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James 1:22–27 ²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. ²⁶ If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Two men were talking outside church. “Have you heard about Bill? He embezzled $350,000 from his company.” “That’s terrible! I never did trust him.” The first man went on, “Not only that, but he left town with Hank’s wife.” “That’s awful.” “Not only that, but he stole a car for his getaway.” “Scandalous!” “Not only that, but they think he was drunk when he drove out of town.” “Well,” replied the man who had just heard all of this, “that proves it. I always thought Bill was a no good bum. But what really bothers me is, who are we going to get to teach his Sunday School class next week?”

When you consider this fellow Bill they were talking about, you can find all kinds of errors and hypocrisy. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  But what about those two standing around talking about Bill? If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. You might think James is being pretty hard on people, holding up some high standards. He is. He is giving God’s standards. And think for a minute what the Christian Church would be like if it listened to James. Every Christian would act like a Christian, sound like a Christian, and think like a Christian. It would be perfect. And isn’t that what our Lord commands? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Mark Twain is credited with the following: “Most people are bothered by those passages in Scripture that they cannot understand. The Scripture which troubles me most is the Scripture I do understand.” I can relate to that. I bet you can too. “The Scripture which troubles me most is the Scripture I do understand.” It is painfully clear that you and I are not ideal Christians.

Thanks be to God for the forgiveness earned for us on the Cross of Calvary. It was there that God placed your guilt and sin and shame on His perfect Son, letting Him pay the price in your stead. What God offers you is pardon, peace, righteousness, and forgiveness. We need to receive the gifts God gives, letting them fill up every fiber of our being.

If we are going to have the treasures of God overflow in your lives when you are put under pressure, you have to have them in you to begin with. Do not merely listen to the word… It has been my observation that many don’t even get that far. They don’t even listen to God’s Word of life. They don’t read it, reflect on it, hear it, study it. You need to hear God’s Word to start with. But don’t just listen to it: drink it up, let it fill you, to the point of overflowing. Then you will be able to share it with others.

James 1:16–21 ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. ¹⁹ My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Anger causes us to do things that are outside the life God would have us live. How often have you let your anger control your actions, only to regret it? Sometimes the harm done can be overcome. Other times we continue to let anger control our actions toward another person, escalating the conflict even further.

Years ago in a western city a husband and wife became estranged and parted from each other, both leaving the city where they had lived. They settled in different parts of the country. Some years later, the husband happened to return to the city on a matter of business. When he finished his business, he went to the cemetery where his only son was buried. As he was standing near the grave with his memories, he heard a step on the gravel behind him. Turning, he saw his estranged wife, who by coincidence had come out there that same day to visit the grave. For a moment the inclination of both of them was to turn away, but they thought better of it. Realizing that they had a common binding interest in that grave, instead of turning away they held hands over the dust of their little son and were reconciled to each other and restored their marriage.

It took nothing less that the death of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, to reconcile us to God. As we approach the tomb of Christ, we find that we are not alone. God the Father is there. Our first inclination may be to turn away, for we are sinners and He is a sinless God. But God came there for us. He takes our hand, draws us to Himself, and fills us with His good gifts. We need to be filled with what our heavenly Father has to give us. In Baptism, we have been immersed in the water of life. Through the Gospel, we participate in Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. In Communion we are filled with the life and salvation that Jesus earned for us. We have been reborn through the blood of the Lamb and are saturated with the righteousness of God. We get all of this from being in the Word, letting God speak to us and fill us and soak us through and through. What better thing is there for you to be full of than God’s Word, His righteousness and forgiveness? If that is what you, as a follower of Christ, have in you, what will come out when you are confronted with conflict and problems? That same Word of truth, the same righteousness, that same forgiveness. They are going to overflow if that is what you have been filled with.

James 1:5-15 ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. ⁹ The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. ¹⁰ But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. ¹² Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

So many different topics in this brief reading:  Asking God for things with confidence. Being content with your circumstances. Remaining steadfast under trials. But the one I want you to consider with me today is temptation.

