Goodly Apparel and Poor Men James 2:2

As James, “the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” shared with the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”, he told them not to have “respect of persons”. In chapter two and verse two of his letter, James gave his readers and example of a man dressed in “goodly apparel” in contrast to a “poor man” with “vile raiment” where we read:

For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring,

in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

The verse begins, “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel,...” James began with the word “For” or “even as, because, even, indeed, no doubt and therefore” “if there come” which means “enters or arises” “unto your assembly” which is the Greek word “synagōgē” and refers to “a bringing together, gathering or assembly” “a man” or “a person whether male or female” “with a gold ring” which means “golden finger-ring or similar jewelry” “in goodly” or “dressed in shining, brilliant and magnificent” “apparel” which refers to “clothing, raiment or robes”. James' first reference was to a person who comes into their “synagogues” with “gold jewelry” and fancy clothing.

The verse goes on to say, “...and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;” James added, “and there come in” which means “enters or arises” “also a poor man” which refers to “one reduced to beggary, begging and asking alms who is destitute of wealth, influence, position and honor” “in vile” or “dirty, filthy and defiled with iniquity” “raiment” which means “clothing, apparel or robes”. James' second reference was to the person who enters their “gathering place” with “dirty and soiled” clothing on.

When we consider these words of James, we should allow our imaginations to see the people who enter our churches or gathering places with “rich” or “poor” clothing and accessories on. Our natural tendency is to treat the person with “affluent” clothing and jewels better than the person with “dirty and unclean” clothing. The Heavenly Father has no “respect” for persons, and if we are to be as Jesus is, we should not allow ourselves to have “respect towards” some and disrespect towards others as well.

Next time James shares about preferential treatment to those who are rich, 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.

Respect of Persons James 2:1

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, told the people who belonged to the “twelve tribes” which were “scattered abroad” that “true religion and undefiled” was “to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world”. In chapter two and verse two of his letter, James began to share with them concerning “respect of persons” where we read:

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

The verse begins, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,...” James began with the words, “My brethren” which refers to “fellow believers who were united to each other by the bond of affection in Christ”, “have not the faith” or “do not have the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ with a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God” “of our Lord” which refers to “James and the brethren's one to whom a person or thing belongs and about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind, God incarnate” “Christ” which means “the Messiah and Son of God”. James' readers were not to have their “trust and conviction in Jesus Christ the Messiah” without considering his following thought.

The verse goes on to say, “...the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” James continued, “the Lord” or “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 glory” which means “honor, judgment, view, opinion, estimate and praise”, “with respect of persons” which means “partiality or favoritism toward the outward circumstances of man and not to their intrinsic merits”. James referred to “Jesus” as “the Messiah and Christ” who deserves “glory” without attitudes and actions that show preferential treatment of different persons.

When we think through these words of James, we should note the Holy Spirit's inspiration for his words. God does not want us to “worship and believe in” Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior while at the same time showing “favoritism and partiality” toward certain people. Jesus loves everyone regardless of their station or position socially, and we are to follow His example. We are not to give some people better treatment than others, and though we may be prone to do so, we are to observe James' exhortation and be like God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Next time James shares about a “rich man” and a “poor man” coming “unto your assembly”, 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.

Pure and Undefiled Religion James 1:27

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” told the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” that if “any among” them “seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart” that person's “religion is vain”. In chapter one and verse twenty-seven of his letter, James shared about “pure” and “undefiled religion” where we read:

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The verse begins, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this,...” James began with the word, “Pure” which means “clean, ethically free from corrupt desire, sin, falsehood, blame and stain” “religion” or “worship and religious discipline” “and undefiled” which means “unsoiled, free from debasement, impairment and deformity” “before God” or “at, near or beside the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “and the Father” or “the title of honor to the originator and transmitter of creation, intellect, Christians and Jesus Christ” “is this” which refers to “taht which James is going to state”. James told his readers what “clean and ethical worship” before “God and the Father” was to be.

