Hurry Up and Listen

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

A man went to sleep early in the worship service at his church. The pastor read his sermon text while the people stood in reverence to God’s word. When the pastor finished reading he called on the sleeping saint to pray, not realizing he was asleep. Opening his eyes suddenly upon hearing his name and seeing everyone around him standing, he stood and prayed the benediction and dismissed the congregation.

Peter is an excellent example of a person who was ready to speak even when he did not know what to say. On the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus was transfigured and Moses and Elijah appeared, Peter said “It’s good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles: one for thee, one for Moses and one for Elijah,” Not knowing what to say.

We are to be slow to wrath. The Bible says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” (Proverbs 15:1) I have seen grown men and women “blow-up” like spoiled children if things did not go to suit them at a Baptist business meeting. They needed to have remembered James’ words in our text about the wrath of man not working the righteousness of God.

Whosoever Will

“Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” (James 1:18)

Two very true and very Biblical doctrines are the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. In my studies in the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians a writer sees both doctrines coming together when a lost sinner approaches the door to salvation over which is written the words, “…whosoever will may come.” He hesitates, wrestles with his decision and finally comes through the door, repenting of his sins, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. His burden is lifted. He is saved. Then he looks back over the door and from this side he sees over the door the words, “…Chosen in Him before the Foundation of the World.”

God initiates the New Birth experience through His word, as Peter tells us in his first epistle, we are “…born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” (I Peter 1:23) He uses the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, the testimonies of other believers and the message of evangelistic preaching. But He does not force salvation on anyone. It still remains, “Whosever Will.”

Remember that James is writing to persecuted, scattered believers, people who were saved as a result of God taking the initiative to begin the process of their salvation.

Receive the Perfect Gift from the Perfect Giver

“Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:16-17)

Though his readers of that day were scattered far and wide James considers them “brothers,” and a part of the family of God. We are cautioned elsewhere in the Bible to not be deceived. In the last days deceivers will be worse and worse.

Don’t be deceived. Every good and perfect give comes from God. Satan offers nothing good. None of the world’s religions have anything of eternal value to offer. (Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.) God alone offers good and perfect gifts. Only through Christ Jesus, the Son of God does one receive the gift of eternal life.

In God there is no variableness or shadow of turning. He is always the same. Jeremiah the prophet said, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are no consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) He is faithful, changeless immutable and “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

He, who is changeless, offers the gift of eternal life to all who will receive it.

Avoid Satan’s Web

“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)

Because our lust, when not under the control of the Lord Jesus, is so powerful, we easily and readily yield to temptation. Lust conceives and the embryo is sin. The child of sin is death.

Adam and Eve found out that what God says is true and he never lies. All too many people today trifle with temptation, thinking it’s not a problem for them. They keep one eye open toward the temptation they ask not to be led into.

They are like a grasshopper who sticks one foot out to test a spider’s web. With that foot caught, he sticks out another to try to extract the first one. Now, two feet are caught, then a third and a fourth are caught. Then the spider comes down and wraps the poor grasshopper in his sticky web and starts to enjoy a meal of fresh grasshopper.

Don’t let Satan entrap and enslave you. Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and be free from the devil.

Yield Not to Temptation

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” (James 1:14)

An old fish swims lazily along looking for a morsel of food - a cricket, a frog or a worm. He knows good food when he sees it and he knows good food will satisfy his hunger. A fisherman dangles an artificial minnow or other delectable looking bait in front of the hungry fish. The fish’s legitimate hunger overcomes him and he opens his mouth and swallows. He’s caught and will be in someone’s frying pan before nightfall.

God has made mankind with appetites and desires which are legitimate and not sinful if used in the way God intended, for man’s well-being. The problem comes when Satan dangles the bait in front of us and our appetite gets the best of us, as he uses it to destroy us.

Eve saw the tree in the garden that it “…was good for food, pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise and she took of the fruit…” (Genesis 3:6) Satan introduced his temptation by getting Eve to question God’s Word. Adam and Eve were like two fish being lured by something that looked good but would destroy them.

God has given us prohibitions and guidelines, not to make us miserable and unhappy, but to make us have a good life on the planet He has given us to enjoy.