James affirms that God does not tempt us to sin. The explanation to Luther’s Small Catechism has the following question and answer under the discussion of the Sixth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer:

229. Into what kinds of evil do our spiritual enemies try to mislead us?

The devil, the world, and our sinful nature try to mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great sins.  (Luther, M. (1991). Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation. St Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.)

You will be tempted today. You have already been tempted today. And all too often we give in to those temptations. James describes the result of giving in to those temptations unchecked:  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

 It is because your heavenly Father was not content with that outcome that He took action. Jesus earned your Crown of Life so that you could escape the punishment you so rightly deserve. You will still be tempted, but remember this encouragement from Paul:

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

James 1:1–4 ¹ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I think most people read verse two above and think, “Yeah, right! I’ll be joyful when I’m going through a bunch of trials all at once.” Why would anyone feel that way? It usually only takes one thing going wrong for the complaining to begin, much less “trials of many kinds.” The way of the world is to complain about things going wrong, and followers of Jesus get caught up in that as well.

James gives us a good reminder here, telling us to keep things in the proper perspective. When viewed through the eyes of faith, we should see our situations and circumstances differently. And speaking God’s Word to us here in his epistle, the apostle says that “the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

That word “perseverance,” used twice in this passage, comes from a word whose root meaning is “steadfastness or holding out.” It has to do with courageous active resistance to hostile attacks. This passage shoul reminds us that even though we have been led to faith in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, while we are on this side of heaven there is still a battle going on. Satan and his minions continue to attack, trying to get you to doubt God’s goodness and question His promises.

You and I will not persevere if we try to do so by our own power or strength. James is trying to remind us that this is a testing of YOUR FAITH. Your faith is in Jesus, and He will give you the strength and power to stand firm. Just keep your eyes on Him. Recall what He has already done for you by focusing on the cross and the empty tomb. Cling to His promise that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:39).

The more you persevere, the more you will mature in your faith. A mature faith knows that you can face anything, because Jesus is with you, always. I was reminded of this hymn. I especially like the prayer of last stanza.

Oh, for a faith that will not shrink Tho’ pressed by many a foe;
That will not tremble on the brink Of poverty or woe;

That will not murmur nor complain Beneath the chast’ning rod,
But in the hour of grief or pain Can lean upon its God;

A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without;
That, when in danger, knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt;

That bears unmoved the world’s dread frown Nor heeds its scornful smile;
That sin’s wild ocean cannot drown Nor Satan’s arts beguile;

A faith that keeps the narrow way Till life’s last spark is fled
And with a pure and heavenly ray Lights up the dying bed.

Lord, give us such a faith as this; And then, whate’er may come,
We’ll taste e’en now the hallowed bliss Of an eternal home.

(The Lutheran Hymnal #396)

My last few devotions have been about faith, sharing that people are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. God allows us to be saved because of our trust in Him. But for the Christian, that is only the beginning. After we know, understand and believe that we have been saved by what Jesus Christ did for us with His perfect life, His death in our place, and His victory over the grave, we need to put our faith TO work. We should ask ourselves, HOW DOES MY FAITH SHOW ITSELF IN WORKS AND ACTIONS?

Your faith should WORK by doing the things that you know God wants you to do. You look to God’s law to see how He wants you to conduct your day to day living. Your faith works by showing kindness to others. Your faith is at work when you share the message of Jesus Christ with others, when you read your Bible to apply its message to your life. Your faith is at work when you give of your time, your money, your abilities to further the mission of this church. Your faith is in action doing the things you know are pleasing in God’s sight. Of course, these actions are not done in the hope of meriting anything from God–faith in Christ has already received His merits. Rather, these actions are all a response to knowing that God has declared you righteous in Jesus Christ.

An unbeliever once ridiculed the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by saying, “If Jesus Christ is able to save anyone, why are there so many unbelievers?” The Christian to whom he was speaking stopped a very dirty little boy who was passing by and asked the unbeliever, “Can you blame soap and water for the filth you see here?”