The verse goes on to say, “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,...” James continued, “to visit” which means “look upon or after, inspect and examine with the eyes in order to help or benefit” “the fatherless” or “those bereft of parents or orphans” “and widows” which refers to “one who has lost or lacking a husband” “in their affliction” which means “pressing, pressure, oppression, tribulation and straits”. Two charges are given by James; “look after orphans” and help women who have lost their husbands through death.

Finally the verse says, “...and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James ended his words with, “and to keep himself” or “to attend to carefully, guard, reserve and preserve a person's self” “unspotted” which means “free from censure and vice, irreproachable and unsullied” “from the world” or “the ungodly multitude and the aggregate of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages and pleasures”. In addition to helping “orphans and widows”, those who desired “pure and undefiled religion” were to “guard” against being “marked and reproached” by “worldly things”.

When we think through these words of James, we see how clearly James marks for us how to practice “pure and undefiled religion”. When we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are to “look after” children who are “orphaned” and seek to help “widows” who have lost their husbands. In addition, we are to “guard against” being “soiled” by the world and it's attractions. Too many who call themselves Christians have disregarded these directives and find themselves belonging to “vain religion” that has no traction with God. May the Lord Jesus help us to “hear” His word, “learn” from it, “keep” it and “do” it as we seek His idea of “pure and undefiled religion”.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see James share about not having the “faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons”, 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.

Vain Religion James 1:26

While exhorting the people who belonged to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”, James, “the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” told them to “look into the perfect law of liberty” continue in it, not become a “forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work”. His promise was that “this man shall be blessed in his deed”. In chapter one and verse twenty-six of his letter, James made a declaration concerning “vain religion” where we read:

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridled not his tongue,

but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

The verse begins, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridled not his tongue,...” James began with the word, “If any man” or “whether any person” “among you” which refers to the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” “seem to be” or “supposes, thinks or is accounted as” “religious” which means “fearing or worshiping God with pious trembling” “and bridled not” or “does not hold in check and restrain” “his tongue” which refers to “member of the body which is used as and organ of speech, language and dialect”. James referred to those who appear to be “piously worshiping God” and do not “hold and restrain” their “speaking”.

The verse goes on to say, “...but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain.” James added, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated, “deceives” or “cheats, beguiles and deludes” “his own heart” which refers to “his center of all physical and spiritual life, the soul and mind”, “this man's religion” or “this person's pious worship” “is vain” which means “devoid of force, truth, success and result which is useless and of no purpose”. The “religious” person who is not able to “keep in check” his talking and speech is “beguiled and deluded” and practices an “empty” “religion” that has no meaning or purpose.

When we think through these words of James, we realize the gravity of the words we speak. If we claim to be “believers” in Jesus Christ and are not able to keep our “tongues” in check, we are “deceived” about our “faith in Him”. We should be inspired to have a “valuable” “religion” which is based upon the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ and is demonstrated and shared through our words. Let us examine our language and speech and see if it is in keeping with our Christian profession and repent if we find disparaging words that makes our“religion” unequal and worthless.

Next time James shares about “pure religion”, 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 Perfect Law of Liberty James 1:25

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” wrote to the “twelve tribes” which were “scattered abroad” concerning being “doers of the word and not hearers only”. He likened this kind of person to one who “beholds his face in a glass” and “forgets what manner of man he was”. In chapter one and verse twenty-five of his letter, James refers to those who “look into the perfect law of liberty” where we read:

But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

The verse begins, “But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer,...” James began with the word, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated, “whoso looks” or “stoops in order to look at with the head bowed forward and the body bent” “into the perfect” or “towards the finished, ended, complete and mature” “law” which refers to “the established command, precept or rule producing a state of approval from God” “of liberty” which means “fancied license and doing as one pleases”, “and continues” or “stays beside, survives and remains alive” “therein” which means “in this or these things”, “he being not” or “not becoming, receiving or allowing to happen” “a forgetful” which means “one who does not remember or neglects” “hearer” or “one who listens intensively”. Rather than looking into the “mirror” and “forgetting” what one is like, James' readers were to look into the liberating “word of God” “continually” and not “forget” the manners and ways that it gave them.

