Today's Worship: Wisdom from God.

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

 

"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."

 

Wisdom from God is a wonderful thing. In Proverbs I read that wisdom is associated with discipline, understanding words of insight, a prudent life, knowledge and discretion. No doubt James had read Proverbs 2:6, "The Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 3:13-18 tells us, "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed."

 

Wisdom from God is an amazing asset. Listen to the words of Proverbs 4:5-9, "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."

 

Wisdom personified says of herself in Proverbs 8:12-21, "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full."

 

Two things that stand out to me as written in Proverbs about wisdom: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10. Also, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2.

 

Here is something we all need, more than anything else. What a rare jewel wisdom is in this world, not to be found within the hearts of many. And to think, God gives us wisdom for the asking!

 

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 Satan, wisdom from God.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 3:14-17,

"If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 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."

 

James speaks of two kinds or types of wisdom. Each comes from a different source, reflecting that source and are starkly opposite one another. The one comes from the devil and the other, that comes from heaven, comes from God. You will recall that James encouraged those lacking the wisdom from God to ask him for it. God gives his wisdom "generously to all without finding fault". James 1:5. However, anyone approaching God for wisdom must be a believer, James 1:6.

 

As James describes the characteristics of these two wisdoms, their sources become evident as each reflects the character of whom they come from. The "wisdom" from the devil results in the harboring of "bitter envy and selfish ambition." It is "earthly, unspiritual, of the devil." James also speaks of "disorder and every evil practice." In contrast, the wisdom from God is "pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." What a contrast here!

 

Often, when listening to anyone (and what a crowd this is!) who appoints themselves to speak to us of life and how it should be lived, they betray the wisdom from which they speak. I have found that not only listening to what is said, but how it is couched reveals the source of the "wisdom" behind what is said. I am certain you have as well. I do note here that James is telling me to look at myself...  Clearly, this is James point, we need to observe how what is said is framed. As casted, does it reveal envy, selfish ambition, disorder, evil practice? Or, on the other hand, is it pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere?

 

As I consider the characteristics of these two "wisdoms" I can't help but acknowledge how wonderful the one is over the other. It is just like my God to reflect his wonderful qualities in the expression of his nature through the gifts he gives as in the wisdom he freely gives to believers who ask.

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 Election.

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,

 

"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?"

 

As James speaks of the unseemliness of those who would give preferential treatment to the rich within the church, he points out that it is God himself who has chosen those who are "poor in the eyes of the world." To discriminate in this way "with evil thoughts" reveals an inclination to exploit the rich for what they might bring to the table at the expense of the poor within the body of Christ. No wonder James calls them "judges with evil thoughts", James 2:4.

 

How can anyone who would call himself a child of God treat with contempt those who God himself has chosen? Clearly, if God has chosen someone, that one should be honored, despite their wealth, their position in life, their stature in the community, their influence... you get the picture. If they are good enough for God, they should be good enough for me!

 

So, who is it God has chosen? On what basis did God choose them? When it comes to forgiveness of sins, the promise of eternal life, entry into God's family with a place at his table, becoming a co-heir with Christ, clearly it is God's choice upon whom he bestows it all. Is it the wealthy? Is it the popular and influential? Is it the "beautiful people"? Only those who have measured accomplishments in some professional pursuit? Is it the powerful?

 

Paul quotes God saying, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." Romans 9:15. Clearly it is God's choice, his election. In that passage Paul makes this observation, "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." God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith.

 

Here is something anyone is free to choose. All have opportunity to join God's family, no one will be able to claim he was unfairly excluded from opportunity to join God's family. Paul tells us in the following chapter of Romans, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." God invites all through the gospel as he stands with open arms, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." Romans 10:17,21.

 

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

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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!"

 

As James speaks of keeping the "royal law" found in Scripture, James 2:8, he speaks to the issue that when we express mercy toward others it manifests the mercy we receive from God.

 

The royal law, "royal" because it is the King's law, our "King of kings and Lord of lords" law, is to "Love your neighbor as yourself". It comes from Leviticus 19:18, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ identified this as one of the greatest of the commands of the Scriptures. When approached by one of the teachers of the law, he was asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus' response was, '"The most important one' answered Jesus, 'is this: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There is no commandment greater than these.'" Mark 12:28-31.

