Today's Worship: The threshold of judgment.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 2:10-11,

 

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 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."

 

Here is a sobering thought. One infraction of God's law makes any of us a lawbreaker, subject to the judgment of God. As logical as this is, it is a frightening thought. James here is not telling us that all sins are equal. He is telling us that any law of God we break is equal in making us sinners.

 

The commission of any sin carries us across the threshold of God's judgment. We read in Revelation 21:8, "The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." To make matters worse, we don't even need to do anything wrong, if we fail to do what is right, that is a sin as well, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." James 4:17. Paul tells us, "... everything that does not come from faith is sin." Romans 14:23b.

 

What hope do we have beyond the grave? As we consider the advent of the Son of God, what an opportunity comes our way! Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

 

God is intensely loving and intensely just. All sins will be accounted for. Woe to the man who feels he can trifle with the intensity with which God pursues his interests and agenda! As the writer of Hebrews says, "For we know him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

 

May we all find refuge from God's judgment in the Child born on Christmas day!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: Mercy triumphs over judgment!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 2:13b,

 

"Mercy triumphs over judgment!"

 

In speaking of our comportment with others, and reflecting on the consequences that become apparent with the choices we make regarding our treatment of others, James makes the observation that those who treat others poorly will suffer on judgment day. It indicates their sins are not forgiven as the love (expressed in mercy toward others) that should be apparent in their lives as children of God filled with the Holy Spirit is missing.

 

While James doesn't go into the reasons why the mercy may not be there, we can fill in the detail from other passages of Scripture, especially 1 John 4:7-12. James' purpose is to let us know that if we fail to be merciful toward one another, we will not find mercy on judgment day. The Lord will not be at our side as the choices we make in this life in our treatment of others manifests we are not his.

 

What captures my heart in James statement, "Mercy triumphs over judgment!" is what God reveals about himself. When the Lord revealed himself to Moses on Mt. Sinai he said, ""The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Exodus 34:6-7. Here the Lord speaks of mercy and judgment. Also, the Lord reveals of himself, "...let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight..." Jeremiah 9:24. "Kindness, justice and righteousness": mercy and judgment. Our God has two defining characteristics, love (mercy) and justice. Paul encourages us, "Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness." Romans 11:22.

 

The wonderful observation James makes in regard to the chief characteristics of God (relative to man) is that mercy triumphs over judgment! God sent his Son to save us from his own wrath, his own judgment for the sins we have committed. He has made his Son accessible to us simply on the basis of trusting in him. I don't have to earn his forgiveness, I don't have to perform to any particular standard. If I embrace Jesus Christ in faith, mercy triumphs over judgment for me. I freely admit I deserve the judgment. How wonderful it is that God's mercy triumphs over that judgment so that I have a place at his table for all eternity!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God brings maturity and completeness.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:4-5,

 

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 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."

 

If anything, this passage speaks to the "needy" condition we come into God's family with and God's willingness, his generosity, in meeting that need. In spite of any accomplishments we may have attained in this life, no matter the successes we have enjoyed in what ever pursuits we have chased, we all enter into the family of God as anything but "mature and complete".

 

We are loved by God, we have been pursued by God. In his wonderful grace he has reached out to us, providing the Son of his love as payment for our sins. He has expended the lives of many to reach all, including us, with the gospel message. With loving arms outstretched, he welcomes all into his family who will place their trust and faith in him. All this for people who are spiritually destitute, spiritually broken, a people who come from a race of beings that are in rebellion, enslaved to a sinful nature. A people, who coming into the family of God, are needing maturity and completeness.

 

James tells us here that God gives generously. The wisdom he provides to those of faith lends itself to bringing about the maturity and completeness we need. Later in his letter, James tells us what this wisdom looks like, "the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3:17-18.

 

Apart from what God gives us, we would continue in a darkness, stumbling over what we do not see, what we do not understand. At Christmas time, the passage concerning the advent of the Son of God that touches my heart as one of the most dramatic is Isaiah 9:2,6-7, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned... For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." It is this very darkness that makes us so needy. It is this  very light that dispels the darkness, brings about our adoption into God's family and brings about a much needed spiritual maturity and completeness to our lives.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: We answer directly to God!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 4:12,

 

"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?"

 

The Lord has what might be called a flat organizational structure. Where there be plenty of ecclesiastical self-appointed "authorities" who would claim for themselves to speak for and act in God's behalf, and insinuate themselves in a supposed hierarchical structure within the things of God, James tells us there is but one "Lawgiver and Judge", God himself! We all answer directly to God.

 

To be certain, we are told in the Scriptures to acknowledge the authorities established by God: our governing authorities, Romans 13:1-5, authority within our families, Ephesians 5:22-6:4, authority in our employment, Ephesians 6:5-9, and the position God has given elders within the church, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.