Finally the verse says, “...but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James continued, “but” which again is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated, “a doer” or “maker, producer and performer” “of the work” which means “business, employment and that which anyone has occupied”, “this man” or “this person whether male or female” “shall be blessed” which means “will be happy, fortunate and well off” “in his deed” or “making, producing and performing”. James directed his readers to be “doers” of the word of God, and they would “be blessed” in their performance of it.

When we meditate upon these words of James, we should be inspired to “look into” God's word and stay in it. We should not “forget” His words and should “do” as He instructs. Most people desire to be “blessed” in their “deeds”, however most of them “ignore God's ways” or only “hear” them rather than perform them. Jesus Christ desires to be the “Savior” of every person alive, but He also wants to be their Lord. This only happens when they “look into his perfect law of liberty” and obey His every word.

Next time James shares about a man who“forgets what manner of man he was”, 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.

Forgetting What Manner He Was James 1:24

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, told the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only”. He referenced the “hearing” person to “a man beholding his natural face in a glass”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-four of his letter, James continued his description of this deceived man where we read:

For he beholds himself, and goes his way,

and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.

The verse begins, “For he beholds himself, and goes his way,...” James began with the word, “For” which means “as, because, even, indeed, no doubt and seeing then” “he beholds” or “perceives, remarks, observes, understands and fixes his eyes and mind upon” “himself” which refers to “the person looking into the mirror”, “and goes his way” which means “departs”. James mentioned the person who looks at themselves in a mirror and then leaves his reflection in that looking glass.

The verse goes on to say, “...and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.” James continued, “and straightway” or “immediately and forthwith” “forgets” which means “neglects and no longer cares for” “what manner of man” which means “what sort and quality” “he was” or “had been when he stood in front of the mirror”. After the person looks at themselves in the mirror, they forget and neglect the person they saw reflected there.

When we consider these words of James, we understand how people can look at themselves and totally forget what they discovered after that examination. It is like the wind-blown person whose every hair was in place before the drafty onslaught who only discovers later they have a disheveled appearance. Those who look into the word of God, hear it and do it continually are less likely to forget who they really are. Those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ by way of His Holy Spirit are constantly reminded of God's word. This keeps them in constant check with their real manner of living and produces humility that beckons constantly for the grace of God.

Next time James shares how his readers are to be “blessed in” their “deeds”, 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.

A Man Beholding His Face in a Glass James 1:23

As James gave instructions to his readers concerning being “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving” their “own selves”, in chapter one and verse twenty-three of his letter he referred to the “man beholding his face in a glass” where we read:

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

The verse begins, “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer,...” James began with the word, “For” which means “because, on account of and since” “if any be” or “whoever or whosoever is” “a hearer” which refers to “one who listens and hears” “of the word” or “the speech, utterance, concept, idea, declaration, aphorism, weighty saying, dictum, maxim doctrine or teaching of the word of God”, “and not a doer” which means “is not a maker, producer, author or performer”. James' reference is to the person who “hears” the word of God and doesn't “perform” or act upon it in their lives.

The verse goes on to say, “...he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:” James continued, “he is like” or “akin to and resembles” “unto a man” which means “any person whether male or female” “beholding” or “perceiving, remarking, observing, understanding and fixing one's eyes or mind upon” “his natural face” which refers to “the face given by birth, nativity, origin and existence” “in a glass” or “a mirror of the ancients which was made of steel or metal such as brass”. The one who merely “hears” the word of God and doesn't “perform” it is like a person who looks and stares at themselves in the mirror.

When we consider these words of James, we realize his strong emphasis upon “doing” the word of God and not only “hearing” it. How many times has a person looked into a mirror and forgotten the way they look only moments afterward? How many times has a person thought they looked one way only to find their hair or face was disheveled and rumpled when they saw their image in a looking glass? Jesus Christ not only desires to save us, but also to “conform us to His image”. We are to continue looking into His word, “hearing” it and obeying in practice the principles He gives. This will allow us to be as King David desired, in Psalm 17:15:

“As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness:

I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.”

Next time James shares about a man who“forgets what manner of man he was”, 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.