 

Paul refers to this "royal law" in Romans 13:9 and Galatians 5:14 as summing up all the law. He concludes this command is the fulfillment of all the law in our treatment of others in a "single command".

 

James tells us that "judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful." James 2:13a. His point is not that we can avoid the judgment of sinners at the end of the age if we have mercy toward others, that we can earn eternal life. Rather, as we read in 1 John 4:19, "We love because he [God] first loved us", when we express mercy toward others it manifests the mercy we receive from God. Those who have received God's mercy manifest it in their treatment of others.

 

The fascinating and exciting part in all this is that from God's perspective, "mercy triumphs over judgment!" Our God is both a god of judgment and a god of love. Neither of these qualities of his will ever by thwarted. However, the love of God has found a way to satisfy the judgment of God and secure his mercy for us through the substitutionary death of his Son Jesus Christ for our sins. Because Jesus Christ took our sins on himself, "Mercy triumphs over judgment!"

 

How wonderful is 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: Jesus Christ is Lord!

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."

 

In his salutation to his readers James identifies himself by name as a servant of God and a servant of the "Lord Jesus Christ". Not simply as a servant to his older half-brother Jesus as such, but a servant to his half-brother as his "Lord".

 

In our culture the concept of "Lord" is not necessarily intuitive, it certainly isn't for me. We live in a day and a place where all are accorded an equal status, at least to a certain extent. The term "lord" indicates authority, someone to be served, someone our purpose in life is found in yielding to, bowing to, obeying. The online Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term "lord" as, "one having power and authority over others: a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due."

 

I suspect some analogy can be drawn to the dynamics of employment. I am to serve my boss. However, if I am unhappy in any way, I can just quit. Possibly a better example would be my military experience. I was to obey those in command over me. Failure to do so would result in something painful.

 

My relationship with Jesus Christ is somewhat different. There are multiple aspects in relating to him. He is my Savior. He died for me that I might have an opportunity to become a part of his family. Having responded to his invitation I have all of his love and acceptance. He has become my advocate with our Heavenly Father. However, as James, he is my Lord as well - someone to be obeyed. In fact, my response to the gospel message required my acknowledgment of his "lordship" in my life. Paul put it this way, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9.

 

I find Jesus Christ a fitting Lord, someone worthy of my every purpose to obey. (I cast that way as I certainly can't claim to have been a very good servant over the years.) Perfect in character and nature, accomplished in manifesting the greatest of love, I can't think of a single reason not to embrace Jesus Christ willingly and enthusiastically as James does: my Lord!

 

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: To experience God is to love God.

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

 

"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."

 

God rewards "those who love him". God, who is poised to draw near to anyone who will draw near to him, James 4:8, who opens wide his arms to all who will respond to his call, his invitation to join his family, John 1:12, has promised the "crown of life" to those who respond to him. Those who respond to him find God to be an object of love and affection beyond any other.

 

Of those who claim to know God, there are those who truly love God, and there are many others. I suspect there are many who view God as a moral task master, the one to whom all are to obey... and it seems to just stop there. On the other hand, I suspect there are many who view God as an errand boy, the one to go to for the goodies in life, the job, the promotion, the spouse, the house and car, etc... and it seems to just stop there. I also suspect there are many who view God as one who provides opportunity to engage in religious activities, in whose name the vestments are donned, the candles are lit, the liturgy recited... and it seems to just stop there. There are many who view God as one to pursue as an academic exercise, to study, to develop "theology" around... and it seems to just stop there. Over the ages many have viewed God as one to be used to gain political power, position and influence.

 

James tells us those who truly love God receive this "crown of life", eternal life. Paul tells us those who love God have been predestined to become like Jesus Christ, conformed to his likeness, Romans 8:28-29. In this passage, as James does in his letter, Paul points to the difficulties in life as opportunities God uses for the good of those who love him: "trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword".

 

It is those who love God that receive so much from him. John tells us, "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him." 1 John 4:16b-17.

 

John goes on to say, "We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19. Those who have received him and have become a member of his family, John 1:12, have experienced this love and it has a way of permeating our entire being. The love of God is an astonishing thing like nothing else we encounter in this life. It is life-changing, life-altering. To know God is to love him.

