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Good morning friends, it’s Saturday May 18 and today we’re reading James chapter 3.
The first verse of this chapter scared me out of the Pastoral ministry for many years. When I thought about the accountability I will face with God for everything I say or write as a ‘teacher’ of God’s Word…oh my!
In the first century “Teacher” was a highly respected profession all across the Roman Empire. Jewish Rabbi’s, Greek philosophers and teachers, those in Roman authority… everywhere across the empire, learned people took every opportunity to gather a crowd and proclaim their ‘wisdom’.
But Jesus had been different. He claimed God’s truth, the only reliable, foundational truth was what He was teaching. No one had ever made that claim before. James had heard Him, often I would imagine, and when he did, James likely shook his head in wonder. That is until the day the Risen Jesus appeared to him, live and in person…then James was convinced it was all true!
I believe James had come to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding a person’s understanding of spiritual truth. Jesus had said “I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me…The Father will send you another Counselor, the Spirit of Truth…if anyone loves Me he will obey My teaching… the Counselor, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things.” (John 14). “When He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13).
And Jesus had said “If you hold to My teaching…you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31,32)
For James, God’s TRUTH was vital, essential to life, especially if you’re going to entrust your life to Jesus. So James makes it clear. If you step forward to teach spiritual things, you’d better be sure you are right, and following the clear leading of the Holy Spirit. And for listeners… don’t be caught napping, listen carefully, and check what is said with God’s Word to assure accuracy.
You’ll notice a sizable part of James 3 is a warning about the power of the tongue. I have no doubt every one of us has been wounded by hurtful words said to us or to others about us. Sadly, the deepest wounding can happen by the tongues of those you love and trust; and whom you think love you. That’s why family tongues and church tongues can be among the most lacerating. James’ challenge to us about the tongue needs no commentary from me, the words he wrote will be anointed by the Holy Spirit and penetrate your heart…as they do mine. Ponder them deeply, don’t rush through them.
Oh there’s so much in this 3rd chapter. May I point out one more powerful verse? It’s this one “Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (3:16). It’s true in family, marriage, business, politics, even among God’s people in the church, isn’t it? I invite us to ponder this one very deeply. How different things would be if we had the ability to see envy and selfish ambition in ourselves and extinguish it before it expressed itself in thoughts, words or choices. That would be pure, God honoring living. Isn’t that what we all long for?
Have a great Saturday friends… get ready…Sunday is coming, yeah!!
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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