Four Characteristics of Peace ~ A Devotional from Romans 5:1

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ . . . ~ Romans 5:1

Paying attention to the news, one cannot resist the intrigue of demonstrations taking place across the world. Israeli and Canadian Prime Ministers are struggling to form a government coalition. Great Britain has been unable to fulfill the will of the voter’s over three years later. And of course, the United States is transforming itself into the principal example of discord and community protest.

For the past month though, it is the continent of South America that now has the world’s attention; interestingly, by being divided they are unifying the world’s attention. Violent protests in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile for various reasons shutdown transit, shuttered businesses, and forced people to stay inside. In Argentina, October was the completion of a very contentious election year that saw some protests, but not to the level of those other countries. Notably not yet mentioned on this list are the ongoing issues in Venezuela.

Each situation is unique, full of details that are not always accurately portrayed to outsiders. Talking with those who have first-hand knowledge shows the full picture is not being presented. Therefore, a full analysis here is not appropriate. This does not mean that lessons cannot be learned. At the center of the protests is the human search for peace, a search content to disrupt the peace of others if individual peace is not received.

It is a search that will never yield the peace the world seeks, because it is defined personally (which deserves a whole separate conversation). The significance of this is that peace is determined solely by one’s own standards, desires, and circumstances. When that personal level of peace is not met then, conflict arises. For example, inevitably there will be a point when one’s own search clashes with that of another. The result is anything but peace and the culture wars exemplify this. Furthermore, if circumstances are considered to be the epitome of peace, what happens when trials define one’s life, which is simply a part of ongoing life?

Paul’s words to the Romans assure us that peace is possible. From Christ’s own assurances, peace is given to His people, although not as the world would define it (John 14:27). In the case of Romans, Paul expands on peace noting that it comes from the justification by faith. When one has an intimate relationship with God through faith in the work of Jesus Christ, true peace is found.

Peace with God is legitimate peace because only it can offer the following four characteristics:

1. Confidence: First, because it is secured in an unchanging God (Malachi 3:6) peace with God brings confidence. Confident in who God is and the work He is doing, one can be confident in who they are through Christ and how God is working to transform a person (cf. Romans 8:28).
2. Consistency: When peace is defined by people or circumstances, they will quickly change moment to moment. But with God, peace is consistent because of that assurance that regardless of the circumstances, God is at work to perfect a person (James 1:2-12).
3. Contentment: Confidence and consistency generate contentment. While one never permits himself/herself to stop looking for opportunities to serve God more, true peace also comes with a level of contentment of current position and circumstances. It is a recognition that Lord is in control and placed an individual in the midst of current circumstances for a purpose (cf. Romans 8:28).
4. Compassion: Finally, peace with God generates compassion because it comes not from who man is but in spite of who man is. Paul links a person’s peace with his/her justification. Existing in such a desperate state of need with no capacity to justify ourselves before God, our own peace causes us to recognize the lack of peace others have. The result is compassion for them and their circumstances.

The character of a peaceful person is confidence, consistency, contentment, and compassion that come from a relationship with God.

Any other form of ‘peace’ will be lacking. Personal peace will always find itself in a state of conflict at some point. Moreover, the world, people, and circumstances in which we live are always changing and thus peace motivated by these aspects will fade or sharpen based on their current status. The world will never find the peace is seeks as it cannot come apart from the justification by faith that Paul speaks of in Romans 5:1. May our prayer for peace be overwhelmed by a sensitivity to our justification so that we may never grow content with anything less than a peace with God.

Photo by Lawrence Hookham on Unsplash

Psalm 51:12 ~ Restore Joy in Salvation

The eleventh and twelfth chapters of 2 Samuel represent the spectacular fall of a great leader, David. In this great moral breakdown, David orchestrated both adultery with Bathsheba and the death of Uriah to cover up the affair. Eventually the child from the affair would die, but not before Nathan would rebuke David for his sin and David would repent. In that repentance, David expels some serious words (see Psalm 51). In the midst of that profound confession, David utters these incredible words: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit” (verse 12).

The second part is a call for help to turn away from sin that engulfs his life. In doing this, the desire is to be restored in joy that is known through salvation. Two things that cannot coexist together are sin and joy; while sin may provide a level of pleasure, pleasure is fleeting eventually leaving a person (often quickly) in search of more. Joy, in contrast, is ongoing and steady, reflective of the person (God) who initiates joy.

