Ruth 1: The Grass Is Not Always Greener on the Other Side

Ruth Part 1: Ruth 1: 1-5; Luke 15: 11-19

Recently a friend of mine decided to try something new. He had been going to the same old, boring barber shop for years. The same guy had been cutting his hair the same way in the worn and somewhat, shall we say “vintage,” shop. It was old, familiar, and he was treated like family. But just up the street, this fancy new barber shop opens. It’s glitzy and glamourous. It has large television screens and nice lighting. It’s about as fantastic and fabulous as you can get in a men’s barbershop. Allured by all the glitz and glam, my friend decided to try it out, because, of course, something that nice has to be better, right? 

When he went he was overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds, how modern and nice everything appeared to be. He was given a warm welcome and treated like a king as opposed to family. He sat down in the chair and had this sleek, silver cape wrapped around him for the haircut. The barber, dressed in a casual suit like something out of a movie gets the cut underway. As the clippers come alive with a buzz, my friend feels plain, cold metal touch the back of his head as the clippers go through his hair. Then he hears the barber say, “Oh no, no. Oh man. Oh no.” The barber forgot to put a guard in the clippers and just shaved part of my friend’s head bald. The grass is not always greener on the other side. 

We begin this week a four part series on Ruth which is a story of strength even in the midst of adversity. But the story is also just as much about Naomi and her struggle as it is about Ruth and her faith. Both of them faced strong difficulties, persecutions, and possibly varying levels of regret, but both of them grew in their faith and found God’s hope, restoration, and even redemption in the end. When we pick up the story we realize an important lesson from Naomi and Elimilech, that sometimes we are going to have to endure while our own house is in a mess or a state of disorder. 

Israel, we are told, was in the midst of a famine. In those days a famine was a very serious and frightening thing. It could mean a food shortage, and there would be no other place to gather food leading to starvation. Whereas now we have ways of predicting weather and crop cycles, in Naomi’s day there was no way to tell how long a famine would last. It could be simply an off year for the harvest, or it could last seven years like in the story of Joseph. The rules in those days said that the Israelite people were not to intermingle with the Moabites, yet Elimelech did this anyway, moving his whole family to Moab where things seemed better instead of staying where he was and trusting God. 

Likewise, in the story of the prodigal son, I imagine the young man was bored at home, wanted something new and exciting or was seeking a lot more pleasure out of life than working on his father’s farm. He thought life would be much more fun if he could just get away and move to a nice, exciting city. Sometimes, though we have to be prepared to deal with a little bit of mess in our own house. We often face two choices—stay or leave. It’s a recurrent choice in life. Now, suppose you come home and your realize that your house is a complete disaster, a total mess. What do you do? The answer is you clean it. You can’t just close the door and walk away—you stay and you put the house back in order. Elimilech and Naomi didn’t want to endure the struggle at home with their family and friends, staying and trusting God; they wanted to toddle off to something they thought was nicer and better. The prodigal son didn’t want to stay and make his father’s farm the best he could—he walked away from his home and family, thumbing his nose at them. 

The problem with this is we have to discern whether we are being led by God’s call or by our own temptations. For Naomi and Elimelech it was clearly temptation. They did not trust God to provide and bear them through the famine. Moab wasn’t struggling with a famine, so the family uprooted and walked away from home and from obedience to God. The prodigal son, likewise, was tempted away by the excitement of a far off place where he could get all he wanted with his riches. And I imagine with a sizable inheritance, he was quite popular wherever he landed. 

But walking away has consequences. For Elimelech it was death, and Naomi suffered the loss of practically her whole family. I can’t imagine the suffering and desolation she felt at having her husband die, then her two sons dying also. The prodigal son also had to pay the consequences. He squandered everything he had and was left broke, desolate, and hungry enough to eat the slop fed to pigs. And yet we read elsewhere that the disciples heard God’s call and left their homes, jobs, and everything to follow. Abraham heard God call and left his home to travel to the promised land, so what is the difference? 

The difference is the motivation—why are we doing what we are doing. For Naomi, Elimelech, and the prodigal son, they wandered off for selfish reasons whether it be their lack of trust, desire for a world of sinful opportunities, or even because they just thought they knew better—their motives were wrong and selfish. Abraham and the disciples devoted themselves to following God. They left everything to work for the kingdom, to sacrifice for Jesus’s mission of love, grace, and building a loving, welcoming church that saved the soul and body from struggle. 

