Grudging Before the Judge James 5:9

As James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, he addressed the idea of Jesus Christ “coming” again, and he told his readers to “be patient” and “establish” their “hearts” because “the coming of the Lord draws near”. In chapter five and verse nine of his letter, James turned his attention to people who hold “grudges” against one another where we read:

Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned:

behold, the judge stands before the door.

The verse begins, “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned:” James began with the word, “Grudge not” or “do not sigh, murmur or cause grief” “one against another” which refers to “down from, through out, according to, toward and along each other reciprocally and mutually” “brethren” which means “fellow believers who are united to another by the bond of affection in Christ”, “lest” or “not in order, albeit and that” “you be condemned” which means “damned and sentenced in judgment”. James' readers were not to “sigh, murmur or cause grief” to each other lest they would “condemn” themselves in their actions.

The verse goes on to say, “behold, the judge stands before the door.” James continued, “behold” or “see and lo”, “the judge” which means “the one who passes or arrogates to himself judgment on anything; and arbiter” “stands” or “cause to place, put, set, make firm and establish” “before” or “in front of, prior to and above” “the door” which refers to “the gate and door of the kingdom of heaven (likened to a palace) and denotes the conditions which must be complied with in order to be received into the kingdom of God”. James exhorted his readers to remember that the ultimate “judge” is firmly established before the “door and gate” of the “Kingdom of God”.

When we think through these words of James, we understand we are never to hold “grudges” against others. When we do, we put ourselves in line to be “judged” by the ultimate “judge”, Jesus Christ. Let us be exhorted to lay aside our “murmurings” against one another and align ourselves with the one who “stands before” the entry “gate” of the Kingdom of God.

Next time James tells his readers to “the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

The Lord's Coming Draws Near James 5:8

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” told his readers within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” they should “be patient...unto the coming of the Lord” because “the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth”. The Lord is long-suffering for His “fruit”, and He will wait until “he receive the early and latter rain”, and in chapter five and verse eight of his letter, James reaffirms being “patient” because “the coming of the Lord draws near” where we read:

Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh.

The verse begins, “Be you also patient; establish your hearts:” James began with the words, “be you also patient” which is the Greek phrase “makrothymeō hymeis kai makrothymeō” “ means “of a long spirit which does not lose heart and perseveres bravely while enduring misfortunes and troubles”; “establish” or “to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix, render constant, strengthen and confirm” “your hearts” which refers to “the centre of all physical and spiritual life”. James exhorted his readers to “stabilize” their “hearts” and souls while “bravely” enduring their difficulties.

The verse goes on to say, “for the coming of the Lord draws nigh.” James continued, “for the coming” or “because and since the advent and arrival of the future visible return from heaven of Jesus to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God” “of the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “draws nigh” or “brings near and joins one thing to another”. Jesus Christ's will return, and as we wait, we must be “patient” and “establish” our souls.

When we consider these words of James, we understand his exhortation and encouragement to “be patient” and have “assurance” in our commitment to Jesus Christ. Jesus could be “coming” at any moment, and the scriptures tell us Jesus will “return” for His bride - the church. While we wait for His coming, we must patiently endure the troubles and trials we face on earth and consistently and constantly be looking for His imminent return - “Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus”.

Next time James tells his readers to “Grudge not one against another”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Be Patient unto the Coming of the Lord James 5:7

After sharing with the “rich men” who were among the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”, James turned his attention to “the coming of the Lord” and his readers were to exercise “patience” for it where we read:

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

The verse begins, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth,...” James began with the words, “Be patient” which means “of a long spirit, not to lose heart, persevere bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles” “therefore” which is a conclusion word that means “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so”, “brethren” which refers to the “the fellow believers who are united to another by the bond of affection in Christ”, “unto the coming” or “till, to and toward the arrival, advent and future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God” “of the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. “Behold” or “see or lo”, “the husbandman” which means “the tiller of the soil and vine dresser” “waits ” or “tarries, receives, expects, awaits and looks” “for the precious” which means “that of great price, held in honor, esteemed and especially dear” “fruit” or “the result and harvest of the trees, vines and fields” “of the earth” which means “the arable land, ground, country, land enclosed within fixed boundaries, a tract of land, territory and region”. James encourage his readers to “be long-suffering” and “not to lose heart” till the Lord's coming, and he likened the waiting to the farmer who waits for the “harvest” in his fields.

