James

Wow, where to start? Ever have so many thoughts running through your mind that no matter how hard you try to organize, even an iPad wouldn’t help?? The dilemma of my life at present. I just finished doing a quick read through the book of James and two main ideas really stuck out to me. One related to current events, and one that just overwhelmed my senses of gratitude.

First, James 5:13-18:

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.  Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

I have so tremendously blessed by the people around me. So many people who tell me they are praying for me and are genuinely interested in my struggles. I also have been given several opportunities to listen to others’ struggles and encourage them. This is the biggest blessing of the body of Christ! To share our struggles with one another and pray for each other. I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count how many I know that I think about and pray for consistently. Life is hard. HARD! We need each other. The body of Christ is beautiful. Appreciate it.

Second, James 2:12-13:

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

What gets me the most is “law of liberty.”

“I'm a slave until I'm captured

But You would never use a lock or a key

'Cause I am free” – Brandon Heath

Yes, we are slaves. But we are slaves to Christ! We live under a free law. The law of liberty. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“Mercy seasons justice.” – Shakespeare (Merchant of Venice)

Mercy triumphs over judgment. What an incredible thought. The law of liberty allows us to use mercy. I mean, if I really got what I deserved under the OT law, I would be doomed. But mercy has been extended. Liberating.

Please share your thoughts. Read James. It’ll rock your worldview.