James 2

I apologize I am posting this a bit later then I had planned. I did not even go to church today. My sweet little boy is sick with the flu so I have been taking care of him as well as scrubbing bathrooms with bleach. I hope to not come down with this nasty little bug.
I am thankful that our church posts the sermons online so I will be able to listen to today’s service this week. I really missed going today.


Just a warning- My form for posts go as follows:
I read a chapter.
I look at the bible notes in my study bible.
I journal about what comes to mind.

I then copy my thoughts here and post them.Anything in bold with * * around it are taken from the study notes in my bible.

I am not a great writer so a lot of what I say may not make sense.

I am putting myself out there. Bringing my faults at the feet of the Lord so that others can relate and know that you do not have to be *perfect* to be a Christian. I am being real. I ask that you respect me and all others who post on this blog. Thank you.


James 2- Genuine Faith.

James 2:1

My bothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.

*You can not be a Christian simply by affirming the right doctrine or agreeing with biblical facts. You must commit your minds and hearts to Christ.*

This is why I think going to church, worshiping and reading the bible are SO important in spiritual growth. Church fills our minds with knowledge and surrounds us with fellow believers. Worship helps push our hearts toward getting pumped up and excited about Gods love. Reading the bible fills our soul with Christ’s love. The more you read, the more you feel it. As I have read the bible I can feel Christ love within me. Others I have talked to, feel the same way. As you feed your mind and heart, you open yourself up to understanding God. You yearn to please him.

Genuine.
Genu-ine
Adjective.
Of original stock; purebred. Really being what is said to be or coming from alleged source or origin.; not counterfeit or artifical;real;true;authentic;sincere and frank;honest and forthright.


James 2:7

Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong.

*James condemns the act of favoritism. Often we treat a well-dressed, impressive looking person better then someone who looks shabby.*

I read that bible note and had to mull over it for a while. Do I do this? Do I treat more well-off people better then someone who is not as well-off?
Do I?
Do I look at someones shoes or clothes and automatically put them in a category and think differently of them?
Do I really!?
Ohmygoodness. I think I do. But, not in the way you think.
In fact, just the opposite.

If I see someone with scuffed up shoes, tattered, well-loved clothes I automatically think, that person works hard for every penny they earn, lives pay check to pay check, values every item they own etc.

I can relate to them. I think, they MUST work hard like we do.
Perhaps it is a slice of jealousy but when I see someone who looks ‘well-off’ I often think that they do not value small things such as being able to fill up the gas tank that week instead of only putting $30.00 in. Or getting excited about getting new cheap Walmart bed sheets. I often immediately think they are worried about the next best sale at stores I never step foot in.

It is wrong of me. It is judgment and favoritism no matter how you look at it. Sigh. Forgive me father.

I ask that YOU please pray for me about this. Coming to this realization was a bit of a slap in the face and it stings quite a bit.

I have deep rooted issues about favoritism within my own family that has been a great source of pain for me. To come face to face with the fact that I may have been casting some ‘favoritism’ of my own is a hard pill to swallow. Reading this chapter is opening my eyes to some things I have not looked into before.
Thank you God for bringing me knowledge.


*Showing Favoritism
Why it is wrong

1.) It is inconstant with Christ’s teaching.
2.) It results in evil thoughts.
3.) It insults people made in Gods image.
4.) It is a by-product of selfish motives.
5.) It goes against the biblical definition of love.
6.) It shows lack of mercy.
7.) It is hypocritical.
8.) It is a sin. *

James 2:8

If you really keep the royal law found in scripture “Love your neighbor as yourself” you are doing right

.

James 2:13

because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

*Only God in his mercy can forgive our sins. We can’t earn forgiveness by forgiving others. But when we WITHOLD forgiveness from others after having received it ourselves, we show that we do not understand or appreciate God’s mercy towards us. *


POWERFUL and life changing. I have been holding back on giving full forgiveness for some things that happened to me years ago. It was awful and caused years of loneliness, confusion and hurt. It seeped into my marriage and a lot of relationships I had. My relationship with God was even compromised.
I suffered pain and an almost overwhelming source of guilt. I felt what had happened was something I had provoked.
I used the power of forgiveness as a tool of POWER and CONTROL over the situation and the person I needed to forgive.

I needed to forgive.

Sigh.


After I read this verse I went to God with many questions. I wasn’t happy and actually quite grumpy. Angry. After some time I had a peace come over me and felt okay with letting go of my power. After all, God had not held his power over me every time I came to him and begged for forgiveness.

Over and over I have turned to him on my knees. Sometimes asking for forgiveness on something I had done over and over again. Never learning my ‘lesson’. Every time he forgave me. Every time I felt his forgiveness. It was time I did the same thing.

I needed to let the power go.

It was okay.

I have finally given my forgiveness.
Fully.

I am free. I feel our fathers love. It feels good to forgive and feel as though I have been given a great gift.



James 2:17

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.

*We can not earn our salvation by serving and obeying God. But such actions show that our commitment to God is real. Deeds of loving service are not a substitute for, but rather a verification of, our faith in Christ.*

….What? Confused. Isn’t obeying and serving God a way to show our commitment to him? A way to show our faith? I suppose this verse may be telling us to not get caught up in good deeds and make that our main focus. Rather, we should continue to make our FIRST and main priority a relationship with Christ. This verse just seems (to me) to go against other verses in the bible. Maybe, it is not the actual verse itself but the *study notes* from the bible that leave me confused?


James 2:24

You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

*We are not justified by what we do in any way. True faith always results in deeds, but the deeds do not justify us. FAITH brings us salvation; active obedience demonstrates that our faith is genuine. *

I think I am starting to (finally) understand it. Strengthen my faith and the deeds will follow as a sign of my commitment. The good deeds I do will make God happy but will not be my main driving force to make my relationship with him strong.

When doing a good deed I should not expect a pat on the back or praise. The deeds I do are out of my love for Christ and deserve no recognition. In fact, the recognition should go to God. Not me.

My love for Christ brings me salvation- nothing else.

Do you agree? Did theses verses confuse you like they did me? I am happy that I sorted through them and finally *got* the meaning.