The verse goes on to say, “...and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” James continued, “and has long patience” which means “bears and suffers long and patiently endures” “for it” which refers to “the coming of the Lord”, “until” or “with an preterite indicative, where something is spoken of which continued up to a certain time” “he receive” which means “takes in hand, lays hold of, takes up and upon one's self to be carried” “the early” or “the autumnal showering and first of the rainy season” “and latter” which means “the vernal rain which falls chiefly in the months of March and April just before the harvest” “rain” or “a shower like rain”. James went on to declare the Lord's great “suffering and enduring” for the “harvest” through both the spring and autumn “rainfalls”.

When we meditate upon these words of James, we understand James' exhortation to us to be “patient” for the Lord's return. Those who are aware of the scriptures know the angels who appeared after Jesus went up into the clouds said, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) We wait for his “coming”, and those who have accepted Jesus Christ as “Messiah, Lord and Savior” must be “patient” for His return. When His field is fully ripe, He shall return and no one shall be able to impede Him.

Next time James tells his readers to “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

The Just Condemned and Killed James 5:6

James continued his exhortations to the “rich men” who were among the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” as he told them they had “lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton” and they had “nourished” their “hearts, as in a day of slaughter”. In chapter five and verse six of his letter he accused the “rich men” of “condemning and killing the just” where we read:

You have condemned and killed the just; and he does not resist you.

The verse begins, “You have condemned and killed the just;” James began with the words, “You have condemned” which means “to give judgment against or pronounce guilty” “and killed” or “slayed or murdered” “the just” which refers to “the righteous, virtuous and those who observe divine laws and commands of God”. James told his “rich” readers they had given judgment and murdered the “righteous and virtuous” who were among them.

The verse goes on to say, “and he does not resist you.” James continued, “and he does not resist you” which is the Greek phrase “antitassō ou antitassō” and means “range in battle against or oppose those who “condemned and killed the just”. Though it appeared these “rich men” were free to do as they pleased, there was to be a day of vengeance they would not be able to resist.

When we consider these words of James, we see the extent to which the “rich” among his readers believed themselves exempt from future judgment. They freely “judged and killed” people who were acting righteously, and because the Lord did not “oppose or battle against” them, they felt themselves free from charge. Jesus Christ will have His day of judgment for each person regardless of their “station” in life. Too often people of means believe themselves to be exempt from God's judgment, and their position of God's ignorance, apathy or approval will prove to be wrong. Let us allow the Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit to convict our hearts concerning positioning ourselves superior to others, and should we find ourselves in this way, let us repent before we know the Lord's full “resistance”.

Next time James tells his readers to “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Pleasure in Wantonness and Slaughter James 5:5

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, continued to challenge the“rich” people among the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”. Though these “rich men” had gathered and stored their “gold and silver”, James promised their “treasures” would be “cankered and rusted” because they stole them from their “laborers”. These “laborers” called out to God, and He heard them, and in the fifth chapter and the fifth verse of his letter, James shared how these “rich men” lived in “pleasure and wantonness” at their expense where we read:

You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton;

you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

The verse begins, “You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton;” James began with the words, “You have lived in pleasure” which is one Greek word “tryphaō” and means “”to live delicately, luxuriously and soft” “on the earth” which refers to “the inhabited country or land which is enclosed within fixed boundaries such as a tract of land, territory or region”, “and been wanton” which means “living a luxurious and voluptuous life such as one who gives himself to pleasure”.

