Happy are those who follow…the Lord
Psalms 1:1-3 (NRSV) 1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. 3 They are like trees
planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
David’s lesson in this first Psalm could well be called “Choices.” There is a clear distinction in Psalm 1 about saints versus sinners. It has always seemed odd to me that David begins by using a negative (Happy are those who do not) rather than just beginning with “Happy are those whose delight is in the law of the Lord…). But David leaves no doubt that we can only be blessed if we eliminate the behaviors associated with our former sinful life, and begin to develop new habits that will help form our new life in Jesus.
You see, when we continue in the darkness of sin even after we have received the light of salvation, something happens. The communion with those who prefer the darkness over the light begins to seep into our spirits. Although the light of God can and does overpower the darkness, we must we willing to step out of the darkness.
God wants to bless His children, but He cannot do so unless we choose to delight in His Word, and when we take pleasure in His Word we will begin to think, consider, and ponder about the meaning of the Word and how it can change our lives for the better.
David says if we do these things we will be like trees planted by the living waters. How awesome is that? Trees planted close to the water have deep roots, and those roots take in the nourishment that comes from the water, they soak up the sun and serve to prevent erosion of the waterbanks. If we allow the living waters of the Holy Spirit to constantly nourish us, then we will become stronger in the faith and we will be able to strengthen those around us.
The final blessing is that everything we do will prosper. Prosperity has wrongly been intertwined with the gospel message for at least fifty years. Some preachers will tell us that we can have what we speak, that God wants all of His people to be wealthy. True wealth comes not in what we have, but what we are able to give on this earth and build up in heaven. We prosper not by hoarding riches on earth, but by creating in others the ability to attain their most high faith.
The blessings God has in store for us are truly unimaginable. Let us commit to make the right choices today and every day. May you be blessed now and forever in the reading of God’s Holy Word. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Father God, this thing called salvation is so simple to receive, yet we sometimes make it so hard to live. May we remember that God sent Jesus to earth not just to restore our broken relationship with You, our Father, but to show us how to live godly lives. Help us today and every day to lean on your, soak up your Word, and then show everyone around us what it means to be an intentional Disciple, one who seeks holiness above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Bless the Lord at all Times
Psalms 34:1-3 (NRSV) 1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.
David wrote this psalm when he was pretending to be crazy to escape Abimilech. Notice how he begins: I will bless the Lord at all times. David was not a fair weather follower of God. He praised Him in the good times and in the bad. My thoughts immediately go to Job, whose initial response to the loss of his family was, “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.” Can I tell you it takes practice to develop this level of faith?
I love the book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk lived in the 7th Century B.C., and he is known as the “Questioning Prophet.” God prophesied through Habakkuk that He would raise up the Babylonian armies to destroy the Southern Kingdom of Judah because of their idol worship. Habakkuk asked why God would use someone more evil than the Israelites to punish them. In fact, every pronouncement from God was met with a question. This went on for twenty years, until finally Habakkuk’s heart is changed and he proclaims that regardless of the loss, or the lack in his life, he will rejoice in the Lord.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NRSV) 17 Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails,
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold,
and there is no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
Don’t you love the faith of Habakkuk? While Job’s faith was strong at the beginning of his trials but seemed to wane and his tragedies multiplied, Habakkuk’s faith was weak but then grew strong. One of the questions Habakkuk asked was, “Why do you make me look at evil every day?” Do you ever feel this way? Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up one morning and there would be nothing but good news on the radio?
I would like to encourage each of you today to look for the good news. Where can it be found? Well, we used to refer to the Gospel as the Good News. What if we began to share the Good News with just one person? I’m not talking about knocking on doors. I am suggesting that you begin to develop an actual relationship with the person at the check-out lane in your local grocery store, or the person who seats you at your favorite restaurant. Let them know that you care about them with a kind word and a smile. The people who were once casual acquaintances will begin to see that you care for them, not just by the words you speak but by your actions.
I would like to share a poem written by Edgar Guess.
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day, And I’d rather one walk with me, than merely show the way. For the best of all the preachers, are the men who live their creeds, and to see their good in action is what everybody needs.
I can learn to do it, if you let me see it done. I can watch their hands in action, but their tongues too swift may run. And the sermons they deliver may be very wise and true, but I’d rather get my lesson in watching what they do.
For I may misunderstand them, and the high advice they give. But there’s no misunderstanding in how they act and how they live.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Carol
Father God, today we have a chance to be the good news in someone’s life. We ask that you would lead us to the people whose hearts have already been prepared by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Living by Faith
James 5:13-20 (NRSV) 13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.
19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
We have reached the end of James, and after practical instruction on living the Christian life, we have come to my favorite part of this letter. “If any are suffering, pray…” Some have asked me why we have to suffer, and the biggest question is always why do bad things happen to good people. We suffer because when sin entered the Garden of Eden, along with it came sickness and death and disappointment. Why do bad things happen to good people? Jesus said in Matt 5 the rain falls on the just and the unjust. The umbrella of salvation does not keep us sheltered from the storms of life.