Our society today is rife with this same kind of restless selfishness. It comes in all shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities, and political persuasions. For every action we take, for every thought that leaps out of our mouth, for every comment we speak, post on social media, or debate in person, what is the motivation? Are we trying to point people to God? Or like Elimelech, Naomi, and the prodigal son, are we looking to be right, to prove our point, or to live however we want to regardless of whether it’s what God would have us do? Sometimes God calls us to be quiet, to clean and get our own house in order, to wait and endure if there’s a famine and struggle around us, and to work where we are because it’s the job God has called us to do. Naomi and Elimelech should have stayed in Bethlehem. The prodigal son should have stayed at home and tended the farm. If we always live our lives in the “should haves,” we will forever be struggling against God. 

But the good news is that no matter how far we walk away, wander away, or even stubbornly refuse to be obedient, God will always welcome us home. A friend tells me how her mother used to counsel that no matter how many steps you take away from God, it’s always just one step back. The prodigal son was welcomed not as a punished servant, but as the beloved son. For Naomi, the road was a lot longer, and we are going to journey with her over the next few weeks. But, she also finds redemption and healing in the end. 

Unfortunately in life, the grass is not always greener on the other side. But we are often difficult and stubborn and even jealous people at times. But what I know is this: no matter how selfish, stubborn, or difficult we may have been, “there’s a wideness in God’s mercy. There is welcome for the sinner. There is mercy with the Savior; there is healing in his blood.” Though the grass may not always be greener where you go with selfishness and disobedience, I can promise you something on the opposite side. The grass is always green, and the soil for God’s love and grace will always be fertile where God leads you. 

The Book of James: Prayer and Restoration

James—Prayer and Restoration: Psalm 24: 1-6; James 5: 13-20 

            In full honesty, Independence Day, or Fourth of July, as some say, is not my favorite holiday in the whole scheme of national holidays. As it falls right in the middle of summer, the holiday is usually swelteringly hot here in Georgia. Beaches, pools, and anything fun are overwhelmingly crowded. I’ve grown far less enamored with fireworks, especially given the devastating effect they have on veterans with PTSD for whom the sound of fireworks can be devastating. Lastly, I dislike the messy convolution of church and nationalism. Yes, the church should be supportive of our institutions and should encourage good citizenship; however, we must be careful running afoul of the giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s and giving to God what is God’s. Blurring that line is uncomfortable for me. 

            But we must still ponder the question that the church lives and moves within society, within our nation, and within the civil institutions we have created, so how does the church do this? What course should the modern church chart to have effective ministry, growing faith, and sharing grace and love around the world? There are three things we should look at: authority, relationship, and mission. 

            First we must recognize the proper authority and practice of our churches. Psalm 24 tells us this: “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. For God laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.” Not only do we rely on God, find our strength in God, and have all the good aspects of our faith in God, we also must realize that God is an authority figure in our lives deserving of our respect. That is because God is…well…God, worthy of worship, praise, and love. God created the heavens and the earth and all that is within both of them, and as such, God has authority over what God has created. 

            In and through that authority, James gives us a few specific practices as part of our faith. If we have hardship, pray about it. If we are happy, sing praises to God. If we are sick, call the elders to pray and anoint the one who is ill. If you find yourself having done wrong, confess that wrongdoing and seek forgiveness (which you will always find in God). If you are earnest in your prayer and faith, expect an answer from God. Though these things seem simple enough to do, we often forget to do them. Prayer is often an afterthought. Praising God seems to be only in our minds instead of actually done. We get angry and stubborn instead of confessing and finding humility. Easy concepts that James lays down here can be forgotten in the busy-ness of life. But they call us to render to God what is God’s—our time, our thoughts, our attention, ourselves. 

            That rendering to God demands that we live in a good and right relationship with God first and foremost, but, hold on, because we’ll expand that idea globally in just a bit. Psalm 24: 4-5 tells us of this relationship by asking who may stand in God’s holy place: “Only those whose hands and heart are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.” In law, we have the doctrine of unclean hands. It means (loosely) that, if you are just as guilty, you cannot come to court seeking a remedy for what has been done to you. For instance, and I promise this actually happened, if you are selling drugs, you should not call the police because someone stole your drug money. Clean hands, pure heart, faithful relationship—these are things which we should be striving for in life. 

