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John 14:1–3 ¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

During World War II, when General Douglas MacArthur was forced to leave the Philippines, he made a promise: “I shall return.” General MacArthur kept that promise and did indeed return.

Jesus has made a promise to all of us: “I shall return.” His promise is more certain that MacArthur’s. He will keep that promise. He will return. We don’t know exactly when, but it is certain.

Until then, until Jesus returns, you and I have important things to do. And with the help of God we will do them. Until then:

• we will keep building ourselves up in the faith through God’s Word and Sacraments.
• we, by grace, will endeavor to stop grumbling about others.
• we, by grace, will continue to proclaim the Gospel so that many more people will be found in the faith on the day when he returns.
• we, by grace, wait patiently for our Lord’s return.

Just knowing that He is coming back should change our outlook. It’s a sure thing. And I take comfort in that.

James 5:13–20 ¹³ Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸ Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. ¹⁹ My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Never underestimate the power of prayer. James tells us “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Those who have been declared righteous because they believe in Christ Jesus will be heard by him when they make their requests. You live with the assurance that God hears the cries of His faithful children and answers in the way that is best for everyone.

I’ve mentioned before that we temporarily have two of our grandchildren – and their parents – living with us while waiting for their new home to be built. That means most evenings we get to participate in bedtime prayers with those grandchildren. The faith of a child is a wonderful thing to behold. They remind us how simple it is to ask God for anything, to talk to Him about everything, and they have no doubt that God is listening and will hear them. Lord, give us such a faith as this…

Perhaps it is good to mention that prayer is for our benefit, not God’s. He doesn’t need our prayers, but we need Him. And He invites us to pray with the certainty that He will hear us:

1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Lord, teach us to pray.

James 5:1–12  ¹ Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you. ⁷ Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. ⁹ Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. ¹² Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.

The first six verses of James 5 are a harsh warning to wealthy people who do not treat others fairly. These words are speaking of those who do not believe in Jesus, because they are warned of the “misery that is coming” to them “in the day of slaughter,” a reference to what we often call judgment day. The rich oppressors are not promised God’s compassion and mercy unless they repent of their evil ways and put their trust in Jesus.

In the next six verses, believers who are being oppressed by the ones described in the first six verses are encouraged to be patient. It is not so much “just wait and those evil folks will get what is coming to them” as it is a reminder that those who trust in Jesus will get what they do not deserve: compassion, mercy, forgiveness and salvation. These are ours because of what Jesus did through his birth, life, suffering, death and resurrection, and what He gives freely to those who trust in Him. James cites the example of Job, who suffered greatly but was blessed even more than he suffered in the end. That is a picture of how greatly believers will be blessed by God when He returns to take the faithful to Himself.

I know someone who is suffering at the hands of his boss right now. He is being treated unfairly and is struggling with what he can and should do as a follower of Jesus. Should he pray for his boss to be removed from her position? Should he seek other employment? He wants his faith to guide his actions, but is having a hard time discerning what he should do.

That is often the lot of Christians here on earth. And that is why we are told to be patient in suffering.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

2 Corinthians 1:6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

1 Peter 2:20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Lord, remind us when we suffer that you are in control, and that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). Give us strength to endure our sufferings and remind us of your certain promises.

1 Corinthians 2:9–10a “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— ¹⁰ but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

James 4:13–17 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

There is nothing wrong with making plans. We all do it every day. We also know that our plans can change in an instant, and we have to adapt. What James tells us in this passage is that when we make our plans, we should always do so with the mindset, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

When my dad talked about his plans, more often than not he would say “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise!” I think that is a good attitude to have, no matter how you state it. I try to keep that mindset when I make plans.

Another gem from this passage is verse 17:  Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

Just knowing what is right is not enough. You have to do it. That is all part of the life of response to what Jesus did in accomplishing our forgiveness and everlasting life. We should be constantly showing our thanks by living the life He would have us live. That should be a big part of the plans we make as well.

If you don’t do what you know you should do, James tells us that is sin. We all have plenty of that. That is why Jesus came. And His death in your place paid for your failures to do what you know you should do.

Let’s keep that in mind as we make plans and live our lives today.

James 4:7–12 ⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. ¹¹ Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Such a simple promise. Do you believe it?  Do you do it in your daily living?  So often we behave as though we don’t believe he will flee. We listen to his lies that tell us going our own way, going against what God would have us do, will be better or more satisfying for us in our lives. Yet after we sin, we regret it and feel worse. Why do we do this over and over again?

I know I am weak. I am not strong enough to resist temptations. And while that is true, I know there is a solution to this problem. It is not me or my determination or my strength or my willpower. I don’t have what it takes in me. That’s true. But I don’t have to do it on my own. James gives us the answer: Come near to God and he will come near to you. I need to stay close to Jesus. I need to keep my eyes on Him. He has the power I need to resist the devil, and He makes it available to me.

The way this passage begins is important to note:  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Submission is something the followers of Jesus do willingly. We know He has our best interests at heart. He showed us that by taking our place in punishment and dying the death our sins deserve so that we would not have to perish eternally. That knowledge should make us eager to let Him be in control

When I look back on my life, I find that things were better when I let Jesus be in control. I want to submit my life to Him. I want to stay close to Him. Lord, help me walk in your ways today.

