Scripture: James 5:7-12, Colossians 3:9-17
The Book of James, which contains our first reading
for today, offers a focus on 2 related Christian issues. The first is a condemnation of heretical
practices that have been springing up within the Church, as well as a call to
teach true Christian principles to those who would be faithful to Christ. The second issue revolves around our
“friendship” with God, and His desire for our unity, truth, and solidarity in
the ways we respond to the Godly gifts that we are blessed with.
And in our second reading today we are shown how our
choosing to pick up the sinful ways of earth destroys and demeans our Christian
witness. When we come to Christ, and
turn our lives over to His guidance and ways, we must be about setting the
“former self” far away, and living as a totally “new self” that is committed
and dedicated to Jesus Christ.
Read James 5:7-12
In this section of James’
letter to the Church, there is a decided emphasis on the coming Judgment, that
has been delayed until God’s perfect time arrives. The Lord’s patience is such that as many
people as possible will have the opportunity to surrender the world’s attitude
toward this life, and to accept the far better way of Jesus before the day of
Christ’s return is upon us. And James
encourages us to be as patient and as faithful during this time of waiting as God
has been for us.
And what are we told to do
during this expectant delay? He tells us
to persevere in faith even as we suffer persecution and hatred at the hand of the
world’s evil. This will never be easy,
and will definitely require a strengthening of our heart, as well as a constant
recommitment in our trust of the word of God, just as the prophets had to
do. Interestingly, we don’t always read
of the suffering that was imposed on God’s prophets, but never doubt that it
always occurred.
Anyone who is called to warn
the masses of the Lord’s impending judgment against apostasy will certainly
suffer from the world’s opposition that will always be brought against the
faithful. James also gives Job a “call
out” for the patience that he showed during his trials of terrible and extreme
loss, and in the excruciating physical, emotional, and even spiritual pain that
he experienced, and the constant accusations of failure that his “friends” kept
leveling against him did absolutely nothing to encourage him or make his life
any better. Even the man’s wife
suggested that he “curse God and die” (Job 2:7-10), as a means of ending
the agony that the boils were causing! And Job never gave in to any of the
temptations.
And James ends this portion
of our reading with the call to end our affirmations of truth through the
swearing of an oath. We are told to let
our own words of “Yes” or “No” speak the truth - in all matters of this life -
and to let every aspect of the world’s ways fall by the wayside of this existence.
Read Colossians 3:9-17
What is there about lying
that lead the Apostle to emphasize it as being an unchristian attribute? The problem with lying is that it seldom, if
ever, remains undiscovered for very long.
It destroys loving conversation, it confuses trust, it makes our
relationship with others, at the very least, bereft of any worth! And even worse, it renders our life of faith
in Jesus Christ questionable. When we
remove the “old self” from our being, it must be accomplished completely with
nothing being left behind, if, that is, the “new self” is to be able to grow and thrive
within us.
And the completeness of our
change will become the evidence of our unity in Christ. For without a continuing and improving
newness in us all, how can we possibly become one in Jesus Christ? And as each of us becomes more in the word
and way of Jesus, the proof will ensure that we are also one with each other! And as Paul continues in his letter, we
discover that the “new self” that he had been talking about, is actually our
becoming Christ-like in the new life that we have chosen to live through Him.
Paul then lists 6 virtues –
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and finally, forgiveness –
qualities that all Christians must exhibit, with the topper being the binder
for all six through a Christ-like love that will hold them all together, as
well as helping the followers of Jesus to live and enable these virtues to be
shown and shared with others, each and every day.
And verses 16 & 17 are
the bottom line of Paul’s thesis – that when we live in a way that honors and
glorifies the Trinity, it is then that worship becomes true and fulfilling in
its praise of God. Can you even begin to
imagine what the Church would be like if we loved and worshipped and glorified
the name of Jesus through a gathering of lives who lived like this? (1 Corinthians 13:4-10) Would anything be impossible for the Church
ever again?
We would be able to wait for
Christ’s return patiently and faithfully, even while we worshipped that holy
and precious name of Jesus daily.
We could even live without fear of the evil that will always surround
us, and others could finally see just what it means to be a faithful follower
of the Son of God.
Do you think we could begin
living in this very way? Tomorrow is
nowhere soon enough, you know! Today is the
day!