 

This world holds nothing as attractive, as winsome, as fulfilling, as loving... as our 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: An intense love.

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."

 

Think of the posture God has taken toward us -- that if we reach out to him, we find him reaching out to us! The Creator of all that exists, the One against whom mankind has sinned and rebelled, rejected and spurned, this One awaits us with open arms if we but turn to him!

 

We read in Isaiah of this posture of God, "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations— a people who continually provoke me to my very face..." Isaiah 65:1-3.

 

What kind of love is this? How is it our God has such a love in his heart that he should send his Son to die a miserable death that we might escape his judgment and have a place at his table? A love that expresses his desire to spend an eternity within the midst of those that turn to him! There are many things of God that remain a mystery, but the greatest mystery to me of all is this love God has for man, a love of such an intensity that within it we find a kindness, a compassion, forgiveness and favor.

 

This is a love brimming with intensity. Not a whim, not a dabbling of affection, but a rich, deep-seated love that moves God to open his arms wide. In his prayer Paul acknowledges that for us to begin to conceive the full dimension of this love our Lord has for us is life changing, life altering. "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19.

 

How wonderful this love of God for us! "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.

 

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 great divine collaboration with man!

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,

 

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

 

James here speaks of a maturity, a completeness that all believers should grow into. The trials and testing of our faith have design with purpose to bring this maturity to our lives. We all have need of this maturing process. The trials that come our way are intentional, as we learn from Jesus' letter to the  Laodicean church "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." The writer of Hebrews points out, "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness." Hebrews 12:10.

 

In another place the writer of Hebrews points to a maturing process that should accompany the life of the believer. He says the believer plays a prominent part in this process, "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:13-14. Here we are told that together with the trials and testing of our faith, our efforts at putting into practice the "teaching about righteousness" is something that brings maturity to our lives. God does his part and we are to do ours.

 

As opposed to those who view believers as being solely puppets animated by God, I see in the pages of Scripture a wonderful collaboration between himself and the believer that God has instituted. God provides the tools and the believer is to do his part. As the writer of Hebrews goes on to say from the earlier passage, "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity..." We are to do our part.

 

Here are some examples of this collaboration that come to my mind:

 

God provided his Son as a sacrifice of atonement for our sin and offers us forgiveness through his call in the gospel, "God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." Romans 3:25. We are to do our part by embracing him in faith. "We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20. "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure." 2 Peter 1:10.

 

God provides us the Scriptures, "men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:21. James tells us to do what it says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22.

 

God insures we are not tempted beyond what we can bear, "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.", 1 Corinthians 10:13. We are to do our part, "So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." 2 Peter 3:14.

 

God has sent his Holy Spirit to dwell within us, "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-15. We are to do our part by yielding to the Holy Spirit, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25.

 

A divine collaboration by God's design! God initiates and does his part and we are to do ours!

 

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: Repentance.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:21,

 

"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."

 

We all have a choice to make. We can continue to live in sin or we can turn and "humbly accept the word planted in you..." This word planted that James speaks of refers back to verse 18, "the word of truth", the message that can save us, the gospel. God offers us an invitation to his family, a family whose head has a different nature than ours. As such we must take on the characteristics of the family.

 

James is not telling us we have to stop sinning in order to be saved, in order to be born into God's family. That is the mindset the Jews of his day were caught up in and which we still see plenty of today within the church. We cannot work our way into heaven by being good enough. Only One was good enough and Jesus Christ's right-standing with our Heavenly Father is what he shares with us when we embrace him in faith.

 

In order to have any success over the sin in our lives, we need to receive those things from God that are only available to us as members of his family. The indwelling Holy Spirit provides us what we need for battle with that sinful nature we all struggle with. Only when we become a part of God's family do we receive the Holy Spirit and become enabled to succeed over the sin that is so prevalent in our lives.

 

This is why James tells us to turn from "all the moral filth and evil that is so prevalent" and respond to the gospel message. Turning to God, responding to the gospel, "the word of truth" is a turn from sin and evil. Responding to the gospel is the first step in turning from sin. It brings us into the family of God and provides us the tools for a new life with a new nature.