            James also touches on the idea talking about someone who wanders from faith and is brought back. He notes that the person bringing the wandering one back will be greatly celebrated. That is because we shouldn’t be nosy about one another’s business, but we should help one another grow and develop in our relationship with God. Our desire should be to help, lift up, and encourage one another, not destroy and tear each other down, and not to meddle in one another’s lives for bad purposes. There’s an old saying, “Live and let live.” I actually think it’s a little lacking because we are all connected to a degree. My college community service group expanded on it saying, “Live, let live, and help live.” We should be about the business of helping others to live, to love, and to grow in faith, peace, and hope. 

            Lastly, not only do we live in right relationship with God, but we should also live in good relationship with those around us. Not only do we render to God what is God’s, but we must also contend at some point with Caesar. That calls us to stand for truth and justice in this world, even as Christ teaches and did himself. That doesn’t mean dragging the church through politics. But there are Gospel and Biblical truths on which the church must stand and insist. 

            We must take a stand to be reconciling and welcoming of all people who seek God and who seek to worship with us. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This is Paul’s clear call to stop seeing differences and separations and to start living as if each person we see is a child of God in need of God’s loving, changing, and matchless grace. As a quote I saw recently said, “You will never look into the eyes of someone God does not love. Always be kind.” 

            We are to stand on the truth of helping the poor, the widow, and the orphan. In Mark 12 Jesus told a parable about the faith of a widow who gave everything she had. In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about caring for the least of these. In Exodus we read the command not to take advantage of the widow or orphan. In Luke 14, Jesus says when you prepare a banquet invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.

            Jesus also defends the marginalized in life including parables and stories about the good work of Samaritans and speaking with the Samaritan woman. Jesus also defends the immoral woman charging that the one without sin should cast the first stone. Over and over, we see Jesus, and those who followed him standing for what is right, not on politics, not on Democrat or Republican, right or left leaning policies, but on the truth of the Gospel and the commandments to us in the rest of the Bible. These things the church cannot ignore or compromise on. Our ultimate mission is to bring grace and God’s love to the world, but we cannot shirk the other duties given us as well, to listen and to do God’s Word as James says. 

            The church must stand firm on what is right, yet also the church must live in the modern era of life. James calls us to maturity and growth. Change in life is inevitable, but I’ve learned people don’t necessarily fear change. They fear loss, that something may be taken away from them. But here is another truth I know. As long as you and I stand in right relationship with God, and render to God what is God’s, he will continue to help us to grow. We will never be abandoned and never be lost and wandering. God never has and never will leave us. But, be mindful not to let the distance between you and God grow either. Follow closely as God leads and even as God continues to march us forward—perhaps into the unknown, but always in faith. 

            https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/704640570113769

The Book of James: Patience

Patience and Endurance: Job 1: 1-4, 20-22; James 5:7-11

            A friend of mine and someone I consider to be a wise person once told me, “Never pray for patience. God will teach it to you, and you won’t like it.” I believe we all have some instances where we have zero patience in life. When we sit in traffic that simply won’t let up, our moods drop and our inclination to hit the horn grows minute by minute. Those times we have to drive through Atlanta during rush hour, we can feel our hands tightening on the steering wheel and our blood pressure increasing. 

            Or, perhaps closer to home, there are times we are standing 15 people deep in a line at the Wal-Mart check out and only two registers are open. I know from some of you, that in those times you get the closest to a meltdown that you’ll ever be. I, too, share in that struggle. But there’s a common theme. This idea of patience always comes up in our tough times. It’s the common theme that when all is well, you don’t need to patiently endure, patience is only needed when there is a struggle either on its way or already upon us. 

            One of the most difficult aspects of having patience is that patience grows in our waiting periods of life. James writes, “be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return.” And we are then told to take courage with the example of farmers who wait for the rain to fall and harvest to ripen. This idea of waiting is found all throughout the Bible: Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Isaiah 30: 18 says, “Blessed are those who wait on God.” And perhaps the greatest words on waiting, Isaiah 40;31, “But they that wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint.” 

            Our waiting periods are a time to grow closer to God, and patience is the bridge which gets us there. We continue in these days to see trials and turmoil. I saw a comic the other day had someone staring out the window, and they said, “Looking out to see what part of The Book of Revelation we’re living through today.” But in trying times, we must patiently and actively wait for God’s Word and God’s healing. We must have patience over panic if we see safety and security crumble. We must patiently and pointedly hold out until justice is done for those on life’s margins. Waiting is more than sitting idly by. Waiting is a time of preparation and a time of work. Let patience grow in your waiting periods, and let your strength be renewed during waiting periods. The struggle is there, but so is God’s strength. Don’t waste the wait. 