Lead Us Not into Temptation

“Let no man say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted of God:’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man…” (James 1:13)

The use of the word “temptation” in James 1:1-12 is speaking of being tested or tried. James changes the subject from temptation as testing under trial to the temptation which is solicitation to do evil.  There is no contradiction in these verses. In Genesis 22:1 we read, “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham…” We understand that the word “tempt” here in Genesis means to test or try. Then in Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was tempted or solicited of the devil to do evil.

The devil is called “the tempter.” It is the devil who tempts us to do evil and commit all sorts of sins and wickedness. The devil knows how to arouse our fleshly appetites and present sin in an attractive package. God is not the author of temptation and evil. God gives victory over temptation and sin. Yield your body, your mind and your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Keep on Keeping On

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” (James 1:12)

Much of what is called shallow Christianity can be attributed to the successful retreat from testing and the running from trials which believers often face.

James is ending this section on testing under trials to tell us that it is a blessing to endure trials. When one is tested and remains faithful he will receive the “Crown of Life,” which is one of the believer’s rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The “Crown of Life” is mentioned again in Revelation 2:10. It is the Martyr’s crown, also called the “Victor’s Crown,” for the person who stands firm under adversity. It is not to be confused with salvation, which is a gift from God. The “Crown of Life” is a reward. Rewards are earned and are in the future tense. Salvation is free and is in the present tense, that is, it is given immediately upon one’s repentance and faith in Christ Jesus.

Fellow believer: Don’t give up, and don’t quit. “…be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

Fading, Failing Fortunes

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” (James 1:11)

It is not a sign of righteousness to be poor nor is it a sign of sinfulness to be rich. The Bible says a few words about that in I Timothy 6:5-8. “…supposing that gain is godliness…But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

In my mind I see grass sprouting up in the cracks in the sidewalk. When the hot summer sun gets overhead the grass withers and dies.

Jesus said, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

True Riches

“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.” (James 1:9-10)

From its beginning Christianity has attracted fishermen, farmers, tent makers, carpenters, miners and slaves. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. The rich and poor meet together in the worship and praise of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that we who are indwelt by Christ Jesus have fellowship together in Christ. First we have a vertical fellowship with Christ. Then we can have a horizontal fellowship with one another. It is Jesus who levels the ground where we stand.

The Rich Young Ruler went away sorrowfully from Jesus because he would not part with his riches to feed the poor. His problem was not with the poor but with Jesus, “who though He was rich yet for our sakes he became poor, that ye through His poverty might be made rich.”(II Corinthians 8:9)  Have you received the True Riches?

Our Greatest Resource

“For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:7-8)

In the Bible God encourages us that when we lack wisdom we are to ask of God in faith, without doubting or wavering. The person who lacks faith need not expect anything from God when he prays. We have all heard disinterested praying, or have practiced it ourselves. A pretended prayer, with a pretended life is hypocrisy.

A.T. Robertson wrote in his, Studies in the Epistle of James, “What a commentary is this sentence upon the half-hearted praying, the lack of interest, the worldly-minded passive worship of many modern Christians. There is no wrestling with God in prayer for victory.”

It is no wonder that Prayer Meeting, the most needed of all church services, is the least attended of any.  Prayer is the greatest resource available to churches and individuals. It is also the most neglected of all our resources. We must learn to pray in faith.

Prayer: Asking in Faith

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” (James 1:6)

God, through His servant James, told His readers that if they lacked wisdom they should ask God. Now He tells us to ask in faith. The Bible reminds us that, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)

To “waver” is to vacillate, to be indecisive, unsure or unsettled. It is like the man who died of a treatable disease because he never could make a choice between two physicians. The wavering person is like a wave on the sea, first going toward shore and then back toward the open sea.

When we lack wisdom we must ask God in faith, settled on our request and believing He will honor our legitimate request for wisdom.

If You Lack Wisdom

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”(James 1:5)

God is the greatest source of wisdom in the entire universe. His well of wisdom never runs dry. That is why James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us that if we lack wisdom we should ask God.

When Solomon, son of King David, assumed the role of king following David’s death, God said for Solomon to ask what you will and I will give it to you. Solomon asked for wisdom to be able to lead the people. God abundantly granted his request. In one of his proverbs Solomon wrote, “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” (Proverbs 8:11)

Are you facing a huge decision and you’re not sure what direction you need to take? Ask God for wisdom. The next verse instructs us to ask in faith. When you ask God in faith for wisdom you can be sure His answer will not be in violation of His Holy Word. Acquaint yourself with God’s Word on the subject of your decision and trust Him to give you the right answer.