David notes a connection between joy and salvation. There should be a great joy in the salvation that comes from the Lord. First, in the very act of salvation itself. Consider both the quantity of our sins and the depths of each one and the fact that salvation can occur at all is beyond comprehension. Yet, the Lord is gracious providing a permanent sacrifice for that sin having taken it upon himself through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are made clean, set free, why would we not be joyful at that point? Salvation provides a level of freedom that a pagan world cannot know. Finding an identity in Christ frees us – no longer bound to results, no longer bound to public opinion, the believer is free to serve God and not man. Complete freedom, complete joy come from salvation. The second aspect of joy comes from the author of salvation: God. This God who is sovereign, working all things out for His glory and His people’s good (Romans 8:28), even the most severe of trials is meant to develop godly character (James 1:2-12). What great confidence, and joy, come from knowing our God and His salvation.

What happens when we find joy in our salvation? First, it is an expression of thankfulness, not taking granted the high cost of that salvation. Second, it reflects God’s glory to others, thus acting both as praise to God and a testimony of who God is to those who do not believe. Finally, joy in salvation generates contentment, knowing that eternal life is secured despite the activities and actions in this temporal life.

Restore my joy in salvation. Those are likely words that need to mark our prayers to God as well, both in a confession of sin and an expression of our desire to be filled by His Spirit. Let that be our heart’s desire this upcoming month and more as we enter the Christmas season, a time to remember the birth of our Savior and the gift of salvation.

Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash

The Irrationality of Sin ~ A Devotional from Isaiah 1:2-9 (Part 2)

The Book of Isaiah is a book that generates fascination, fixing readers’ gazes upon a wondrous Savior who has the capacity to transform lives. Previously, we discussed Isaiah’s opening indictment against Judah in 1:2-9 (to read the previous devotional, click here). It takes Isaiah only a few phrases to make known the irrationality of sin. To persist in it defies logic, but a lack of logic fails to compel many people to leave it behind. With that conclusion there is a goal that we must achieve: why is it so difficult to overcome sin and by answering that question, what can we learn about our own path to victory over it?

As part of a learning project, I recently read a book that discussed the difficulty in changing certain emotional characteristics as we interact with others. Interestingly, this book contradicts the claim that everything is about DNA and instead suggested with documented research that change could happen. Because it is a secular book, even with ‘research’ I am hesitant to blindly accept a premise simply because it finds a presence in the book. Yet, there was a tremendous discussion about the brain, stipulating that certain aspects resonate within the prefrontal cortex of the brain, especially things that are emotionally driven. The researchers went further to explain how that interacts with a central part of the brain to create emotional reflexes when presented with certain situations simply based upon habits that formed from previous experience. Yet, with intentionality those responses could be retrained. This is an important point when it comes to the irrationality of sin.

Sin is pleasurable; it adds no long-term value to life (in fact it is quite the opposite) but there is an aspect that is gratifying because it relieves a personal desire. The pleasure drives sin, even when it is irrational in the face of severe consequences. Without the conviction to turn from sin many will engage it to the point that it becomes habitual.

Having been stimulated by the pleasure the individual receives, the brain becomes trained to respond as he/she has always responded, by indulging in the pleasure. The result of such training of the brain is that it makes it very hard to overcome the entrenches of the sinful activity.

While difficult to overcome, the Lord is merciful. Not only did the Lord Jesus Christ die for the forgiveness of sins, but we have been given help so that we may not be slaves to it. While not wanting to reduce the struggle with sin to a ‘how-to’ process, there are five graces that the Lord has given us to help us overcome sin, including the following:

• Self-Awareness: Know who you are apart from Christ and in Christ and use that to examine your own life in an honest way. This means calling your sin, “Sin” and being willing to confront it.
• Confession: Confess the sin to God first and then to others.
• Situational Awareness: Note the circumstances you are in and notice the cues that ‘trigger’ the sin so that you may learn to avoid those situations. Furthermore, be aware of the Holy Spirit’s conviction and respond to it.
• Help: We live in the body of Christ and the Lord has granted us one another to maintain accountability.
• Persistence and Patience: Finally, it requires one to patiently persist. Trying to change a response to sin does not merely happen because a person learned from a book or study that it is wrong. Instead, it is a constant battle in which one must continually engage and confront.

This list simply serves as a survey of what God has given us to overcome our sin.