            James also teaches us that endurance is the power to overcome and the final product of our patience. James writes in verse 11 that we give great honor to the ones who endure through suffering. But there is also a promise of restoration at the end of the suffering, “for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.” Romans 5: 3 and 4 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” 

            Endurance builds the character which strengthens our confident hope. This means that patient endurance is the hallmark of a mature faith. It is the actual living of the “I can” attitude for those who say, “I can do all things through Christ.” Patience and endurance may go hand in hand, but neither one is easy to live with. Both require us to trust in God. There are really only two options we have in times of trial—trust in God and wait with patience and endurance, or walk away. The latter choice will never bring us peace or comfort in the long run. 

            I remember a friend who talked about her struggles with patience and endurance and managing to get through trials in a graceful way. She is an older woman, and she said for most of her life when things were unpleasant or difficult, she made sure people knew it. If she was going to suffer, she was going to let everyone else know loudly and boldly that she wasn’t happy. That means it was frequent and consistent that she was complaining about something in life annoying her, bothering her, or causing her some level of distress. Three of us were in the car headed to a meeting, and after that statement, we prepared for the worst through the next 45 minutes of the trip. After a pause, however, she said, “But I stopped it as I grew older. I realized that no matter how much I complained, how much I made other people struggle as well, I still had to endure through the trial.” 

            And finally, we are given the example of Job, who lived a life showing patience, endurance, and restoration in the end. Job was a man who had everything he could ever want in life: a great family, land, livestock, servants, quite literally everything. But in one short time period, all was taken away from him, and Job began to endure the worst trial imaginable. He lost family, land, servants, livestock, and even the support of his wife and friends. He was left utterly alone and without much hope at all. 

            But Job had the kind of mature faith needed to wait for the Lord. Job had the patience to endure the struggles and trials until the end. In fact Job lasts for 42 very, very long chapters. This was not a quick or easy waiting period by any means. But Job sets his attitude and his trust in God early on, and never, never waivers. He says, “The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord.” And perhaps we read one of the boldest statements of faith and trust in the next line: “In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.” 

            In the end, Job was rewarded. All of his blessings were returned, and everything which was taken from him was restored. Job 42 tells us that God actually restored twice what Job had before. This doesn’t take away the pain of the suffering, but it shows that God has in mind restoration, hope, and life instead of destruction and death. Job saw that God’s promises were true. Remember that in every painful waiting period, there is a new and wonderful thing awaiting. Sometimes that is restoration double fold here on earth, and sometimes that promise is eternal, not earth-bound. Remember that when we patiently endure, the end result is always hope, even when it seems to be such a far way off. Hope is still there even as we continue to trust in God. 

            But the waiting is tough. I was once told never to pray for patience, for God will teach it to you, and you won’t like it. But patient waiting is where we find God’s presence most strongly with us. Patient waiting is where we spend our time growing and preparing. If we trust and endure, God will always see us through to our hope made real. Patiently listen, willingly do, endure to the end until hope is a reality. This isn’t just a good thought or wishful thinking. It is a promise which God himself has made. 

The Book of James: Integrity

James 4: 13 through 5:6—“Integrity” 

Growing up I often heard the phrase, “A good man is hard to find.” It was always said with a bit of a smirk and wink like some kind of inside joke for adults only. I’m sure many of you have heard that phrase as well, or have maybe even said it: a good man is hard to find. It was later on in life as a college student that I began to read Flannery O’Conner in my American Literature class. The phrase came from her book by the same title. Out of interest and the general commands of my professor to read it for the exam, I read through the book late one night. 

And, oh, wow. It is a short story about the meaninglessness of life including a serial killer, violent murder descriptions, and human suffering—very incredibly dark stuff. There was nothing uplifting or redeeming in it at all. Yes, it was a very good story, but not for the faint of heart. But as I read through James 4 and 5 and thought on what it means to be “good” or morally right, the word that came up over and over was integrity. As it is Father’s Day, we need to talk a little bit about fathers even though some of us have, at best, strained relationships with our own dads. The question we should ask is this: have we lost integrity? Is a good man (or woman) really hard to find these days? 