 

However there are those who would tell us that if we want to have access to God, if we want to secure the promises of God and enjoy his love and the wonderful grace he lavishes on us, then we have to submit to them, to their church organization and the ecclesiastical authorities within them. They present themselves to be the arbiters of the things of God.

 

Unfortunately, it is altogether too often that many of us get a little judgmental toward others and assume a position of authority. James would tell us, "You- who are you to judge your neighbor?" We stand or fall before God directly and no one stands between us and the Lord. Paul puts it this way, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." Romans 14:4. There Paul says that we should not condemn other believers we disagree with as God himself has accepted him, Romans 14:3. In another place he says, "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5.

 

Here is an amazing thing about the Lord: in his "flat" organizational structure each of us answer directly to him. Something both exciting and potentially frightening is that we all will stand before him. The wonderful thing is that believers will have Jesus Christ at their side. My anxiety over it is relieved as I read the words of Jude:  "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 24-25. It will be a time of joy when believers stand before God! A glorious and inexpressible joy!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God determines what is acceptable.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:27,

 

"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."

 

In his rebellious nature man feels the freedom to define and promote "religion" as he sees fit. With a streak of arrogant pride, we often feel it our prerogative to determine what God should find acceptable in the way we live our lives, that is, our religion, and the manner in which we worship him. A cursory review of the differing religions of the world painfully illustrates just how true this is. Even within the community of folks who call themselves "Christians", they have so many differences, and irreconcilable ones at that, it makes this point inescapable.

 

James has a different perspective of God. God will not be dictated to. He will not be subjected to the whims of mankind. God determines what an acceptable lifestyle is. God determines which religious activity it is that is pure and faultless and informs us of it here. He determines how he will be worshipped acceptably.

 

God is the objective reality. He exists and we are merely his creation. It is simply foolishness to invent our own perspectives of God, our own path to God, our definition of what pleases him and how a spiritual life is to be lived. As the writer of Hebrews says, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God invites all who will trust in him.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 2:5,

 

"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?"

 

One of the many things I love about God is that he has chosen to welcome into his family all who will embrace him in faith. He could have limited access into his family to only those who do good deeds all the time and never sin. I never would have made it into his family if that were his choice. I don't do good deeds all the time, and as for sinning... like I say, I would never make it.

 

God could have chosen to welcome into his family only those who are rich, attractive or accomplished in some area. Again, I'd never make it if that were the criteria God had chosen. I've never been accused of any of those things!

 

God could have chosen to welcome into his family only those who go on spiritual pilgrimages or who engage in all sorts of religious exercises and disciplines. Again, I'm afraid you all would miss me there in heaven if that were the criteria God chose to use.

 

However, I can happily and excitedly let you all know that you will have to put up with me in heaven, as he has made it possible for even someone like me! God has chosen those who will embrace him in faith. All who respond to the gospel by trusting in the Lord will have a place at his table. How wonderful God has chosen to bring into his family all who will place their trust in him! Even someone like me can do that.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God gives to those of faith.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:5-8,

 

"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. 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. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

 

James speaks of how giving our heavenly Father is. He "gives generously to all without finding fault...". However, he goes on to qualify the remark by saying that those who would ask God for wisdom, "...must believe and not doubt". The person who persists in unbelief "...should not think he will receive anything from the Lord...".

 

What I glean from this is that our heavenly Father is a giving God. After all, out of his matchless grace, he lavished upon us his Son who made possible our adoption into God's family. As Paul observes this he says, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32.

 

I also learn from this passage that our heavenly Father is looking to bless those who approach him in faith. It is by faith we receive anything from God. As James says, we "must believe and not doubt." With God, it always has been about faith. Centuries before Moses, Abraham was found by God to have the faith he looks for in all of us. We are told, "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:6. It is because of Abraham's faith that the Jews became God's chosen people and received the promises of God. See Romans 4. He is looking for that same faith in us today. Those who embrace God in faith receive his promises, his gifts, his blessings.

 

I also note in James' comments that God himself decides who will receive things from him. It doesn't depend on our desire or effort but on God's mercy. He blesses whom he chooses and judges whom he chooses. As Paul says in Romans 9:18, "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." In that chapter Paul makes clear that God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith, "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." Romans 9:30-32.

 

It is God's to decide, it is God's to give. How wonderful he has chosen to adopt into his family all who will embrace him in faith! If I had to "earn" it, I'm afraid I just wouldn't make it on my own.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: Joy, our inescapable outlook!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:2,

 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers..."