The battle with sin threatens to create a discord and depression in our lives. Yet, it should be a great encouragement to us all to know that sin does not have to overtake us. Even secular research proves that sin can be overcome. It requires the intentional evaluation, acknowledgement, and confrontation and cannot be dealt with passively, but it is possible.

The Irrationality of Sin ~ A Devotional from Isaiah 1:2-9 (Part 1)

The book of Isaiah is a tremendous book that often overwhelms the soul as much as it overwhelms  the senses. So large is it that it becomes too easily neglected in our Christian walk. I confess that apart from the major sections that are cited for the coming of Christ, it is a book in which my understanding and appreciation is significantly lacking. Therefore, I recently decided to start studying the book in more depth, but differently than I’ve done with other books.

First, I need help, so I’ve enlisted the work of one primary commentary to help me in my study. Unless something is extremely unclear, I do not want to spend a lot of time going from commentary to commentary, but simply utilize one of the best to guide me after I’ve made my own readings and observations of the text (while there are many great commentaries, and there are certain viewpoints I would not agree with, I have settled on using The Prophecy of Isaiah by J. Alec Motyer; click the title to learn more). The second weapon in my arsenal is the ESV Scripture Journal for Isaiah. There is sufficient room around the text itself to draw points, make connections, and note observations. I can then use the line portion to summarize, highlight important aspects, and make conclusions/applications. There are even some blank pages and space in which I was able to write out details about the book as a whole in order to understand the historical context, write a minibiography on Isaiah, and begin an informal outline of the book . . . the quality is exceptional also, sufficient enough to handle the use of my fountain pens.

Why share these details? First, in hopes that it will encourage others in their own personal study and walk with the Lord. Second, because it sets the stage to share with you what the Lord is teaching me through the initial embarkation of this study.

After setting the context with an introductory phrase (1:1), Isaiah launches into an indictment against the people of Judah (1:2-9). They are God’s chosen people but have squandered the blessings that God has lavished upon them by their continual engagement in sin. Verse four uses four nouns that convey God’s blessing. The words nation, people, offspring, and sons remind them of God’s sovereign call to them as His people. Even the word offspring reminds them of this while connecting them to God’s faithfulness through his promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4). Yet, each noun is qualified with a description that is indicative of their level of rebellion, noting that they are sinful nation, a people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, and sons who act corruptly.

The indictment against them stings further as Isaiah calls them out for their foolishness. He proclaims, “Where will you be stricken again, as you continue in your rebellion?” pointing out how irrational sin is. Those who are slaves to it, persist in sin despite its fatal consequences. While  their state lies in ruin (see verses 7-8) they continue to engage in their destructive behaviors. It points to the irrationality of sin in that despite the destruction many are unwilling to give it up.

Certainly, sin is a struggle. I suspect all of us could think of some areas in which we are laboring to overcome, battles that seem like they will never leave us. Why is sin so irrational and why does it seem to capture a hold on us? Is there an area in particular in which you sense the Lord’s conviction more profoundly? Consider these points over the next week and return with me next week to discuss the difficulty and options for overcoming sin further.

Humility: A Necessary Trait ~ James 1:21

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you. ~ James 1:21

Explanation of the Text: In light of James’ warning against anger, he calls upon his readers to set aside all moral filth and evil and instead to receive the Word. This particular verse is full of imagery, thoughtfulness, and profound calls to commitment if we unpack its depths.

First, James issues a call to repentance telling readers to set aside all moral filth and evil. These descriptive words convey the horribleness of sin that we sometimes overlook. Outwardly, the word choice employed by James indicates something that is not merely dirty but is stained and contaminated. Cleanliness requires intentional effort to expunge the impurities. Incapable of ridding ourselves of the permeation of sin, it necessitates a humble acknowledgment of who we are before the Lord and a request to Him to forgive us and free us from the burden of sin.