The first step to having integrity is understanding the phrase, “if the Lord wants.” James talks about people who say, “I will do this or that,” and set up very definitive plans which may or may not part of the Lord’s will. For James, plans are nice, but God’s will is the best one can do. He asks how we will know what life is like tomorrow as we plan and move in our lives, and suggests that such plans are simply our own boasting . Instead we should approach life from the perspective of “if the Lord wants us to…” This idea is in our prayers as we say, “Thy will be done.” It’s in our hymns, as Amanda sang, “All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.” Integrity means we see our own short-sightedness and rely on God’s wisdom and foresight to guide us. Yes we will go, and yes will will act, “if the Lord wants.” 

But integrity also calls us to act when necessary and not remain quiet in the shadows. James writes that “it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not to do it.” There are a couple of ways this can occur. The first is that we simply forget either willfully or recklessly. James believed Christianity was a continuation of the Jewish traditions with Christ added into the mix, in a very simple explanation. Others believed Christianity was a whole new thing, separate and distinct from Judaism. James is attempting to call back those who have wandered from what he believed was the right approach. 

But for us, we often simply get too busy or distracted to follow God or to do what we ought to do. Be kind one to another. Respecting one another’s boundaries. These are things we often forget about or try to avoid because we don’t like them. Integrity means that we live in such a way that we respect the idea that each is made in the image of God. We must remember this and that respect and care are things we are called to do. But also we wrestle with people who simply don’t care about following God’s ways and what is right. As Ephesians 6:12 says, we wrestle against “principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world.” 

Having integrity means that we hear God’s call, respond to God’s word, and know that doing otherwise sets us on the pathways of wrongdoing. We have to set aside these desires to delve into selfish motivation or manipulation for our own motives. This idea is the repeated theme of James throughout his Epistle—hear what God says and do it! If we are to have integrity we must respond in this way. 

Finally, one of the biggest issues for James that causes problems with our integrity is our positions of power in life and over one another. In Acts 2: 44-45 we read, “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” The early church understood that each and every person was simply a broken human being needing Christ’s grace in his or her life. They understood the importance of helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and sharing as each one had. 

James points out the power issues and suffering he sees in his day. The rich have fine clothes, gold and silver, great wealth, but it is all useless. For all that has been hoarded will testify against the proud and powerful on the final day. The stories which will mark them are those of cheated field workers and the murdered innocents. A wise person once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Well, actually, it was the comic book character Spider Man, but the wisdom is no less powerful. As followers of Christ, as people of integrity, we cannot use what power we have to exploit and abuse. Christ calls us to care for the least of these. And how we do treat the least of these will testify to our faith and integrity. 

So may it never be said of us that good men and women are hard to find. We need to make sure that good people are easy to find in this world. That starts with parents, and fathers, who teach the truth and what is right. That starts with people who set an example of love and care, who do right in all place both in public and when nobody is watching. It starts with people of Christ who encourage life and hope in a weary and hurting world. Many of you have talked to me about everything going on and the worry and unsettled feeling our present trials bring. The answer is two fold—first we must pray, then we must live as people of integrity and people of Christ. If you cannot find good in the world, then go out (safely with a mask) and be the good in the world. Be the light of Christ. 

Many of us grew up with the saying that a good man (or woman) is hard to find. But I believe that saying is actually untrue, because if you look closely, you will find them. You will see them in the homeless shelters and the treatment centers. You will see them in churches and in missions. You will see them at home and in the streets. Look around. You will find people of integrity who love God and work hard in faith to bring life and hope. And each one of us has the opportunity, or even the call from God, to be one of those people. I with you all a Happy Father’s Day, and pray for you to be blessed and strengthened with God’s almighty power. 

"What's Next?" Pastor Chris Carter, The Healing Experience Ministries

1 Peter 3:15-16,

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and ready always to an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

The past few months I have been one whose spirit has been a little low. I for one have become quite tired perhaps even weary. Every time I turn on television, the radio, browse on social media it’s so much negativity. I do understand we are in midst of pandemic named COVID-19, facing yet again pandemic of racism and I do believe those things should be addressed. I’m afraid that our conversations and attitudes have been influenced by all of these issues of the world. I have notice more fear than faith. More anger than assurance. More reactive measures than proactive.

If you had any ounce of joy, you watch tv or scroll social media and sadly just pick up the phone and converse it will deplete it.