Jesus told us in John 16:33 (KJV) “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” So, it is not a question of if we are suffering, but how we respond to the suffering. 1 Thessalonians 5:13 tells us to give thanks in everything. Did you know when you keep a thankful heart, it is almost impossible to moan and groan about your circumstances?
The next big question is, “Pastor, I have faith. Why haven’t I been healed?” The only thing I can refer you to is Paul and the “thorn” in his side. Three times Paul prayed for this issue to be resolved, and three times the answer was “no.” Did Paul not have enough faith to result in his healing? I doubt that was the reason.
God will heal, but sometimes the healing occurs in heaven. Please don’t question your faith if your prayers for healing go unanswered. There are things we will never understand while on earth, which is why we must continue to live by faith and faith alone.
James finishes by telling us what a wonderful thing it is to be able to help restore someone to the Christian faith. I can tell you as a pastor, I have received more joy when someone is restored than when they come to faith for the first time. Why? Because the person brought back to the faith remembers what they had and what they gave up. It is a wonderful reunion of body and spirit with the Lord Jesus Christ and one that person is not apt to walk away from again!
There is a hymn by James Wells written in 1918. For some reason it is not in the Methodist hymnal, but read the words and I think you will find them comforting.
- I care not today what the morrow may bring,
If shadow or sunshine or rain,
The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything,
And all of my worries are vain.- Refrain:
Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love;
From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.
- Refrain:
- Though tempests may blow and the storm clouds arise,
Obscuring the brightness of life,
I’m never alarmed at the overcast skies—
The Master looks on at the strife. - I know that He safely will carry me through,
No matter what evils betide;
Why should I then care though the tempest may blow,
If Jesus walks close to my side. - Our Lord will return for His loved ones someday,
Our troubles will then all be o’er;
The Master so gently will lead us away,
Beyond that blest heavenly shore.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Father God, I pray that as we walk with you, we would be content with whatever state we are in, knowing that you are right beside us. Help us to live by faith in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Be Strong and Endure
James 5:7-12 (NRSV) 7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12 Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
I have always advised people not to pray for patience, but tribulation brings patience (Romans 5:3) James is saying disciples should be patient until the coming of the Lord. And, James says to be strong because the coming of Jesus is near. Then, James returns to the theme of this letter, do not speak against others.
I have noticed in my lifetime words have become so casual that they do not carry the weight they once did. We speak words that hurt others, and never give the pain we have caused a second thought. Our words have become so negative, and even children utter offensive language on a regular basis.
James references the endurance of Job, and I like the way he phrases this sentence. Most people refer to the “patience of Job,” when Job was not patient, but he certainly perservered. Perhaps we should purpose in our hearts to speak words of hope, encouragment, patience and strength. If we want our hearts to be filled with love and hope, then let us speak love and hope.
Finally, James says do not swear or take an oath because God alone knows and understands the significance of such words. I ask you today to sit down with your Bible and look up “Be strong” in the scriptures. You will receive such encouragement and who doesn’t need encouragement? In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Father God, I pray that you would enable us to be mindful of the words we speak, the oaths we swear, and realize once and for all that our strength comes from God. Help us to be kind to all, and to endure until the Day of the Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What have you done with your Riches?
James 5:1-6 (NRSV) 1 Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. 4 Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.
We are coming now to the end of the Epistle of James, and in these verses he speaks of what happens when we store up our treasures without thinking of others. James is probably not speaking to the believers, but instead to the Jewish unbelievers. The actual blessing of people having wealth is not so that the individual can live in luxury, but so the person who has money and belongings can help others.
James is not condemning those who have money, but he is making the point that what we have accumulated in this life will ultimately do us no good. But when we share with others who are less fortunate, then and only then will our wealth become a blessing for us and for those we help.
Our country has become more and more separated, and much of the conflict centers on the great divide that wealth, or lack thereof, can create. The Scriptures do not condemn the rich unless they have no concern for the poor, or worse yet, have tried to take advantage of the poor.
This past week a synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA was invaded by one man who hates the Jewish people, and as a result of his hatred eleven people died. Did you that when Jews began to migrate to America, many did well economically because they were different than other immigrants. These early immigrants who were Irish and the Polish never intended to stay and make a life on these shores. They were here to make money, send it back home, and then eventually they would return to their homeland. As a result, many did not learn the language nor did they try to assimilate into our society.
For the Jews, America was the last stop. They learned the language, tried to fit into American culture as much as they were allowed. They worked hard and ultimately opened their own storefronts and became successful. Still, they were resented and the anti-semitism continues to this day.
For those people who hate people simply because of their heritage, may I tell you that none of us is pure-bred anything. Take a 23 & Me test and you will see just what a mixed breed you are. Until we understand that each of us is a Child of God, we will be doomed to continue in hatred and discord until Jesus returns again. All I can say is, Come Lord Jesus, Come. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Father God, we ask for Peace and Healing for the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania. May each of us be instruments of your peace, and may we be generous to those who look to us for jobs, for security, and, yes, even for those who need a helping hand and can offer nothing to us in return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
