it.

Happy Monday

The wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial… (James 3:17).

God doesn’t play favorites among his children. 

I do.

I’m a teacher.  I should treat every student the same, with complete impartiality. And I try. I have technology that allows me to read my student’s work anonymously, so I’m not biased as I grade.

That doesn’t mean I don’t have favorites. And it doesn’t mean that, from time to time, my favorites don’t get a little extra consideration.

Hmm…I oughta do something about that.  Pray for me, would you?

Even if, you know, I’m not one of your favorites.

Happy Friday, Beloved.