What needs to happen in the midst of a world looking for answer?
What needs to happen when all one feel is fear and faith seems to be on edge?

What needs to happen when thoughts and prayers aren’t enough?
I definitely know In the midst of all that is going on we need some hope.

Exegesis:

In our text Peter instructs Christians to focus intently on Christ's role as our master, living as if that were absolutely true in all cases, even in suffering and a pandemic . Peter calls us to full submission to Christ. In everything and everyway.

When we set apart Christ as Lord, it will change us. Peter says those who observe us will notice the difference. That difference is hope.
Hope by definition; is to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment...to expect with confidence, it’s a trust factor. It’s our faith.

Even amid our suffering or a pandemic...our hopefulness or our confidence, our expectation ,our defense should be apparent. So, Peter instructs us to be ready to answer the question our life should inspire: "How can you be so hopeful in such difficult circumstances?"

Peter anticipates people will become curious. Hopefulness and joy are starkly different from the normal human response to suffering. So much so that people will be eager to understand it. What will we say when they ask?

Quite frankly, I think for those of us who have been weary and tired perhaps that’s God tug on our hearts burdening us to response in hope, love, and truth.

Here’s what’s next! Tell your story!

Application:

Here’s why you should tell your story... your story has hope and

1. Renews your faith

You ever tell of a happy memory and it cause you to have this big smile. It brightens you up. That what happens when you share your story it reminds you of when you first met God and it renews that passion and Fire.

Perhaps you been one who has been like Revelations says neither hot nor cold you been lukewarm. I pray you are not one that has to hear, “ I have an alt with you, you have left your first love!”

Maybe Today God is challenging you to go back to your testimony of how God saved you. Delivered and liberated you and watch how it renews your faith.

2. Introduces God’s love.

In 1965 there was this popular song penned by Hal David recorded by Jackie DeShannon .

After the second verse he penned kind of a pray or a cry to a God he says... Oh listen, lord, if you want to know.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love, No, not just for some but for everyone.

When you tell your story it tells of a saviors love who died to set us free. Jesus is what we need. It’s more than enough. The world needs the gospel that’s why he calls us to be disciples.

Ecclesiastes 1:14 Solomon shared he tried all sorts of stuff and he penned
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

There are many who have this void and tried so much and don’t understand the love of God. They have sought love in the wrong places and in people. Some believe love is physical but it’s not it’s spiritual and it connects with us and therefore we connect with others.

When they understand God’s love it will birth love ...agape love ( unconditional love) in their hearts.

Finally,

3. Your story can unlock their breakthrough

I have often heard in evangelism classes I the quote from Revelation 12:11 . That we overcome by the blood of the lamb and my others testimony. That was the appeal to share your personal story of redemption and healing.

Your story connects with another and it can impact them to the point they say wait If God did it for you He can do it for me.

I love Clay Evan song there is no secret what God can do what he’s done for others He’ll do for you.

I have heard folks say I’m too deep now. God don’t love me. It’s no hope. I even heard believer say there is no hope for this world.

Good thing Jesus said I have overcome the world. There is nothing to impossible for God.

Allow me to renew my faith this morning.
He changed my life. Chronologically blessed saints would say I’m not where I want to be but I’m far from where I use to be. I can tell you Pastor Chris has been changed and now it’s hard to keep it to my self.

To the drug addict, to the alcoholic, to the prostitute, to the lustful, to America. He changed me and he can change you.Celebration:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found Was blind but now I see...

Shackled by a heavy burden 'Neath a load of guilt and shame Then the hand of Jesus touched me And now I am no longer the same

He touched, oh, he touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul! Something happened, and now I know He touched me, and made me whole.

+In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

The Book of James: Humility and Judgment

Humility and Judgment: James 4: 1-12

I have been racking my brain this week to try and come up with a sermon that encompasses: dealing with racism, COVID-19 fear, economic havoc, distress from sheltering in place, supporting peaceful protest while condemning violence and destruction all the while providing hope and wisdom  then wrapping up in about 15-18 minutes. As someone recently said to me, “I don’t envy any preachers trying to write sermons these days.” So, when in doubt, talk about food, right? 

There are two dishes which no one likes to eat. One is incredibly bitter; the other one is extremely sour. But at some time or another we all need to eat a little bit of both. One you may know as humble pie. The other one is eating crow, or as I’m fond of saying, “How do you like to eat your crow—fried or grilled?” However, I believe in our modern society, we’ve been unwilling to eat enough of either one. But unfortunately, those two dishes are the only ones James puts on the menu for us today. 