The Value of Trials

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:4)

The bible says, “You have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:36)  Most of us have heard the so called prayer, “Lord, give me patience and give it to me right now.”

Yesterday in our devotion we read that the trying of one’s faith works patience. The natural tendency is to try to run from trials and escape them. However, our text says that the resulting patience from our trials and tests will make us complete and lacking nothing.

Sometimes God sends the trial. Other times He allows the trial to come, as in the case of Job when the devil let loose his venomous attack on a righteous man. Job came through his trial a better man than when it all began. God uses trials to mature His people. He is not trying to destroy us; rather He is making us stronger.

Tempted and Tried

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:2-3)

The word, “temptation” is used in two senses in the epistle of James. There is the solicitation to do evil as Satan tempted Eve in the Garden.  The other is testing under trial, as in our text.

“Divers” temptations are multitudes of ways God’s people are tested and tried. We see it in the words of the song, “Farther Along.”

Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder,

Why it should be thus all the day long

While there are others living about us,

Never molested though in the wrong.

We are to count it joy when our faith is tested because we come through on the other side of the trial a better person. Peter says in his first epistle that the trial of our faith is more precious than gold which is tried by fire. (I Peter 1:7)   The more heat gold endures the purer gold becomes.

Trust the Lord to see you through your time of testing. Job said, “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Persecution Won't Put Out the Fire

"To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad..."(James 1:1)

Persecution against the Christian community may scatter the saints but it will not silence their voice. They will be like scattered embers from a burning brush pile; the more you try to put out the fire the farther it spreads.  

When Stephen was martyred the Bible says, “And at that time there was great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad.  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word." (Acts 8:1, 4)

Co-existence with the world will silence a church's witness or an individual believer's witness far more quickly than persecution against the church by unbelievers.  First century persecution against the Lord's churches was like fanning the fire and many more churches came into existence as a result.

Someone Must Teach the Scattered Flock

“James…to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” (James 1:1)

James had no particular local church in mind when he wrote this epistle. This was not an “Ephesian,” “Colossian” or “Thessalonian” letter. It was a letter to Jewish Christians who had been scattered abroad without a local church to nourish, train, guide and correct them.

There were Jews living in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2. There were other Jews who had come to Jerusalem for Pentecost, a celebration fifty days after Passover. It would also be fifty days after Christ’s crucifixion. Many of the Jewish residents plus the visitors who had come for the feast, believed the message of the Gospel spoken in their own tongues by the hundred and twenty Christian disciples and were filled with the Holy Spirit.

As a result of their new faith some of the Jewish residents were forced from Jerusalem. The visitors, with only a smattering of understanding of the Gospel message and not knowing what to do next, went on their way back home. Many of them were persecuted for their faith. They were scattered abroad.

It is to all the Jewish believers, the twelve tribes scattered abroad, that James is writing. If you are a Christian the message in the epistle of James is for you as well as them. Perhaps for some reason you cannot get to an assembly of God’s people where the Bible is clearly preached and taught. Reading and studying this epistle will help you.

James, a Servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ

“James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” (James 1:1)

I believe the man who wrote this epistle which bears the name James was one of the half brothers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus the older brother had four half brothers and at least two half sisters. We know that the Bible says that none of the four half brothers of Jesus believed in Him, according to John 7:1-5)

In our text James calls himself, “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” He goes from doubting and belittling Jesus to being a servant. So what made the difference?  First, I believe Jesus’ death on the cross and the resurrection made a difference. The Lord showed Himself to James after the resurrection. (I Corinthians 15:7)  Second, James and our Lord’s half brothers were with James and the one-hundred and twenty in the upper room on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came and filled all of them. James was changed from a doubter to a believer. That’s the difference the Gospel makes in a life.

Not boasting that he was Jesus’ half brother and not boasting that he knew Jesus well, he saw himself as a servant of the Lord. James would not call attention to himself.

Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:8)

What are you confident about? We cannot be confident that we shall see another sun-rise or another sunset. We may have the best retirement program available to man but we cannot be confident that we will have enough money to bury us when the time comes.

If we are Christians we can be confident that when we die, be it tonight, tomorrow or next week, the moment we leave this body we will be present with the Lord. Paul expressed in another epistle that he had a desire to depart and to be with Christ. (Philippians 1:23)

When we leave this old house of clay we don’t just float around in some middle-of-the-air existence. We go into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our faith becomes sight. When Stephen, the first Christian martyr was dying, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Then he said, "Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." He prayed and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:55-59) There is no better place to be than in the presence of our Savior. You can be confident of that fact.