So it is with Christ. He is able to save all, but only those who accept what He has done in faith receive His regenerating power. And it is then that their faith goes into action.

It is by God’s grace through faith that we receive the blessings earned by Jesus. It merely accepts the gift of God freely offered. It claims the forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake. When you have this faith, you should consider how your faith is AT WORK in your life, responding with gratitude to the gifts of God’s grace.

Romans 4:1-5,13-17  1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?  2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about– but not before God.  3 What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.  5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness…  13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.  16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring– not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.  17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed– the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

How does faith work? The passage above says that is was because of his faith that Abraham was viewed as righteous. But Abraham was not righteous. He was a sinful human being, one who had been guilty of idolatry. Throughout Genesis we see his continued disobedience to God. Yet God viewed him as being righteous. Why? Because he believed what God had promised. His righteousness was not something in himself, but something given to him by God because of his faith.  The righteousness he had was a gift from God that Abraham made his own possession through faith.

Faith grabs hold of that which God offers, which is Jesus Christ. And it is because faith trusts in Jesus Christ that it will be credited to you as righteousness. Abraham was not the only person to have this kind of faith that would save him, sinner though he was. You also have this faith if you believe God’s promise to you in His Word. If you trust in Jesus Christ, believe that He is the Son of God who died and rose again for you, that will be credited to you as righteousness.

Sometimes people speak about faith as being the thing that saves you, and with the proper understanding that is correct. But that can also be misleading if you think that faith is something that you do that is deserving of a reward from God. Faith only receives something, it does not make something happen. I think about about the surgery that I had recently. I had faith in the doctor to do whatever was necessary to correct the problem. I don’t know or understand all he did, but his actions brought about healing. My faith in him did not accomplish the correction of the problem–the work he did brought the correction. My faith in him simply allowed me to receive the benefit of his work.

That gives us a picture of how our faith in Jesus Christ works. Faith does not accomplish salvation. Jesus did that by His work. It was His perfect life, His innocent suffering and death, and His triumph over death that has earned salvation. Your faith in Him allows you to receive the benefit of His work. The righteousness He won is credited to you through faith. Your faith simply lays hold of that which God freely offers to you.

Romans 4:3 What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

A construction crew was laying a drain line as part of a new building program. While excavating, the workmen uncovered a power cable directly in their path. The foreman called the electrician who was wiring the new building. The electrician looked at the cable and assured the foreman that it was dead, there was no power running through it. “Just cut it out of your way.”  “Are you sure there is no danger?” the foreman asked.  “Absolutely,” the electrician replied. So the foreman asked him, “Well, then, will you cut it for us?”  The electrician hesitated for a moment, and with a slight smile said, “Well, I’m not that sure.”

To say that you believe something is true, and then actually to believe it are sometimes two different things. If you profess to believe something, but then fail to act upon that profession, it calls into question whether or not you truly believe.  Would you believe that electrician?  He wasn’t sure enough to act upon what he said he believed–would you? Probably not.

You’ve all heard the adage SEEING IS BELIEVING. That is the way the world operates. Things are accepted as truth when they can be substantiated by empirical evidence. And this is not true only of scientists, but of most of those who live without faith.

Two children were playing on a hillside as it was nearing sunset. One said with wonder, “See how far the sun has gone? A little while ago it was right over that tree, and now it is low down in the sky!” The other boy said, “Yeah, that’s neat, but it isn’t the sun that moves–it’s the earth. My Father told me so.” The first boy shook his head, insisting that the sun had moved. He had seen it with his own eyes, and he knew that the earth had not moved, since he had been standing on it. “I know what I see,” he said triumphantly. The other boy replied, “And I believe my Father.”

That is pretty much the way mankind divides itself: some accept only what their senses reveal to them, others believing the Word of God.  For the Christian, BELIEVING IS SEEING. It is through faith that you understand the wonders of our God. You read in Scripture that God loved you enough to come down here and take care of what separated us from God, making it possible for us to be forgiven and have life WITH HIM forever. It is through believing that you receive life.