James 4:1–6 ¹ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² 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. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. ⁴ 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. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

While reading through James, I have been going back at looking at sermons that I preached over the years on this book. I found one from 1997. That was back when all of our daughters were still living at home, before any of them had a driver’s license, and Cheryl was still teaching at our Church Preschool, and when I had a part-time volunteer secretary. I shared a story to illustrate “the desires that battle within” that we face everyday. What follows is from that sermon.

The battles that rage within us are the ongoing struggle between the old man and the new, the sinner and the saint. It doesn’t matter where you are on your spiritual journey, the battles will be there. Let me give you a personal example. I had an incredibly hard time getting my sermon prepared this week. With three different meetings and four different classes to teach, before I knew it Friday was here. Thursday night I was out until 11:30 p.m. waiting for Bethany to return from a volleyball game in Wylie. Friday morning, I arose early to prepare breakfast for the family, left to drop off two of the girls for school, both of whom informed me on the way that they had not only failed to bring their lunch money, but that each of them had left at home something that they absolutely had to have with them that day. I had several errands to run, met at church for staff devotions with the preschool, after which I had to run and drop off our suburban for Air Conditioner work, and arrived back at the office around 8:45 a.m. The phone proceeded to ring constantly all morning. Everything from a daughter who was sick and in the nurse’s office, to salesmen, to the daughter was feeling better and back in class, to people wanting to offer assistance. Others were stopping in asking for food, needing information, wanting to chat. I tried to respond to each and see to their needs. All of a sudden it was noon thirty and I was just settling in at my desk to start my sermon. I had just started when Cheryl came in and began asking me several questions that normally would have no impact on me: “Do we have any green paper? Where is the Lutheran annual? Is this the latest edition? What church is Bonnie at? Have you heard anything about the Suburban yet?” Then she looked at me and realized it was not a very good time to ask me any questions. It was not even a good time to be anywhere around me. “The desires that battle within” were taking over, keeping me from focusing, keeping me from looking at the cross, asking and answering how I could hold it before you this week.

Before I go any further, let me assure all of you who called or came by on Friday: this wasn’t your fault. I am in no way saying you should not call or stop by whenever you want. I want you all to feel free to do so anytime I am here. This just happened to be a day when it all piled up at once, I let my fears and anxieties do battle, and Satan was having his way with me for awhile.

All of you can relate to what I’m saying because you have done the same. The battle was raging within. I prayed “God, open a door so that I may proclaim the mystery of Christ.”

And He did. God hears that prayer when it is offered. When I realized what was happening, God reminded me of a few things. Just the night before, waiting for the bus bringing the players back from their game, I had taken out my flashlight and my Bible and been reading 1 Samuel. As I went through the adventures of King Saul and soon to be King David once again, I came across the familiar story of David and Goliath in chapter 17, and those words of confidence David spoke in the face of his giant adversary: The battle is the Lord’s, and he will give … you into our hands. (1 S 17:47) That reminded me of an Easter Hymn that I dearly love, “The strife is o’er, the battle won!” That hymn is a proclamation that Jesus has won the victory over sin, death and the devil for all people. Everyone who puts his or her faith in Jesus receives pardon and life everlasting. He has won that battle for us. And that same Jesus will help us in the battles that we face every day.

Back to the present: those words are a good reminder for us as we have desires battle within us.  Lord, help me to keep my focus on you and all you have done for me.

James 3:1–12 ¹ Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. ³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, ⁸ but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Today is my grandson’s last day of school for the year. Since they have been living with us, I usually get up and make his breakfast so we can eat together and visit. This morning, we were talking about how hard it is to control the tongue. He has had some kids say some mean things to him that hurt his feelings, and he has said some mean things, too. It is hard to tame the tongue.

I was reminded of the phrase that is so popular, especially in the South: “Bless Your Heart!” Folks seem to think saying “bless your heart” excuses you for speaking ill of someone. It gives the appearance of being polite while saying mean things.

• Bless her heart, What was she thinking wearing that!
• I heard one lady say “That little girl has a face only a mother could love, Bless her little heart.”
• “She probably thinks her hair looks good that way BLESS HER HEART.”

The tongue is a small part of the body, but look at how powerful it is! The tongue can cause devastation. James calls it “a world of evil among the parts of the body” and “a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Matthew 5:21-22 ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Jesus said that when the tongue is used to injure your neighbor, you have violated the commandment “You shall not murder.”  And did you catch what he said we deserve because we cannot control our tongues? HELL!  Thankfully, the one who spoke these words also provided the solution: The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. That truly gives us the forgiveness we need to be assured of peace with God. That also gives us the motivation to want to tame our tongue and speak in a God pleasing way in the future.

Lord, help me to tame my tongue so that I say the things that are pleasing to you and helpful for my neighbor.

James 2:1–13 ¹ My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵ Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? ⁶ But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? ⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. ¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Judgment without mercy sounds terrifying to me. If I got what I deserve, I would stand condemned and deserve nothing but punishment in hell for all eternity. That is why I delight in those last four words of the reading above: Mercy triumphs over judgment.

A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense not onec, but twice, and justice demanded death. “But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.” The emperor replied “Your son does not deserve mercy!” “Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.” “Well, then,” Napoleon said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son.

We deserve justice, not mercy. But God has shown us mercy. He came down here to take our place in punishment, paying the penalty our sins demanded, and gives us the benefit of His righteous life instead. Mercy triumphs over justice for those who put their faith in Jesus.