Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: James 1-5
James 5:8
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Noah Webster stated: “Every Roman soldier carried seven javelins.” Within the book of James believers in Jesus Christ are given seven weapons to use in our spiritual warfare. Let’s call them “Seven Javelins from James.”
One: Understanding Temptation. 1:1-15
Often God’s children are fearful in the face of temptation largely in part because they do not understand it. Our Father in Heaven desires that we may see temptation from His point of view. His point of view is this: to be put on trial. Every temptation is an opportunity to prove one’s love, faith, and obedience to the Lord God of our salvation.
Two: The Perfect Law of Liberty. 1:16-27
In short, the perfect law of liberty is the Bible, it is the grandest weapon a child of God can carry. This perfect law that brings liberty to the captive came down from God to fallen humans, it changes our behavior, and the true and pure form of religion is only found in it (especially James 1:27).
Three: The Royal Law. 2:1-13
Royal means “Kingly: pertaining to a king; regal; noble; illustrious; magnificent.” Being made kings and priests through faith (Revelation 1:6, 5:10) there are certain laws to be obeyed. Things like respect for all people (1-7) and love of others (8-9), being genuine, not hypocritical (10-12) and showing mercy (13) are all statutes of this Royal Law.
Four: The Wonderful Works of Faith. 2:14-26
Works do not, cannot, save from sin. But once saved from sin a child of God should be careful to maintain good works of faith. For of a certainty, faith without works is dead, but for something to be dead it had to once be alive. The works of faith show forth to the lost and dying world the proof of faith. Their faith is proven by their works.
Five: Wisdom from Above. 3:1-18
This wisdom teaches the soldier for God to control their tongues (1-12), to show forth good words and works (13-16), and is defined as being pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy, full of good works, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (17-18). The fruit of this wisdom is peace.
Six: Submission to God’s Will. 4:1-17
This is where most lose their battles. Think about this, the only action opposed to submission is rebellion. In verses 1-5 we are given the results of lack of submission. This is where too many live. In verses 6-8 there is given the three step progression to this submission; humility (6), submission (7), drawing nigh to Him (8). The only way to draw nigh to Him is through humility and submission to Him. Why? See verses 12-17.
Seven: Stablish Your Heart. 5:1-20
God, through James, gives four areas that believers should fix their hearts on: money (1-7), the Lord’s soon return (8), the ways of God (9-18), and attempts to convert others (19-20).
James gives the reader seven great spiritual weapons to continually use. Once a Roman soldier would throw their Javelin (a little larger than an arrow) they would retrieve it to use again. A child of God would do well to perform the same. These are not “one and done” but rather, these are characteristics of a lifetime of faith in and towards Him.
Dr. William T. Howe
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