The verse goes on to say, “you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.” James continued, “you have nourished” which means “supported, fed, given suck to and fattened” “your hearts” or “the center of all physical and spiritual life and the soul or mind as the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”, “as in a day” or “the natural day or the interval between sunrise and sunset as distinguished from and contrasted with the night or the appointed day” “of slaughter” which means “butchery and destruction such as when animals for food or sacrifice were killed”. These “rich men” only embellished themselves for a day of “destruction and sacrifice”.

When we think through these words of James, we see how those who are “rich” in this world's goods are unaware of their future. Like cattle that are “fattened” for the slaughter house, so those who are “rich” by taking advantage of others are as well. Jesus Christ desires for us to be “rich” in those things which are “eternal” and not just in “temporal” things. Only “eternal” things will travel with us when we leave this world, and rather than being “fattened” for the “slaughter” here on earth, let us have a mind to be “rich toward God” as Jesus warned:

So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:21)

Next time James shares about how they have “condemned and killed the just”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Keeping Back Wages from Laborers James 5:4

As James addressed the “rich men” who were among the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”, he exhorted them concerning their “rusting and cankering” “gold and silver”, and although they had gathered them together for the last days, in chapter five and verse four of his letter James shared how the “cries” of the “hire of the laborers” were “entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath” where we read:

Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabbath.

The verse began, “Behold, the hire of the labors who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries:” James began with the word, “Behold” which means “perceive with the eyes and senses, note, discern, discover and see” “the hire” or “dues paid for work or wages” “of the laborers” which refers to “workmen, perpetrators and one who works for hire (especial an agricultural worker)” “who have reaped down” which means “mow down and collected” “your fields” or “the spaces lying between two places or limits, region or country such as a tract of land” “which is of you” which refers to “the rich men who employed the laborers” “kept back by fraud” which means “by robbery, theft and despoil”, “cries” which means “croaks, cries aloud and vociferates”. The “wages” of the “laborers” were stolen by the “rich men” rather than paying them.

The verse continues, “and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabbath.” James added, “and the cries” or “beckoning , halloo and begging for aid ” “of them” which refers to “the laborers” “which have reaped” or “harvested and cut down with a sickle” “are entered” which means “entered and come into ” “into the ears” or “the faculty of perceiving with the mind of understanding and knowing” “of the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding, master and the title given to God the Messiah” “of sabaoth” which means “the Lord of the armies of Israel who are under the leadership and protection of Jehovah and maintain his cause in war”. When those who were the “laborers” of “rich men” were deceived and robbed of their wages, they cried out to God and He heard them.

When we consider these words of James, we see his strong exhortation and warning to “rich men” who hire others to harvest their fields. Basically, the employers were keeping earned wages from their workers, and when those workers cried out to God about it, He listened to them. We must understand the Lord's interest in those who are “laborers”, and should we have people who work for us, may we know, the Lord Jesus is hearing their anguished “cries”.

Next time James shares about “living in pleasure on the earth” and “nourishing” their “hearts”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Your Cankered and Rusted Gold and Silver James 5:3

James directed his attention toward the “rich men” who where among the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” as he told them their “riches are corrupted, and” their “garments are moth-eaten”. In chapter five and verse three of his letter, James continued to share with the “rich men” as he declared their “gold and silver is cankered” and addressed their activities “for the last days” where we read:

Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days.

The verse begins, “Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.” James began with the words, “Your gold” or “the rich men's ornaments, images and precious things made of gold” “and silver” which is “the vessels, images and things made of silver” “is cankered” which means “rusted over or covered with rust”; “and the rust” which refers to “poison or venom” “of them” which refers to “the gold and silver” “shall be a witness” or “will be, come to pass and follow as a testimony” “against you” which means “unto, towards and among the rich men”, “and shall eat” or “consume and devour” “your flesh” which refers to “the mere human nature and earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God” “as it were fire” or “like, even as lightning and fiery fire”. The “gold and silver” accumulated by the “rich men” was destined to be “corrupt, poisonous and rusted”.