Upon repentance, James then issues the call to humbly receive the Word. This Word has two characteristics: it is implanted and has the ability to save souls. To implant something prompts memories of Jesus’ parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-23 in which the seed that yields return is the one planted in good soil. In the same way, the Word is to be implanted in the hearts of those who follow our Lord (cf. Jeremiah 31:33). But how can this word save the soul? There is some disagreement about whether this refers to one’s initial salvation, which comes by the word of the gospel or at the return of Christ in which one has persevered in the Word and receives salvation through the ultimate gift of eternal life. Recognizing that it is not the Word itself that saves, but a means by which the Holy Spirit initiates, develops, and sustains life, then we must consider the words of John MacArthur when he says the following:

We have been saved (justified) through the power of the Word of God; we are kept saved (sanctified) through the power of the Word; and we will be ultimately, completely, and eternally saved (glorified) through the power of the Word (1)

Examination & Application of the Text:  There is a common attribute necessary for the active engagement of this verse in the lives of believers: humility. Noting first the role of repentance, humility is a key ingredient for its genuineness. Without humility, one is unable to evaluate his or her life in the light of God’s truth, always being blinded by personal pride and thus deceived about his or her true condition. Additionally, without humility, confession is a meaningless repetition of words meant to avoid punishment. Instead, genuine repentance requires genuine humility which compels acknowledgment of our offenses before the Lord as horrendous works of unrighteousness and results in the admission of a need for His righteousness.

The second role of humility is noted in the reception of the Word. In the same way that it is required for repentance, humility is necessary if we are to receive the Word. God’s truth is challenging, causing us to conform to his image. Without humility, we respond to the challenge of His Word with confrontation (much how we respond to any challenge apart from humility).

Humility is not something that I can write to you and say, you need to be humble and that’s all it takes. Humility is something that comes from deeper within as the result of the work of the Holy Spirit, which means that one must incline themselves to God through a relationship with His Son.

Questions to Consider:

1. How does humility impact our relationship with God? Our relationship with others?
2. In what ways are you proud? What needs to change to be more infused with humility?
3. Take some time to reflect on humility and its role in your life. Consider some ways in which humility could be more prominent in who you are.

(1) John MacArthur, James, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1998), 75-76

The Anger of Man ~ James 1:19-20

My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. ~ James 1:19-20

Explanation of the Text: James often pauses long enough to refer to his readers as ‘My dearly loved brothers.’ I appreciate James’ intimacy with his readers, showing that as he instructs them he does so with an attitude of love and compassion. He is not merely telling them how awful they are as sinners, but he is lovingly drawing them to Christ and his message of the cross.
With that love, James addresses the anger that controls so many people. First off, it is important that believers understand that something man-oriented will not produce something God-oriented. Therefore, no person should have the expectation that his or her anger is going to draw people to God. Therefore, the practical advice that James offers is noteworthy. He gives three simple instructions that when utilized, are capable of defusing situations and people. First, they must be quick to hear. Few can listen intently, respectfully, and fully without interruption and offering personal stories or antidotes. This instruction is in direct opposition to the natural inclination of many people. In conjunction with quick to hear is slow to speak. One cannot be quick to hear without being slow to speak and one cannot be slow to speak without quick hearing. However, he goes further in the instruction to be slow to anger. Ideally, if one has implemented the first two instructional pieces the third should automatically follow.

Examination & Application of the Text:  This particular verse strikes a similar sound to the writers of the Proverbs, with its quick and practical advice. I learned long ago that often, the wisest person in the room is the one who speaks the least. This is the type of person who weighs words heavily, both those being spoken to him or her and those he or she speaks to others. Such a person allows time for reflection and comprehension so as to speak directly to the moment at hand with rightly-oriented truth.
Generally, this type of person is one who is quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Such advice allows one to assess the person and circumstance so that one is not reacting to wrong or incomplete information. Additionally, such an activity allows consideration of the words and actions that one will utilize to respond.

As a result, when we are quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, we react not to circumstances, but to people. What’s the difference? Hopefully, we react in love and not in anger because we recognize the people involved. When our attitude is of this nature, we maintain control of the circumstance and do so without offending others.

Questions to Consider:

1. Are you prone to respond in anger?
2. Think of a recent circumstance in your life in which you responded quickly in anger, and lacked the quickness to hear and slowness to speech. What was the result?
3. What does it mean to put into practice quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger in your life? Be specific in your answer and develop an action plan.

The Sin of Self-Deception ~ James 1:16-18

Don’t be deceived my dearly loved brothers. Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the first fruits of His creatures. ~ James 1:16-18

Explanation of the Text: We should be concerned about how quickly we justify our sin or slyly pass the blame onto someone else. So common is the reaction that it is the natural inclination and it tends to be the action glorified in our society . . . don’t accept blame, always pass it to someone else. In both of these instances, believers, such as those that James is writing to, become deceived. Self-deception is a grave sin because it convinces us to think we are much better off than we really are. It undermines the significance of sin and the holiness of God. Therefore, in light of the believers’ propensity to blame God for their temptation, James not only writes to them to suggest that God is not to blame but to urge them to accept both reality and responsibility.

