Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from James 4:6-10.

 

“⁶ But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  ⁷ Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners;  and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  ⁹ Be miserable and mourn and weep;  let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.  ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”  James 4:6-10.

 

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“Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.”  Proverbs 3:34.

 

Before I did the search of verses which contained the words “humble or humility”, I thought there may be less than 20 of such verses and that humility was just a minor quality.  But, there were 90 verses which contained either word.  I have included only some of them, but hopefully enough to make for the format of a daily devotion (which must be brief in format) a solid and summary presentation of humility as one of the central themes through Scripture that will show how important God values humility.

 

There is value in summing things up.  “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;”  1 Peter 3:8

 

 

Deuteronomy 8:3
“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.”

 

2 Kings 22:19
“because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the LORD.”

 

2 Chronicles 7:14
“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

 

2 Chronicles 12:12
“And when he humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turned away from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and also conditions were good in Judah.”

 

“When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves so I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some measure of deliverance, and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak.  But they will become his slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”  2 Chronicles 12:7-8.

 

2 Chronicles 32:26
“However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.”

 

“¹⁰ The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.  ¹¹ Therefore the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon. ¹² When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. ¹³ When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.  …  ¹⁸ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh even his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are among the records of the kings of Israel. ¹⁹ His prayer also and how God was entreated by him, and all his sin, his unfaithfulness, and the sites on which he built high places and erected the Asherim and the carved images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the records of the Hozai.”  2 Chronicles 33:10-13 and 18-19.

 

2 Chronicles 34:27
“Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the LORD.”

 

Psalm 10:17
“O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;  You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear”

 

Psalm 25:9
“He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.”

 

Psalm 34:2
“My soul will make its boast in the LORD;  The humble will hear it and rejoice.”

 

Psalm 37:11
“But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”

 

Psalm 69:32
“The humble have seen it and are glad;  You who seek God, let your heart revive.”

 

Psalm 76:9
“When God arose to judgment, To save all the humble of the earth.”

 

Proverbs 11:2
“When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.”

 

Proverbs 15:33
“The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.”

 

Proverbs 16:19
“It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

 

Proverbs 18:12
“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.”

 

Proverbs 22:4
“The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.”

 

Proverbs 29:23
“A man’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.”

 

Isaiah 2:11
“The proud look of man will be abased And the loftiness of man will be humbled, And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.”

 

Isaiah 2:17
“The pride of man will be humbled And the loftiness of men will be abased;  And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,”

 

“For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”

 

Zephaniah 2:3
“Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances;  Seek righteousness, seek humility.  Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’S anger.”

 

Zephaniah 3:12
[A Remnant of Israel]  “But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.”

 

Matthew 18:4
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

 

Matthew 23:12
“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

 

Luke 1:52
“He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.”

 

Luke 14:11
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

Luke 18:14
“I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other;  for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:1-3.

 

Philippians 2:3
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”

 

Colossians 3:12
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”

 

James 1:9
“But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;”

 

James 1:21
“Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”

 

1 Peter 5:5
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders;  and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

 

1 Peter 5:6
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,”

 

 

“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain;  and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit (humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

 

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 

 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  Matthew 5:1-6.

Today’s devotion comes from James 4:1-5.

 

“¹ What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?  Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?  ² You lust and do not have;  so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain;  so you fight and quarrel.  You do not have because you do not ask.  ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.  ⁴ You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?  Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose:  “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?  James 4:1-5.

 

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“The flesh” is the source of quarrels, conflicts, lusts, envy, fights, wrong motives, and friendship with the world which are mentioned in today’s Scripture. 

 

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23. 

 

 

“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Romans 8:5-8. 

 

“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;  for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”  Galatians 5:17.

 

 

“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?  Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”  Verse 4.

 

“No one can serve two masters;  for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth.”  Matthew 6:24.

 

 

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:  sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:2-4

 

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  Romans 8:9-11.

 

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16. 

 

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:24.

 

 

“Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose:  “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?”  Verse 5. 

 

The jealous desire of God for His Spirit within us guarantees our salvation.  Because God desires His Spirit within us so much, God will not abandon us.  God placed His Spirit within us as a pledge or guarantee that He will not forsake us nor forget to redeem us to bring us to Himself in heaven.

 

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.  Ephesians 1:13-14.

Today’s devotion comes from James 3:13-18.

 

“¹³ Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.  ¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.  ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.  ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  ¹⁸ And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”  James 3:13-18. 

 

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There is a sharp contrast between earthly wisdom (which is jealous and selfish) and heavenly wisdom which is “pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy”.  Verse 17.

 

There is also a sharp contrast between those who seek that earthly wisdom and those who seek that heavenly wisdom.  Those who are jealous and selfish care only for themselves, and they sow and reap “disorder and every evil thing”.  Verse 16.  “Those who make peace” care for others, and they sow and reap peace and righteousness.  Verse 18.