Love One Another

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)

I remember from childhood a song that said, “Help somebody today, somebody along life’s way: let sorrows be ended, the friendless be friended; oh, help somebody today.” There are more opportunities to help others than we take advantage of.

We are instructed to do good to all men, but notice, especially other believers. I have heard it said, “Charity begins at home.” Church members must express love and concern for each other first and then let it continue over into the world. If those of the household of faith do not love one another the world will doubt the sincerity of our expressions of love for all men. The first century historian, Flavius Josephus, said this concerning the Christians of that day, “How they loved one another.”

No Better Time Than Now

“And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, ‘Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.’” (Acts 24:25)

Felix, the procurator of Judea, often called the governor, was hearing the charges brought by the Jews against Paul. When Felix heard Paul’s message he trembled with conviction.

He would not be the last person who would tremble under the conviction of the Holy Spirit when under the sound of the Word of God. I have seen hardened sinners weep with conviction for their sins.

But, even though Felix trembled there is no record in the Bible of his becoming a Christian. “When I can find the time,” is the way it is translated in some Bibles. Apparently a convenient season never presented itself. How sad that someone knows what to do to be saved from a Christ-less eternity but puts it off until it is too late.

The Bible says that today is the day of salvation. If you have not received Christ as your Savior I encourage you to take care of it now, even as you read these lines.

Don’t Give the Devil a Foot-hold

“…Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:27)

The devil will take all of you that you will give him but will not be satisfied until you give him a little more. He will convince you that one lustful glance will not hurt anything.  Then he will convince you that a longer look will be alright. Being dissatisfied that you only looked he will convince you that a phone call or secret meeting will not hurt anything. He is very subtle.

The devil will convince you that one little step off the Godly path will do no harm. How far from the devil’s desire must one live to avoid his snares, his grip and the ruin of one’s life and testimony? It has been said, “Give the devil an inch and he will be your ruler.”

To avoid the devil’s ensnarement of your life walk close to God. Pray. Read and study God’s Word. Be obedient to the Lord. The closer you walk with the Lord the harder it is for Satan to take control. Never give place to the devil.

Anchor Your Faith in Christ Jesus

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26)

Sometimes we need to examine a verse of scripture to see what it is not saying as much as seeing what it is saying.

This verse is not saying everyone is a child of God. Everyone is a part of God’s creation, but not everyone is a child of God. To become a child of God one must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be born again as our Lord told Nicodemus in John chapter three.

This verse is not saying that everyone is a child of God by faith. It is by faith in Christ Jesus that we are the children of God. It is important that one’s faith be anchored in Christ Jesus. Some people simply have “faith in faith.” They think that just believing something, just anything, as long as one is sincere, is sufficient.

It is not written to non-believers. The word “all” refers back to chapter one, verse two where the writer says, “unto all the churches of Galatia.” (Galatians 1:2) it was written to people whose faith is in Jesus Christ. Is your faith anchored in Christ Jesus?

Walk by Faith

“… For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  (II Corinthians 5:7)

We think of walking as taking one step at a time, placing one foot in front of the other as we move forward. Sometimes we may find ourselves on paths we have never traveled before. We do not know what is around the next bend or over the next hill. We just keep walking until we reach our destination.

That’s the way the Christian life is. We have never seen Jesus but we take the first step with Him by faith, trusting Him for eternal life. We take the first baby steps of faith, following Him in baptism and church membership and then enlisting in His service. We keep walking, one step at a time, trusting Him to guide us each step of the way. We don’t know what the future holds but we know who holds the future.

Every Day with Jesus

“…though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”  (II Corinthians 4:16)

A gentleman I have known for more than seventy years jokingly told me that it frightens him to look in a mirror because of that wrinkled old man looking back at him. He said he refuses to wear a short sleeved shirt outside the house where someone may see him.

Remember that this epistle was written to Christians. For all of us, saved and lost alike, the outward man is perishing, being afflicted with old age, cancer, heart disease and all sorts of diseases.

On the other hand, when I think of the inward man being renewed every day I think of the little chorus we sang as children: “Every day with Jesus, is sweeter than the day before; every day with Jesus, I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me and He’s the one I’m living for; every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.”