 

Joy is found within those who have embraced Jesus Christ as their savior in faith. Having trusted in him, believers find themselves immersed in a community where joy is experienced, even in the difficult aspects of being a child of God. James here speaks of "trials" encountered in this life as something to be faced with joy.

 

The on-line Merriam-Webster dictionary defines joy as  "the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight." It also goes on to say that joy is "a state of happiness", a "source or cause of delight."

 

It appears to me that the world lacks much of this wonderful emotion. Although we have all been created in God's image and have a capacity for joy, it seems many desperately seek it and fail to find it. They look in all the wrong places.

 

Joy is something believers experience in their new-found life with their Creator. Becoming united with the One who created us, who is the source of life, provides us the purpose and fulfillment we were designed for. Who, but our Designer can provide us that fulfillment? As we find it, as we look forward to the wonderful inheritance that will be ours in the resurrection, we become filled with what Peter calls "an inexpressible and glorious joy", 1 Peter 1:8. And, James tells us, that joy is ours, even in the midst of the painful part of maturing as God's children!

 

As the psalmist says, even in the midst of his mourning, while feeling "disturbed", while feeling a need for vindication and feeling threatened:  "... God, my joy and my delight." Psalm 43:4.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God's strength in our trials.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:12,

 

"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."

 

This conclusion of James refers back to the beginning of this chapter. There he tells us to consider it "pure joy" when we face "trials of many kinds". The purpose of the trials is to test our faith and develop perseverance in our lives. Here in this verse James tells us the one who does persevere in these trials is truly blessed, as he is one who will receive "the crown of life". He can look forward to an eternity of life with our Creator and all those who are his.

 

We never face these trials alone. In fact, Paul points out that it is God's faithfulness itself that sees us through them. "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. Those who may even profess faith, but haven't really embraced God in faith will not have this empowerment by God to withstand the trials that come our way.

 

Persistence of faith through trials is the proof we are God's children. As such it is these very ones who will receive the "crown of life". Eternal life! How can anyone pass up on such an opportunity! What a God who has done such things for us! As the psalmist says, "... God, my joy and my delight." Psalm 43:4.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: The Lord may bring us to our knees!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:2-4,

 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

 

All believers are on a trajectory while still in this life. We are all headed in a common direction and there is no stopping it. It is God's agenda for each one of us and he will have his way in our lives. This unalterable process is to conformed us "to the image of Jesus Christ." Romans 8:28-29. There, in that passage, Paul tells us that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him". It is this perfecting of our lives that the Lord uses the circumstances we encounter. James calls them "trials". The writer of Hebrews calls it "discipline", Hebrews 12:5-11. So does Jesus himself in his letter to the church in Laodicea, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." Revelation 3:19.

 

We become God's children not by being good but by embracing him in faith. Most of us enter into his family not looking so good. I know I did. Now that we have embraced him in faith and are his, he has an agenda for us. He is going to bring about some needed changes in our lives.

 

We might be loathe to admit it, but we all have struggles with our sin natures. I know I do and I also know you do. We all do. None of us came into God's kingdom with impeccable credentials of godliness and the Lord has committed himself to bringing about the changes that are needed to conform us to the desires he has for us: "that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

 

It matters not how stubborn we are, how given we might be to old ways and the pull of pride, the Lord will have his way in our lives. Rest assured, he can, and if need be will, bring us to our knees to bring about the changes that he seeks in our lives.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: Our unchanging God.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:17,

 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

 

There certainly are many people who have heard these words from their spouse, "I've changed, we've grown apart, so I am leaving you." The relationship is broken and the two go their separate ways. What if God were like that? Where would that leave us? What if one morning we woke up to hear the Lord say, "I've changed, so I'm leaving you."? Or, "I've decided to do something different, you all can fend for yourselves." What a frightening thought!

 

How confident can we be that the wonderful gift of salvation has permanence? Can we know the love God has for us is an eternal love, something never to change, something that is the same today, tomorrow and forever?

 

God has spoken to us in the pages of Scripture because he wants us to know some things about him. Clearly, he expresses himself as being driven by two chief principles: justice and love. Whether it was God's revelation of himself to Moses on Mt. Sinai, or to the nation of Israel through the prophets as he prepared to judge the nation for turning its collective back on God, or the gospel accounts of Jesus and his ministry: God's justice and love are on full display.

 

Likewise there are other things God wants us to know about him. Among them, he wants us to be confident that he never changes. Our "Father of the heavenly lights..." "...does not change like shifting shadows." The love he has for us today will be ours to enjoy forever. The satisfaction of the payment Jesus made for our sins lasts an eternity. God considers those who have embraced him in faith as holy and blameless in his sight and this will never change.

 

Those who have responded to the gospel message have a place at his table and will never, ever be asked to leave! Along with the writer of Hebrews, may we all be convinced: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God invites us all.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 4:8,

 

"Come near to God and he will come near to you."