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

I am going to strive to live more confidently in the certainty I have because of God’s promises.

Johnny had been misbehaving and was sent to his room. After a while he came out and told his mother that he had thought it over and said a prayer. His mother said, “Good, if you ask God to help you not misbehave, He will help you.” Johnny replied, “Oh, I didn’t ask Him to help me not misbehave. I asked Him to help you put up with me.”

He is like another little boy who was overheard praying, “Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it. I’m having a really good time like I am.”

These two boys show us our sinful nature. I want to do what I want to do and don’t want anyone telling me otherwise. That is the way of this world. But that is not how it should be for the disciples of Jesus. We should have a different standard.

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord

Jesus should be the one in control of our lives. He should be the Lord, the master of our lives. He bought us back from sin and death, gives us forgiveness and the certainty of eternal life, and we should show our gratitude by living under His guidance and direction.

Think about this: if there are areas of your life where Christ is not in control, then who is in control? If Christ is not the Lord of some part of your life, who have you put in that position? The devil will tempt us not to let Jesus be the Lord and Master, not to let Him have control, trying to convince you that you can take care of things all by yourself. That is when we need to focus on the cross. Remember the love of God that led Him to send Jesus to that awful death in your place, so that your sins would not be held against you. Your faith in Jesus means He is your Savior. He has saved you from death and everlasting condemnation. The follow-up to knowing and believing that is to let Him be your Lord, your Master, too. Let Him be in control.

The answers to these questions were given by 2nd grade school children:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We’re related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.
2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Most of us learn what love is in the family setting. We see God’s love reflected in our homes. It is shown to us even when we don’t deserve it. Mothers are a primary example of this. They teach us to love because they have experienced God’s love in their lives. We love because He first loved us.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. [1 John 4:9-10]

This is the heart of the matter. Christian mothers teach us about the love of God that became one of us, that took on human flesh in order to take our place in punishment, to be the sacrifice to pay for your sins and my sins and the sins of all people. That is how God showed us His love. That is how we obtain forgiveness. That is why we know that we are forgiven. It is all about Jesus and what He has done for us. Christian Mothers tell and show and explain who He is and what He has done for us all.

Sometimes on Mother’s Day some of what is said and written tends to venerate and elevate Mother’s above the level of sainthood. To be sure, Christian Mothers are a tremendous blessing, and we should thank God for them all. But Christian mothers are still sinners, sinners for whom Christ died. They know that. And they rejoice in the forgiveness Jesus gives through His death and resurrection. The greatest value of a Christian mother is that she points you to the one you all need – our Savior, Jesus Christ.

About five years ago Cheryl and I went to her home church in Vernon for their annual BBQ fundraiser. Bethany and Scott and Malachi were there, too. Cheryl has a younger sister who lives next door to her parents. Bethany wanted to go see her aunt’s house, but she said it wasn’t a good time. At first, she wouldn’t say why, but then she fessed up. She had a dog that she had been trying to house train, and was not having much success. One of her friends told her about this spray she could buy that worked well for her, so she bought it. She went home and sprayed her entire house with this spray. And then her dog started going all over the house! When my sister-in-law read the label on the bottle, it said to spray it WHERE YOU WANT THE DOG TO GO! She thought it was a deterrent, but it was actually an attractant. That poor dog was wearing itself out trying to go all over the house!

Cheryl’s sister had the right thing, but she didn’t use it properly. She didn’t read the instructions. And there is a lesson for followers of Jesus here. Just having a Bible isn’t enough. You have to read the instructions! You need to be in God’s Word and let God’s Word be in you! You need to keep reading it, listening to it, and letting it guide and direct you. It is where God speaks to you, and you need that need every day of your life. It tells you what God has done for you in sending Jesus to be your Savior, and it tells you how God would have you live in response to that.

Be in the Word!