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (II Corinthians 4:7)

Some of the most amazing and valuable archeological treasures ever discovered are the Dead Sea Scrolls. They were discovered between 1946 and 1956 in eleven caves along the northwest shore of the Dead Sea near Qumran. The scrolls were over 800 bits and pieces of scripture, the largest from the book of Isaiah. They had been preserved for hundreds of years in clay pots and vases, just plain ordinary breakable, earthen vessels.

In our text the Bible tells us that the treasure of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is in us, just plain ordinary, breakable, broken, non-glamorous, earthen vessels. If there is any glory or excellency, let it go to God and not to us. Give all the praise and glory to God.

The Only Cure

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. (I Corinthians 2:2)

When the Apostle Paul arrived in the city of Corinth he discovered idolatry, theft, adultery, drunkenness, lying, homosexuality, extortion, covetousness and all sorts of other sins. When he wrote back to the church in Corinth which was made up of people converted from such lifestyles, he said, “…and such were (emphasis mine) some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11)  Their lives had been changed by the Gospel of Christ.

He indicated in our text that the only cure for their sin-sickness was the crucified Christ. That was the subject of the apostle’s preaching and teaching in Corinth.

The crucified Christ is the only cure for a sin-sick world. May our pulpits in America and around the world be flaming hot, as in decades gone by, with the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rejoice in the Day Which God Has Made

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  (Psalm 118:24)

Don’t judge a day by the weather we have that day. Some days it’s cloudy, drizzling rain, windy, a chill is in the air and snow is in the forecast. “What a miserable day,” we complain.

There is more to a day than just the weather. Is there nothing good in that day about which we can rejoice? God is still on His throne, He is still walking with us, His promises are still true and just on the other side of the clouds the sun is brightly shining. My home He has prepared for me in heaven is still ready when I get there.

There has never been a day when God’s invitation to come and talk with Him in prayer was not in effect. He invites us to come, talk to Him about the day. He will be glad to hear from you on this day which He has made.

Removing the Guilt

“He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

The unbeliever’s unbelief is his greatest and most damning condemnation. It is his ticket into hell. The person with faith in the Son of God is not condemned, is not judged guilty. The unbeliever does not need to wait for the verdict of the Judge to be handed down. He is already condemned because of his unbelief.

The good news is that by simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross and in the tomb removes all guilt and condemnation. Believe the Good News, trust Jesus and be saved.

No Condemnation

“For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)

In John 3:16, the verse just preceding our text, Jesus had told Nicodemus of God’s great love for mankind. Now the Savior is telling us that Jesus’ purpose in coming was to save, not to condemn. Man is already a condemned, guilty sinner. Jesus’ purpose was to rescue man from his condemned state, not add more condemnation.

The next verse, which we will examine tomorrow, tells us that those whose lives have never been changed by Christ are already under condemnation.

I heard someone say, “I’m not what I ought to be, and I’m not what I wanna be, and I’m not what I’m gonna be, but praise God, I’m not what I used to be.”

Lovers of Darkness

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

The nature of a common household pest, the German Roach, is to hide in dark, obscure places such as behind kitchen drawers, in the area up under the counter top. They love darkness. If you pull out a kitchen drawer and shine a light in that dark area, if there are German Roaches present, you will see them scurry away looking for another dark place to hide. It is their nature to love darkness and hate light.

It is the nature of mankind without Christ Jesus to love darkness rather than light. They can’t stand the search light of God’s Word to be directed toward them. The light of Jesus or the reflected light of a Christian is more than they can stand.

Man without Christ is under the condemnation of the Word of God, the Law of God and the Holy Spirit until he allows Christ to come in and change his nature from a lover of darkness to a lover of light.

If My People…

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”(II Chronicles 7:14)

Occasionally God must remind us that we are drifting away from Him and His ways and warn us of the consequences of such drifting.

Solomon had just finished his prayer of dedication after the temple at Jerusalem was finished. In his prayer Solomon mentioned some of the things that might go wrong if the people drifted away from God. God responded with this verse we are using as our text.

What God said to Solomon and to the people through Solomon He says to us. We must practice humility, prayer, seek God’s face (His favor), and repent of our sins.

From what I am observing in the news, on Facebook, in religion and politics, our nation - not to mention the nations of the world - is dangerously close to the precipice of destruction. Don’t think of me as an alarmist, but rather as a realist. Warnings abound. We must heed them.