James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
2 Count it all joy,
my brothers,
when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Creation... waits.
With longing for the sons of men. Jesus is Son of Man.
When we are not afraid of loss, of hurt, of ruin. We are more open. We find Joy.
Verse 9
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
The lowly brother has had to find more than the world offers to find Joy. Church missionaries to 3rd World nations report joy in finding other meanings in life. He is exalted to find Joy.
The humiliation of the rich - we might enjoy that. But instead humility draws God. Not pride.
James 3
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Jesus says Salvation is a work of a camel going through the eye of a needle. Rather impossible, and easy for God.
Mark 10
42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
We are supposed to trust God so much, we find Joy like Paul did. In all circumstances and not need to draw up a wall of self-righteousness, a wall of works, a wall of needed security to form happiness. Not in being partial. The Perfect Law of Liberty. Jesus said He is giving us a New earth. And the jaded, sophisticated, moneyed, society Roman Empire met new Believer Jews of Jesus.
The first Century did not encounter regular society. They found Hope, Love, Faith, Joy. The Joy Jesus says He finds as God. Proverbs 8 Jesus enjoys and delights in mankind. John 14, 15, 16 Jesus finds Joy. The people trusted God for their needs and did not worry as much.
Finding as we worry in life, God's Plan will be done. Expecting His Plan is Good. Meeting God with sincerity.
Why? Why should we help God? This world is filled with halves. And is imperfect. Causing some to shake their fists and say God is flawed - forget this. This world is a glimpse of the next. How do we know? There are people in the last 10 years who have been dead so long their flesh turned black and all of their body became rigor mortis. And they return from even the beginning of organ donor harvest to tell of a Miracle of Life.
Why should we help God? Having the Joy of Heaven and of God spill over into this life. Presenting our brain to God? Instead, presenting our soul to God. The essence of life, memory, determination of choice, where our Life is. And where we invite God to dwell with us.
Abba,
In this faith we work in all circumstances to find Love, Joy, Peace, forbearance, faith, encouragement, hope, Faith.
Thank You, Father, for the Widow of Nain, the miraculous sign of Life for her son. God is still working and we can believe and trust Jesus with the ones we love. And as we do this, we believe God has all of life, all of this Nation, all of the world in His hands. What gift will we give You, Father, that You have not given us? Thanksgiving. Jesus is God. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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