Our reading continues in James. Chapter 4 and 5 really speak to my heart, my inner thoughts and motives. Chapter 4:4 says, “Don’t you know friendship with the world means being an enemy of God?” Very sobering. I am reminded of John 18:36 when Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world. We are in the world, not of the world. We live here, but don’t belong here if we belong to Jesus Christ.
In Chapter 5 there is a harsher warning for believers who oppress others. But then James shifts to encouraging us. How difficult it is to stay the course when life is difficult—when the job offer falls through, when a promise is broken again, when waiting for a diagnosis. Look at 5:11: “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.” Finally. Finally. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us God makes everything beautiful in its time. When we persevere, we can look back and see, like James, the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
The book ends with direction to pray, in all situations. I can always do that!
We travel back to the Old Testament to the book of Jeremiah. This is particularly timely, as Jeremiah was written in tumultuous times, to the people of Judah during the reign of the last five kings. Our country is also expecting turmoil. I’m sure that, although the Old Testament people were not watching the 10:00 news, there was an undercurrent of anxiety, anger, fear. How did they react then? (How do I react now?)
Jeremiah opens with a powerful message from God: “The word of the Lord came to me saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” Incredible! What a great verse to memorize! When (not if, because we all have dark moments of doubt) I doubt God’s purpose/plan/power/providence, I can look to this scripture and I can know my destiny is in His hands, not the hands of the government, or my boss, or the court system, or my location, or even my family. He knew me BEFORE I was even formed (look at Psalm 139 and Acts 17:26 for more on Gods providential direction).
Chapter 2-4 wow, dire predictions of what Israel will go through due to their willful disobedience. Even so, God is yearning for a close, intimate relationship – look at chapter 2:32. The reference to a bride’s jewelry, the reverence and attention given to her adornments—would she just throw it away as if it were nothing? This is what Israel has done, yet God calls them back. God’s faithfulness to me is rooted in one thing—His love for me, not my faithfulness to him.
The people live in desperate times, with men being killed. God’s warnings seem to fall on deaf ears—the urgency to repent escapes them. Is judgment the final word from God? Jeremiah is warning the people that God will ruin the land, but not completely (4:27). Hhmmm…how does something get partly ruined?? Something to ponder!