Not only is God not responsible for temptation, but we learn that every generous act and every perfect gift comes from God. Therefore, it is legitimate to conclude that temptation is incongruent with the character of God. Instead, in light of who God is and has always been since there is never any variation, he gave the ultimate perfect gift through His Son, Jesus Christ. Instead of bringing forth temptation, God gave the gospel that gives salvation to people so that they may be the first fruits of creation.

Examination & Application of the Text:  I remember just a few years ago watching two close friends (about 8 years old). One day one went running and the younger went to follow when suddenly the first quickly turned to run back the other way knocking the friend to the ground in an excruciating blow to the head. The first words out of her mouth were not “I’m sorry” or “Are you OK” but “He caused it.” I began to notice that this was the pattern among the friends; whenever they were in trouble she quickly blamed her friend. I fear that this is the way of society these days. We are so deceived by our justification of ourselves that we are in grave danger of not merely walking the line of sin, but completely giving ourselves over to it. We begin to blur the lines between God’s message and our motivation.

Instead, believers are called to be the first fruits of creation. The first fruits were usually the best of the harvest that which were set apart and dedicated to God. Interestingly, many farmers would look to the first fruits as an indication of what harvest would be like and in good stewardship those first fruits would be set aside in case the rest of the crop did not survive. Thus, the offering of the first fruits was an indication of trust in God’s provision, because without them there was no guarantee of what was to come. It is the same for us; our lives should be the first fruits of creation offered to God in sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and an example to others.

Such an act of obedience is not done in complete ignorance. Obedience makes sense in light of who God is. He is without variation and is the giver of life. It is not he who tempts us, but he who relieves us of our temptation. In light of that, we do not deceive ourselves but look to Him, follow Him, and develop a relationship with Him.

Questions to Consider:

1. Why is it important to know that God does not tempt and that he never changes?
2. How might you be deceiving yourself about your sin? Do you justify your sin?
3. What can be done to fall out of this trap of self-deception and how can you turn to God?

Man’s Role in Temptation ~ James 1:13-15

Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. ~ James 1:13-15

Explanation of the Text: Where does sin come from? For some, this is a question that plagues their belief in God while others simply see it as the key to undermining God. The truth of the answer though, reveals a reality that few people want to admit; sin comes from us.

In the Greek text, the word used for tempt in this passage is the same word translated as trials in the previous passage. How is it that translators can utilize both words for the same original word? There are two logical rationales for this. First, is a simple matter of context that dictates the meaning of the word. Just like any language, one word can have multiple definitions and therefore it is important for one to read the context carefully in order to determine the exact usage. Furthermore, God’s character as holy, holy, holy makes it impossible to associate God with temptation.

James reveals two aspects of God’s relationship with temptation. First, God cannot be tempted. Such a temptation would be contrary to his character of holy, perfect, and sinless. More than being without sin, God cannot even be in the presence of sin, which creates man’s great need for reconciliation with God through the work of Christ. Not only can God not be tempted, but he also does not tempt others.

Instead, temptation comes from within each of us from our own sinful nature. Even more, the Epistle of James outlines the process of temptation first noting that it comes from within our own desires. That truth indicates the gravity of the sin of covetousness and idolatry which if left uncontrolled leads one down a deeper path of sin and ultimately, bearing the full consequences for sin it can bring death. James’ use of imagery in this text creates a precise picture of sin and its dangers.

Examination & Application of the Text: A revelation of God’s character should always bring comfort to believers and that truth asserts itself here as well. It is comforting for believers who struggle so intensely with sin to know that God is not tainted by sin, and thus neither are his dealings with us tainted by sin. Specifically, God’s character is revealed by not tempting believers. In his goodness, his rejection of such an activity should draw us into a deeper relationship. Trusting this to be true, believers draw nearer to God knowing that he is working in the lives of believers so that they may grow (see James 1:2-12 that we previously studied) and that he is not working against them hoping for failure through the engagement of temptation and sin.