 

There is a sharp contrast between those who trust themselves and those who trust God.

 

To those who trust themselves:

“You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,
You have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors,”  Hosea 10:13.
 

To those who trust God:

“Sow with a view to righteousness,
Reap in accordance with kindness;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord
Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.”  Hosea 10:12.

                             

So, let us seek that “wisdom from above”.

 

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  James 1:17.  

 

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  James 1:5.

Today’s devotion comes from James 3:1-12.

 

“¹ Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.  ² For we all stumble in many ways.  If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.  ³ Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.  ⁴ Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.  ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. 

 

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity;  the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.  ⁷ For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.  ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue;  it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;  ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  ¹¹ Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?  ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs?  Nor can salt water produce fresh.”  James 3:1-12.

 

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First, let us consider the damage that can be done by the tongue.  “… See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity;  the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”  Verses 5 and 6.  “… it is a restless evil andfull of deadly poison … and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;”  Verses 8 and 9.

                                                           

Consider how many deeds of the flesh are performed by the tongue.  “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.  (Those deeds of the flesh performed by the tongue include, but are not limited to, those deeds of the flesh highlighted above in bold italic font.  We will also cover more in the following Proverbs.)

But, there is hope!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”  Galatians 5:22-26.

Consider how many Proverbs speak of the tongue and contrast between the good and the bad that can be done by the tongue. 

“³ From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
³ The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”  Proverbs 12:2-3.

“In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.”  Proverbs 14:3.

“A trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a false witness utters lies.”  Proverbs 14:5.

“A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous.”  Proverbs 14:25.         

“¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.”  Proverbs 15:1-2.

“A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.”  Proverbs 15:4.

“The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.”  Proverbs 15:7.

“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the slow to anger calms a dispute.”  Proverbs 15:18. 

“A man has joy in an apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely word!”  Proverbs 15:23.

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”  Proverbs 15:28.

“Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.”  Proverbs 16:13.

“²³ The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Proverbs 16:23-24.         

“A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.”  Proverbs 16:28.

“Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.”  Proverbs 17:1.

“A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.”  Proverbs 17:10.

“He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.”  Proverbs 17:20.      

“²⁷ He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”  Proverbs 17:27-28.

“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”  Proverbs 18:4.

“⁶ A fool’s lips bring strife,
And his mouth calls for blows.
⁷ A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.”  Proverbs 18:6-7.

“ He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.”  Proverbs 18:13.         

“With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.”  Proverbs 18:20.

“A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will perish.”  Proverbs 19:9.

“¹⁹ He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
²⁰ He who curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will go out in time of darkness.”  Proverbs 20:19-20.

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.”  Proverbs 21:23. 

“¹¹ Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
¹² Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”  Proverbs 25:11-12.

“A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.”  Proverbs 26:28.

“¹⁴ He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be reckoned a curse to him.
¹⁵ A constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious woman are alike;”  Proverbs 27:14-15.

“A man who flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.”  Proverbs 29:5.         

“Scorners set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away anger.”  Proverbs 29:8.

“A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back.”  Proverbs 29:11.

“An angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.”  Proverbs 29:22.

“⁸ Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”  Proverbs 31:8-9.   

In conclusion, we will end with Proverbs 31:26.  Although this verse is within the chapter that describes an “Excellent Wife”, it summarizes well how we all should use our tongue. 

“She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”  Proverbs 31:26. 

Today’s devotion comes from James 2:14-26.

 

“¹⁴ What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works?  Can that faith save him?  ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

 

¹⁸ But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works;  show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”  ¹⁹ You believe that God is one.  You do well;  the demons also believe, and shudder.  ²⁰ But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?  ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?  ²² You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;  ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.  ²⁴ You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.  ²⁵ In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?  ²⁶ For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”  James 2:14-26.

 

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When we read Scripture, we may first rightly think:  “What does this Scripture teach me about God?”  When we read today’s Scripture, we may first think of God, our Faithful Father.

                                     

                                           

When we read of Abraham offering Isaac in verse 32, we think of God offering His only begotten Son for our salvation in John 3:16.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

                                       

When we read of the need to clothe and feed others in verses 15 and 16, we think of God clothing and feeding us in Matthew 6:25-33.

                                

In summary, here is part of what the Heidelberg Catechism teaches us about our Faithful Father.

                      

Question 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

                                           

Answer.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage;  for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.  

                                      

Today’s devotion comes from James 2:8-13.

 

“⁸ If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.  ⁹ But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.  ¹¹ For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.”  Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  ¹² So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.  ¹³ For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy;  mercy triumphs over judgment.”  James 2:8-13. 

 

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“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”  Matthew 5:7

 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law:  justice and mercy and faithfulness;  but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”  Matthew 23:23

 

“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”  And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.”  Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”  Luke 10:36-37.