 

No one is more welcoming than our loving and kind God. It is his agenda to populate his kingdom for all eternity from this world. He has mankind busy here making babies and then he equips and sends out those who have responded to his invitation to take his offer to all in the world. 

 

He doesn't take just anyone. Only those who respond to his invitation by faith are welcome into his kingdom. We all make our choice. His offer is to all and all have an opportunity to join his family. The reason the Lord has held off his return to planet Earth, bringing this age to a close, is that he is building his kingdom, seeking everyone. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

 

We come near to God by embracing him in faith. Placing our trust in him. Of himself, Jesus Christ said, "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10. All come into this world as lost sinners, members of a mankind that has turned its collective back on its Creator and gone its own way. He stretches out his hand to us all as all have come into this world as lost.

 

I am reminded as well, that as believers, we also need to draw near to God continually in order to live lives pleasing to God. The do-gooders would have us all following a list of "dos and don'ts". Paul tells us such a pursuit is destined to fail at bringing about changes in our lives. He tells us in Colossians 2:23-3:2, "Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." In other words, "Come near to God and he will come near to you."

 

Paul told the Athenians God is near, engaging in what will hopefully draw us to him. "God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." Acts 17:27. No one is more welcoming than our loving and kind God!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: James found his reasons to serve Jesus Christ.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:1,

 

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings."

 

James, who grew up with his older brother, Jesus, in the same household, and who, as one of his brothers, ridiculed Jesus prior to his attending the Feast of Tabernacles, John 7:1-9, now calls himself a servant of God and of this brother of his whom he had treated with contempt, our Lord Jesus Christ! The One whom he previously ridiculed is now the one he calls Lord, and to whom he serves as a servant! What a change!

 

What was it that James saw in his older brother whom he would now embrace as his Lord? Just what was it that James found worthy in his older brother, that although he once held him in contempt, he now bows to as his master? Perhaps what James saw might be helpful to the rest of us to hold Jesus Christ in the rightful place he should have in our lives.

 

Certainly, the resurrection of his brother must have had a tremendous impact on James. It clearly identified his brother as someone like no other. Someone connected to God and squarely in the middle of God's purposes and agenda.

 

How can you not serve someone like that?

 

In that James grew up in the same home with Jesus Christ, he knew of all of Jesus' lifestyle, his habits, proclivities, behaviors and mannerisms. Anything to be personally known of Jesus Christ must have been known by James. James beheld perfection right in his very home. This may have been what generated the earlier contempt of Jesus' brothers for him. His matchless perfections must have left the rest of the boys in the home look wanting by comparison. Having beheld this perfection of character and nature within his brother as he was growing up must have had an impact on James.

 

How can you not serve someone like that?

 

It is difficult for me to contemplate how James might have felt, seeing his brother dragged before the various Jewish and Roman rulers, endure a kangaroo court, suffer and die a horrible death. But as he learned that this was Jesus' intent, that in fact this brother of his existed from before time began as a member of the triune God, and came purposefully to die on the behalf of all, taking the punishment of sins for the whole world on himself, must have had a tremendous impact on him. The mercy, love and kindness expressed by his brother must have moved James.

 

How can you not serve someone like that?

 

As James witnessed the birth of this new entity, the church, and saw how the Holy Spirit now indwelt it and caused this fledgling infant to become a powerhouse to be reckoned with in the world, this new expression of the agenda of his brother, Jesus Christ, must have had an impact on James. All that Jesus sought to do was accomplished and was now advancing upon the world. The Holy Spirit his brother promised had now arrived and was working miracles within the midst of the followers of his brother.

 

How can you not serve someone like that?

 

Much could be said here. An endless list could document many of the possible reasons why James found himself serving his older brother as a servant. What would you add to the list as reasons why we all should find ourselves serving Jesus Christ as his servants?

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: Wisdom from heaven.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 3:17-18,

 

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

 

There is a wisdom that comes from heaven. This wisdom is recognizable to those who know what to look for. It is couched in the matchless perfections of our wonderful God. Those who express this wisdom reflect the very beauty of God's own character and nature.

 

One of the many wonderful things of our God is that he makes wisdom available to all. "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." James 1:5. Wisdom, herself, speaks out in Proverbs 1:20, 33, "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares... 'whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.'" In Proverbs 9:4-5 she invites all who will come to her, "'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgment. 'Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.'"

 

I have learned quite some time ago that wisdom, the kind that comes from heaven, reflects our transcendent God whose nature is unmistakable in its beauty and perfection. He sits on the throne there and if what is being expressed doesn't reflect him, it just may not be wisdom that has its origin there.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com