More than recognizing God’s lack of role in temptation, it requires something else: an acknowledgment of man’s role in temptation. Human propensity is to blame others, including God, yet, by this verse alone tough, we see that temptation is sown through the desires of individuals. Recognition of this truth allows each of us to be aware of the danger, an important aspect of spiritual preparation and guarding against Satan’s solicitations. However, to recognize one’s role in temptation, humility must be present.

Questions to Consider:

1. What role does God play in temptation? What role do humans play?
2. How does this understanding help in our confrontation of temptation?
3. Practically speaking, what will you do in order to confront temptation?

James 1:9-11 ~ A Devotional

The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation, but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will wither away while pursuing his activities. ~ James 1:6-8

Explanation of the Text: In this particular section, James offers a comparison between two groups of people. The first is the person of humble circumstances, meaning they are poor. Later in the epistle, James condemns the rich and their oppression of the poor (James 5:1-6). A reasonable conclusion, the poor in view have most likely been taken advantage of, oppressed, and humiliated for their position. In contrast to the poor are the rich who have lived the lavish life, sometimes at the expense of others. Like the poor though, the rich will also be humiliated in some form or another.

Despite their different circumstances, they are equals. The picture James paints in the mind’s eye is unmistakable. He shares of the flower, once beautiful but destroyed by the scorching sun. In the same way, the rich man’s wealth and activities related to that wealth are meaningless because they too will perish, a point that will be brought out in more detail when we examine James 5:1-6.

Examination & Application of the Text: Despite the different social status’ and labels that society applies to people, each person exists equally as a sinner. Wealth cannot protect one from the trials that will come. They make no distinction like people do. Trials though, serve a purpose to make a person mature, complete, perfect (v.4). Completeness, perfection, maturity are similar concepts sharing a related goal and requiring the work of the Holy Spirit. None occur without a relationship with God (cf. Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; Matthew 5:48).

A logical deduction about trials then is that they should cause people to consider God. Regardless of one’s position in society, trials will occur and all people can boast in such humiliation because of who they are without God and with God.

Questions to Consider:

1. Intellectually, many people understand their wealth will one day pass away, so why is it so easy for people to trust in it and so hard for them to focus on something/someone else?
2. What trials have you faced in the past? How did those trials cause you to ignore or trust in God?
3. Develop a brief action plan of how you can respond to trials the next time they envelop you

Faith Without Doubt ~ A Devotional from James 1:6-8

But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.

~ James 1:6-8

Explanation of the Text: With awe, we read these particular verses, because they convey the depths of the relationship between God and His people. In the midst of trials, James previously urged believers to seek God and ask for wisdom if one lacks understanding of the significance of these trials that are meant to develop maturity and completeness. Readers are ensured that God is both generous and giving, and so one can come to him in confidence and expectation that God will answer such a prayer. However, James warns that one should not ask in doubt.

A prayer in faith is not faithful merely because of the character of the person making the prayer, but because of the character of the one receiving the prayer. Believers come to the Lord in prayer confident that his generosity will be shown through his answer as the result of his grace and mercy. God has proven himself faithful from generation to generation and thus there is no need to doubt God.

In contrast to asking in faith are those who doubt. Such a person expects his or her prayers to remain unanswered, and they will be proven correct because they do not ask in sincere belief. James describes this person as unstable in all his ways. Without confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness and ability, one is left to trust in his or her own capabilities. Limited beings though who are fallible means that circumstances reach beyond one’s own control, they are tossed and driven by the circumstances of life.

Examination & Application of the Text: The basis for salvation is faith in the Lord and a trust that he will fulfill that which he has promised. That same faith should influence and impact the prayers made by believers. Throughout history, God has proven himself as one who cares for his people and will listen to them (just consider the account of the Exodus and wandering in the desert). Therefore, believers enduring the suffering of trials have the ability to come to the Lord and ask for wisdom during the intensity of those trials (v. 5) but they must do so without doubt (v.6).

It is easy to say that believers should simply trust God. Trust though, is indicative of a relationship. Trust is built from seeing the character of a person played out in a real and personal way. The same is true of our relationship with God. If there is no relationship with him, there will be no trust in him. Therefore, the first step to trusting the Lord with one’s prayers is to develop a relationship with him through conversation with him (i.e. allow God to speak to you through his word and speak to him through your prayer).

Questions to Consider:

1. What does doubt look like? What does trust look like? How does one trust God?
2. Do you trust God?
3. What needs to happen in your life to develop a deeper relationship with the Lord?