James letter to Jesus disciples in his day can overwhelm me given all the things we are called to “DO” to reflect God’s LOVE in the world. That “DO” must be sourced from the outward flowing of God’s vessels of Living Water. James reminds us that the inward condition of being recipients of God’s Grace and Mercy for salvation does have a CALL TO ACTION for the Jesus follower. In this reading I’m reminded of the posture/response to take when struggling deeply (in trials) James calls us to respond with joy and perseverance. The benefit of this is endurance, that you and I may grow in faith. James is saying we need to bank on this truth. Our heavenly Father is for us and not against us. His goal is to build our character toward the righteous person he already sees.
This process of shaping does not happen once but over and over throughout our lives. Sometimes those sinful behaviors that God helps us dismantle take many ‘visits’ until they are destroyed or have no hold on us.
James gives me/us a strong admonition to work on acting on God’s word in our own life for this shaping process. What I call ‘my specific assignments’. I find zero wiggle room in verses James 1:19-27 to avoid this. Especially when I remember this letter is addressed to those that follow Jesus.
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
It is brilliant that God is shaping and blessing us while demonstrating His presence in the world through care for others when we OBEY His assignments!