 

Here is how Jesus described the choice we are all confronted with, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

 

The choice of continuing in sin is a rejection of the gospel and a manifestation of not having been born into God's family. However, God has provided us a way through his Son, Jesus Christ. He invites us to his family, and if we are willing to turn from our old nature to embrace him and trust him, he opens his loving arms and embraces us as his very 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: Perseverance - the mark of salvation.

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."

 

James tells us the person who perseveres through the trials and difficulties that come are those who receive "the crown of life", that is, eternal life. He is not telling us we earn eternal life by muscling our way through the difficulties in life, but that our perseverance through those trials manifest we have eternal life as a possession. When I gave my life to the Lord, there were no physical indications I became saved. My hair and beard didn't turn white like Moses in the movie "The Ten Commandments", I didn't develop a visible halo over my head or begin to exude some form of supernatural aura. Chakra colors of well being and "balance" didn't magically appear and my apparel didn't suddenly transform into the latest fashion statement of the TV evangelists.

 

I can say that I felt a dramatic and intimate moving of the Holy Spirit within my body when I responded to the gospel message. Years later, a friend's wife described it perfectly as though it was like being hugged in love by God himself. Yet, feelings can be deceiving. We can be deceiving. Not only to others but to ourselves as well. One of the true marks of a believer is perseverance.

 

Why is perseverance a manifestation of salvation pointed to by the New Testament writers? Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, "He [Jesus Christ] 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." When we embrace Jesus Christ in faith, we become a part of his family. As such we will never be lost from his family. While we await his return, Jesus Christ himself keeps us strong until we arrive safely in the resurrection. Paul reassures us of this as it is based upon the faithfulness of God himself, "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

 

In John 10:27-30 Jesus says, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." When we become a part of Jesus' flock, we will never be lost. He is the faithful Shepherd. Although many may claim to have become a part of the family of God for a variety of reasons, John tells us how we can know: perseverance. "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." 1 John 2:19.

 

The writer of Hebrews speaks to this mark of a believer, "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." Hebrews 3:14. This is one of the true marks of a believer: believers persist and persevere.

 

I join with Jude in his wonderful doxology that touches on this: "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."

 

Even as a believer, I cannot keep myself from falling. But God can. And he does!

 

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

Worship for Today: God's desire for our lives.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:20,

 

"Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."

 

God has a "righteous life" that he desires for us and from us. James tells us in this verse we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" as a part of what that life looks like. He says our anger doesn't bring about that "righteous life", living our lives in a manner that he desires for us. James goes on to say that this life God desires for us should prompt us to "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." James 1:21.

 

The importance of this desire God has for us is illustrated in a comment that Paul makes, a comment that is both striking and far-reaching. In Romans 8:29, he says that God decided before hand that all who love the Lord, who have been invited into his family (all who embrace the Lord in faith), will grow into this righteous life that God desires. He says, "Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." God has determined that we "morph" or conform into the likeness of Jesus Christ himself!

 

God is not passive in this process. He is very engaged in each of our lives to bring about this very thing. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5b-11.

 

As it may be a painful process, it nevertheless brings about this "righteous life that God desires". God's desires are never thwarted, but are always fulfilled. The beauty of this process is found in the beauty of God's character that is reflected in this new life God grows us into. Paul describes it in Galatians 5:22-23, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

 

As this "righteous life that God desires" is a reflection of his very own nature, we find it to be the very things we yearn for as well. Having lived our lives enslaved to a sinful nature that prompted anger, immorality, hatred, envy, jealousy, etc. we were never able to find that which leads to a life of fulfillment, purposefulness, happiness and joy. It is these very things God desires for us, no matter the effort to drag us kicking and screaming into it.

 

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: Saved by God's invitation!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:18,

 

"He [the Father of the heavenly lights] chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."

 

As James wrote his letter, one the first of the New Testament writings, he points out that God has begun to populate his kingdom. Those who had received the new birth have become a "kind of first fruits" in the harvest of all that God had created. The Jewish celebration of Shavout or Pentecost was a celebration of the first fruits of the harvest. Here James likens the early believers as the "firstfruits" of God's harvest, being harvested through "the word of truth".