 

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”  James 3:17

                                  

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.  And have mercy on some, who are doubting;  save others, snatching them out of the fire;  and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”  Jude 1:20-23.

                             

As sinners deeply indebted to our Lord, we are eager to grab forgiveness and mercy.  But, to those fellow sinners who offend us, we are reluctant to forgive and show mercy.  Today’s Scripture reminds us of Jesus’ teaching of the importance of forgiveness and His parable in Matthew 18:21-35.  

 

“²¹ Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?”  ²² Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

                                         

²³ “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.  ²⁴ When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  ²⁵ But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.  ²⁶ So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’  ²⁷ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 

                              

²⁸ But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii;  and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’  ²⁹ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’  ³⁰ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.  ³¹ So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. ³² Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  ³³ Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’  ³⁴ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.  ³⁵ My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”  Matthew 18:21-35.

Today’s devotion comes from James 2:1-7.

 

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.  For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?  Listen, my beloved brethren:  did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?  But you have dishonored the poor man.  Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?  Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?”  James 2:1-7.

 

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Today’s Scripture reminds us that there was nothing attractive about us that motivated God to choose us for salvation.  We were “the poor of this world”.  Yet, God chose us to be “rich in faith and heir of the kingdom”.

 

When we consider “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, we can better understand that not only were we unattractive, we were “dead in sin” (Ephesians 2:1) and “hostile” to God (Colossians 1:21).

 

“¹⁰ as it is written,

Today’s devotion comes from James 1:21-27.

 

“²¹ Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.  ²² But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.  ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;  ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.  ²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will beblessed in what he does.

 

²⁶ If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  James 1:21-27.

 

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The Law of Liberty is the law of grace that God has given us all that we need for those good works.

                                

God has made us uniquely gifted with abilities to do certain good works.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

 

God has given us the will to do those good works.  And, God works within us to accomplish those good works.  “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:12-13.  God has even made us “zealous for good deeds“.  Titus 2:14.

 

We could forget what God has done for us or make excuses such as:  “If I do this good deed for him, he will either think I am patronizing him or expect me to continue to do it.”  Or, we could simply think:  “I will do it later.”  We could become a forgetful hearer.

 

“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”  Verse 25.  “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”  John 13:17.

 

Have you ever seen a dog or horse run at full speed?  They are exerting every ounce of energy and running as fast as they can, but they seem to smile with joy.  They were born to run.

 

We too were born to run.  We are filled with great joy when we do those good works God created us to do.

Today’s devotion comes from James 1:19-20.

 

“This you know, my beloved brethren.  But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”  James 1:19-20.

 

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Beware of tempting thoughts of “righteous indignation”:  “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”  Verse 20.  “This you know, my beloved brethren.  But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger”.  Verse 19.  

 

There may be times to be angry.  But those times are “the exceptions and not the general rule”.  Today’s Scripture does not state:  “Never be angry.”  But rather, it states:  Be “slow to anger”.

 

There may be other times in Scripture when anger was expressly commanded, but I could only find one time.  “Be angry, and yet do not sin;  do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”  Ephesians 4:26-27.

 

The general rule is “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”  The general rule is that “outbursts of anger” is one of the condemned deeds of the flesh.  Galatians 5:20.  

 

Notice the command to put aside “all” anger in the following two Scriptures.  “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”  Ephesians 4:31  “But now you also, put them all aside:  anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.”  Colossians 3:8

 

There are severe warnings about the consequences of anger in the Scripture.  Here are two examples. 

 

“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court;  and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court;  and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”  Matthew 5:22

 

 

 

“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.”  Proverbs 10:19.

 

“He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”  Proverbs 17:27-28.

 

 

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

 

The Spirit of God produces this peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control within us.  “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh (outbursts of anger).”  Galatians 5:16. 

Today’s devotion comes from James 1:17-18.

 

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”  James 1:17-18.

 

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Today’s Scripture teaches that with God, “there is no variation or shifting shadow”.  Verse 17.  God does not change.

 

In comparison, we are fickle.  We change.  We like people one day and may give them gifts, then later we dislike them and distance ourselves from them and say bad things about them and may even hurt them.

 

But, God is not fickle.  God does not change.  His elect remain His beloved to the very end, and He preserves them so that they obtain His good gift of salvation.

 

Despite our election, we sin greatly and often.  But, God does not throw us away.  “For I, the LORD, do not change;  therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”  Malachi 3:6

 

Article 8.  Thus, it is not in consequence of their own merits, or strength, but of God’s free mercy, that they do not totally fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally in their backslidings;  which, with respect to themselves, is not only possible, but would undoubtedly happen;  but with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since his counsel cannot be changed, nor his promise fail, neither can the call according to his purpose be revoked, nor the merit, intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated or obliterated.  Canons of Dordt – FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

“In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”  Verse 18. 

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:12-13.

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5.