The verse continues, “You have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James added, “you have heaped treasure together” which means “laid up, kept in store and accumulated riches” “for the last days” which refers to “the extreme and uttermost days of this present age and the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom”. As though they could endure forever, the “rich men” gathered and stored their “riches” for the “end of the age”.

When we meditate upon these words of James, we see the result of “heaping together riches” on earth. At best they are temporary, tarnish and will melt away. They may have value here, but they have no eternal value whatsoever. The problem with the “rich men” to whom James spoke was they gathered and stored up their riches as though they would never end. These riches not only rot away, but also destroy the people who trust in them. Jesus desires for everyone to have a relationship with Him, and that is an eternal “treasure” which shall never vanish away and will certainly carry us to and throughout “the last days”. May the Lord help us to understand where true value is to be placed, and never be deceived by fool's “gold and silver”.

Next time James shares about “the hire of the laborers” which have been “kept back by fraud”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Corrupted Riches and Motheaten Garments James 5:2

As James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, began to wind down his exhortations to his readers, he addressed people who were “rich” among them. He told them they should, “weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon” them, and in chapter five and verse two of his letter, he shared about their “corrupt riches” and their “moth-eaten garments” where we read:

Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

The verse begins, “Your riches are corrupted,...” James began with the words, “Your riches” which refers to “the rich people's wealth, abundance of external possessions, fullness and plentitude” “are corrupted” which means “destroyed and rotten”. James declared the “wealth and abundance” gathered by the people of means were “rotten” and thereby worth little value.

The verse goes on to say, “...and your garments are motheaten.” James continued, “and your garments” which means “the rich people's cloaks, mantles, tunics, robes and vestures” “are motheaten” which is the Greek word “sētobrōtos” which means “eaten by moths”. James declared the “expensive clothing” of these “rich” people was filled with holes that were fashioned by common “house moths”.

When we think through these words of James, we understand how he thought the precious things of the “rich” people were not nearly as “valuable” as they thought. “Rotten” “riches” and “moth-eaten” clothes are desired by very few, and in nature they are at best temporary. If we use our imaginations, we can form a mental picture about what James is conveying. Jesus Christ desires to give us the most “valuable” asset we shall ever obtain – a relationship with Him. No “riches” on earth can compare to the “glory” of first “seeking” “the kingdom of God and His righteousness”, and those who are wise will put much less value upon material things that are subject to “rottenness, moths and destruction” and ascribe much more worth to those things which are eternal and shall never be destroyed.

Next time James shares about “gold, silver” and “treasures”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Weep and Howl Rich Men James 5:1

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, shared with his readers concerning those who “know to do good” and “do it not”, and as we enter the fifth and final chapter of his letter, we see him addressing those who were “rich” as he exhorts them to “weep and howl for” their future “miseries” where we read:

Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

The verse begins, “Go to now, you rich men,...” James began with the words, “Go to” or “come or come on” “now” which means “at this present time and henceforth” “you rich men” which refers to “those who are wealthy and abounding in material resources”. James desired an audience of “rich” people to hear about the next area he desire to share.

The verse goes on to say, “...weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.” James continued, “weep” or “bewail, mourn and lament” “and howl” which means “wail, lament with a loud cry of grief” “for your miseries” which refers to “hardships, troubles and calamities” “that shall come upon you” which means “arrive, be at hand, overtake, occur, impend, attack, influence and supervene” those “rich” men to whom James is writing. James exhorted the “rich” people to “bewail and mourn” with a “loud cry of grief” concerning the “hardships and troubles” they were going to experience in their futures.