 

What captures my eye this morning is that James points out God chose to harvest his kingdom through "the word of truth", a reference to the gospel message. A lot of folks have a lot of notions as to what they think about how God reaches out to mankind. The New Testament writers have made it simple and clear. God has provided a message of good news, the "gospel" that he wants taken to all in the world. Paul finds this message to be both precious and powerful: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" Romans 1:16-17.

 

So impressed with the gospel message God has crafted, Paul later points out: "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 11:17. It is the gospel message itself that is the grounds upon which our faith in Jesus Christ originates. It provides the opportunity, the context, for that type of faith Abraham embraced God with that has become our model, Romans 4.

 

God chose to give us a message of invitation to his family. This message cuts through all of the intellectual arguments people arm themselves with. It is a message that pierces the heart and strikes the conscience. It cuts right past all the religious nonsense and do-gooder-ism. It has the ability to awaken the soul of the most depraved among us. The simple message of the gospel is that I am a sinner and Jesus Christ, God's Son, died to pay the penalty for my sin. I will be forgiven it all if I but trust in him. Jesus Christ arose from the dead to prove to mankind the veracity of the gospel message and when I accept this, I enter into God's family. It is just that simple.

 

"'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'" Romans 10:8-11.

 

How wonderful God has chosen to give us rebirth through the invitation of the gospel!

 

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: Excitement in this fading life!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:11,

 

"For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed."

 

James makes this observation about rich people. They should not take pride in the "high position" they have in this life as this life is going to fade away. The rich man will "pass away like a wild flower".

 

The reality is, of course, if we live long enough, we will all wither away in this life. This life is temporary, and in the scheme of things really is very short. When I was young, I felt that a life span of 60, 70 or 80 years was an eternity. Now that I'm in my 60's I realize how short a life span really is. The picture James paints for us, "the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant, its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed" is true not just for the rich folks, the people in Jame's cross-hairs, but for all of us. The destruction of beauty in my life is certainly not something I've lost any sleep over, no danger there for me. Nevertheless, like everyone else who has reached the prime of life, I look forward to the fading sunset of life as it winds down for me, as this life "withers the plant." 

 

While this could be a very discouraging reality to face for many, for me it is a reminder that beyond the door of death awaits resurrection! All God intended for us for an eternity is waiting for all who trust in the Lord! Fullness of life, purposefulness in living life to the fullest, the hindrance of the sinful nature, its consequences, its ugliness and judgment, all left behind! Beauty, rapture in the immediacy of the Lord in our midst, eternal pleasures at his right hand (Psalm 16:11) will all be ours as we leave this life of a sinful world at enmity with God struggling under his judgment.

 

As my life under this sun fades like a wild flower, the excitement of all that will be ours in the resurrection springs from the hope that is ours: our certain eternal life that awaits us!

 

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 without finding fault!

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,

 

"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 tells us that God gives to us without finding fault. It brings to my mind what God told Moses about himself on Mt. Sinai, "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." Exodus 34:6-7.

 

I don't know about you, but I do know about me. I have a lot of faults. The Lord doesn't have to look hard to find plenty with me. And, yet, here we are told that he gives to us without finding fault. And as he told Moses, he is compassionate and gracious. He forgives wickedness, rebellion and sin. James tells us this loving and merciful God should be approached if we need something like wisdom (something I find I need plenty of dependence upon God for), because he gives without finding fault. I'm afraid that if whatever God gave was based on finding no fault within us, I would be in the hapless position of never being able to receive anything from him. God simply doesn't look for faults when it comes to those who have believed in him! How wonderful God gives without finding fault!

 

But this isn't all God had to say about himself on Mt. Sinai. In the form of a riddle (at least it is a riddle with me...) God goes on to say, "Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished..." Exodus 34:7. It is here that I recognize that our holy and righteous God will not allow his justice to be thwarted. All sin will be paid for, but in a way that he can forgive us our faults, our sins. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ to die a miserable death on a cross so that I might receive the greatest gift of all from God: eternal life! He laid the penalty for our faults on the Son of his love.

 

James tells us that if we are to receive anything from God we must believe in him, James 1:6. Faith in God brings the gifts, the blessings of God. Eternal life certainly being the crowning glory of the gifts he gives. Wisdom, his Holy Spirit, life within his family... all are ours through belief in God.

 

To me it is astonishing and breathtaking to think of!

 

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