Morning Moments

JAMES Deovtional Outline with Notes (cont)

A. Comes Through Serving 1:1
B. Comes Through Suffering 1:2-8
C. Comes Through Submission 1:9-18

1:9. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

I shall not waste time and space with argument about the term brother, but assume that it refers to a brother in the faith because of the context of the letter. The context relates to physical or material poverty and should never be read without consideration of the Diaspora or scattering abroad of these Messianic Jews who had to flee their homes and many possessions.
The truth is that is doesn't matter where one is in the world, if he/she is persecuted for righteousness sake, "great is his/her reward in heaven." It is for that we exult or rejoice. We are as troops in another land fighting a war that has been waged against us. It is not a battle against flesh and blood for it is far more intense than that. One day we shall pack it all up and go home, but our "belongings" will have been sent before us. Whether we live or die we are going home and when we get home we shall be honored for the fight of faith.

1:10. But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

On the other hand, those who are possessed by this world's goods and gains are of this world and the world knows them, but not us, for they are of this world. We possess our possessions, but their possessions possess them. We realize that what we have is entrusted to us by God for the use of His glory and with are the same with it or without it because our treasure, as our heart, is in heaven from which we look for our Lord to come.

All of this world's goods and gains will fade as the flower and burn as the grass, but we - we shall endure and enjoy the presence of God and each other forever. We may be called upon to suffer and serve now, but those who "suffer with Him shall someday reign with Him" and "the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us."

1:11. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

How fleeting is the nature of all material things:

2 Cor 4:18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

All the "things" the world clings to will soon vanish or tarnish. The word for flower in our text is "aneteilen" or rose that is dried with burning heat. I remember being in Jordan a few years ago and seeing the largest and most beautiful roses I have ever seen. It was special to me because my mother loved and grew gorgeous roses in South Georgia. I knew the hard work and tender care she put into growing them, but it is true, they soon fade and fall. The grass and flower burns in the heat and the beauty is lost, ruined, destroyed or perishes. Wealth may preserve, but time and elements destroy.

1:12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Fortunate is the one who patiently endures both testing and temptation as well as the experiences of life because it is he who shall receive the victor's wreath or crown which the Lord has promised to the ones loving Him. The favor of God rests upon them.

Don't forget that the temptation comes in the test. I try to think of things in simple and understandable ways so that even children can understand. So, I use the illustration of taking a test at school. It is in the midst of the test, when the pressure is on to determine whether you have learned the lesson or not that the temptation comes to look on another's paper or have a cheat sheet or conceal in some way answers that you were not prepared to give merely to pass the test.

Life's tests are the same way. Shortcuts are cheat sheets just to get you out of what you are facing without you learning the lesson. Have many times have we cried out to God, "Oh, if I had only learned the lesson last time!" That's why the Jews had to take another trip around Mt. Sinai. Many of us stay wandering in the wilderness of life when we could be enjoying the victories and benefits of Canaan (the Abundant Life).

1:13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Let me give you the translation of the HCSB: "No one undergoing a trial should say, 'I am being tempted by God.' For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone."

That substantiates what I have been illustrating. When you are going through a trial, you can be sure that temptations will come, but be sure you understand that those temptations do not come from God, but Satan. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you; RESIST the devil and he will flee from you."

Years ago a friend of mine had lung cancer. He suffered greatly and was sure (in his mind) that he was going to die, so he ended it his way and shot himself to avoid further agony. God would have seen him through to the end even through the pain, but in the midst of the trial he yielded to the temptation to take the matter into his own hands and killed himself. Many have done the same in one way or another.

1:14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

This is a critical verse in understanding the process. In His temptation, Jesus fasted and prayed. His body no doubt grew weak as His spirit grew strong but in the midst of the experience the devil came and offered Him and easy out - "take your life into your own hands" - "cast yourself down. The angels will protect you." Jesus did not resist by reason but with the Word of God - "Thou shalt not put the Lord your God to the test" or "tempt the Lord God." The only weapon against the enemy that really works is the Word of God.

It is our own fleshly cravings that draw us aways from God in the test - desire for affection, love, sex, food, friendship, intimacy, safety, security, success, or a thousand other things. They are natural and usually basic needs, often levitate needs, but the enemy uses them to draw our attention away from God when the strong wind blows in the midst of the storms of life; when the water rises and threatens to take our life; when anything comes as a test of our faith and we turn from faith to flesh.

1:15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Once we are drawn away, something more begins to happen - something else seizes us or takes hold and control of us - a longing or craving for some thing or some one other than God Himself and THAT conception gives birth to sin or independence, as was true in the case of my friend who took his own life. He said "No" to the care of God and "Yes" to taking care of the matter himself, so the sin brought a completion of his physical demise.

It may have brought the death of a relationship in your life; the death of a future; the death of a family, a friendship, a business, etc. but something died if you chose your way in the test as opposed to allowing God to build patient endurance in you.

1:16. Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Do Not Be Misled! This is not a mere suggestion, but a plea. God is in complete control and will not lose it. You can trust Him in the worst of situations. It may be embarrassing for you, but God will make it good for you and in the end your will agree that it was good for you.

1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Don't you think it might have been pretty embarrassing for Abraham to have been caught in a lie about his wife being his sister because he was afraid the truth would cost him his life? Don't you realize that the Scripture is filled with examples of those who took shortcuts and faced the consequences for God to show us the danger and consequences of such a thing?

He is after maturing us! He wants us to learn obedience and the only way to learn obedience is through trials, tough times, sufferings and SUBMISSION in those times.

1:18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

It is His desire, from whom good and perfect gifts come, and who does not in any way waver or change or turn back, that we stay the course of growing in grace (one of his good and perfect gifts) and in wisdom (how to view the test from God's perspective) and knowledge (gaining understanding of His working) through Jesus Christ.

(to be cont)

BLESSINGS!