When we consider these words of James, we would be wise to consider our own “richness” in this world. Perhaps we feel we possess much or perhaps we feel we possess little, but most of us are considered “rich” in some people's eyes. James' idea was not to have faith or trust in “riches”, but in our relationship with Jesus Christ. God Almighty knows what we need, and when we put our faith and trust in Him, whether we are “rich” or “poor”, we shall have more than ample supply.

Next time James shares about the rich men's “riches” and “garments”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Knowing to Do Good and Not Doing It James 4:17

James wrote to the believers who were “scattered abroad” concerning making plans that excluded the Lord's will for them. He concluded “all such rejoicing is evil”, and in chapter four and verse seventeen of his letter, James shares how “it is sin” for those who “know to do good” and “do it not” where we read:

Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.

The verse begins, “Therefore to him that knows to do good,...” James began with the word, “Therefore” which is a conclusion word that means “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “to him that knows” which means “to the person whether male or female who perceives, has a notion and discerns with the eyes and the senses” “to do good” or “to make, produce, construct, form, fashion, are the authors of and cause beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable commendable, and magnificent things”. James' conclusion began with concern for the person who is doing “good” by seeking the Lord's will in their lives.

The verse goes on to say, “...and does it not, to him it is sin.” James continued, “and does it not” which means “does not make, produce, construct, form, fashion, are the authors of and cause beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable and magnificent things”, “to him” which refers to “the one that knows to do good” “it is sin” which means “without a share in, to miss the mark, err, be mistaken or wander from the path of uprightness and honor or to do wrong”. James finished his conclusion by stating that when a person “knows” to do “good” and doesn't do it, he or she has “missed the mark” of God.

When we consider these words of James, we should be inspired in at least two ways. First, let us know the “good” thing, and secondly, let us “obey” it when we “know” it. Jesus Christ desires for all of us to know and obey His will for our lives. We should ask Him for His will and direction, and should we have any whims or ideas of our own liking, let us go to Him for His perfect will rather than venturing out on our own. May the Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit help us to know the wonder of having Him direct our lives, and may we submit to Him when His will is revealed.

Next time we begin the final chapter to James' letter and see him share with “rich men” and their “miseries”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

The Evil Rejoicing of Boastings James 4:16

James exhorted those among his readers who were from the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” to consider that their lives were like “a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away”, and when they made their plans of commerce for “today or tomorrow”, they were to remember they did not know “what shall be on the morrow”. He desired for them to rather say, “if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that”. In chapter four and verse sixteen of his letter, James told his readers about the “evil rejoicing” of their “boastings” where we read:

But now you rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

The verse begins, “But now you rejoice in your boastings:” James began with the word, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was previously stated, “now you rejoice” or “at this present time James' readers glory in or account of a thing” “in your boastings” which means “in James' readers' empty, braggart talk which is insolent and trusts in its own power and resources which shamefully despises and violates divine laws and human rights”. Rather than allowing for the Lord's will in their lives, James' readers were boasting in their own ability to chart their futures.

The verse continues, “all such rejoicing is evil.” James added, “all” or “each, every, any and the whole” “such rejoicing” which means “this kind or sort of boasting and glorying” “is evil” or “full of labors, annoyances and hardships such as toils and perils which cause pain and trouble. They are “diseased, blind, wicked and bad”. James concluded that every personal “boasting, brag and glorying” was nothing more than “wickedness and disease”.

When we meditate upon these words of James, we must remember “bragging” about our own abilities to “mark time” is a “wicked” measure. When we align ourselves with the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we are to rid ourselves of personal “boastings” and never forget, He holds our future and not we ourselves. Sometimes the Lord will allow us to venture into places we should not tread, boast about things of which we should not boast, and it is then we find ourselves in wretched places to which we wish we would not have traveled. May the Lord help us to rely upon Him fully for our futures, and let all “boastings” in anything or anyone other than Jesus never come from our lips.

Next time we finish the fourth chapter of James' letter as he shares the consequences of not doing “good”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.