Nobody likes humble pie. It’s bitter, embarrassing, and leaves a bad taste in your mouth for some time. Yet James serves it up in droves here in chapter four, round about verse 7, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” Older translations say this as, “Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord.” Humility is a characteristic we seem to have forgotten or found too distasteful to practice these days. 

James led the church in a similarly difficult time. There was confusion and clamor over whether the church should follow historic Jewish rituals, or not. and whether they should admit Gentiles, or not. In fact, this book is written similarly in time to a Great Debate in Acts over who to admit to the church. Should the Gentiles be welcomed as well, and if so, under what conditions? Peter, Paul, James and others could not agree, and at times the debates got heated. James was likely not the powerful preacher Peter was, nor was he the heavyweight debater Paul could be. But James went home and cooked up some humble pie and crow. 

He writes, “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you. Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, so you wage war to take it way from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” Much of our time as humans is spent fighting over power. We like to be privileged, to be in charge, to be right about things. The need for power and control almost always brings quarrels and fights. 

We live in a world where racism and prejudice are real. We live in a country where wealthy and white citizens have had advantages our poor and our black communities have not. And the truth is, you can still love your country and be a patriot while continuing to grow and change and find better ways of living and being. But at the same time, we must also say the violence and death in order to achieve power comes from evil motives and must be condemned whether that violence is from police, politicians, or rioters. Intentionally harming other people is wrong in all ways. And the best counter to such things is a bit of humble pie.

James writes to us, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” I think, that is our starting point. If we live in humility before our Sovereign God, we will find that all the clamor, all the power, all the need to be right is just not that important. For what is important is our relationship to the One who created us. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. That’s, ultimately, where our greatest concern should lie. 

But James also cooks up another dish which is just as naggingly difficult as humble pie, and that is when he offers for us to eat crow. “Don’t speak evil against one another dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law.” This is James much more educated way of saying, “Every one be quiet and go to your room.” The first step is to find in ourselves a bit of humility—to perhaps say there are endemic problem in our hearts and in our society where we need to protect and look out for vulnerable people, while at the same time striving for peace in our lives.

But we must also realize that in humility we must not judge others. There are some who are staunch Conservative Republicans who disagree with liberals and Democrat ideas. There are some who are staunch Liberal Democrats who disagree with Republicans and their ideas. There are some who staunchly support President Trump, and there are some who strongly oppose. The problem is we’ve allowed this politicization of our society to infect our hearts and our faith. James teaches us, “God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. God alone has the power to save or destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?” We are told in other scripture, to judge not, lest we too are judged. 

The church is designed to stand on God’s Word, for the truth the Bible teaches us, for the love of Christ, and for grace and peace for all humankind on the earth.  That should not be a political issue. Loving our neighbor should not be politicized. We need to go back and remember to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. But at the same time, we are called to stand for God’s justice and to follow, obediently, God’s word. At times that will teach us to pray for wisdom and safety from our houses during a pandemic. Other times God’s Word will call us to venture out and be willing to risk ourselves for the faith. 

Sometimes, we will be called to peacefully stand against injustice and suffering for what is right. The beauty of faith is that each one of you has a Bible, your faith, your mind, and the Holy Spirit to guide you. It is not our job to speak for God, because through those tools God can speak on his own to you and me, and to lead us in our calling and mission on this Earth. 

The beauty of faith is that we don’t have to all agree, vote the same way, look the same, or have the same background. One of my favorite beliefs of the Disciples of Christ is this: “In essentials, Unity; in non-essentials, Liberty; and in all things, Charity.” But at the end of the day, we must all covenant to work together in Christ’s love and for the good of God’s people. Each and every person was created in God’s image, and each and every person should know of Christ’s loving welcome. At the end of the day, that is our calling, to share the Good News, to stand for what is right as God leads us, and to love God and our neighbors. Nobody likes to eat crow or receive a slice of humble pie. Yet, that is exactly what James serves us today. If we are to be the church we must focus on those essentials: love God, love our neighbor, and share the Good News of grace without preference or favor, for, as we are told, God so loved the whole world. 

Pentecost Sunday

The Gifts of the Spirit: Acts 2: 1-12; I Cor. 12: 4-13

Not long after I moved into my house on Waverland Drive here in Macon, a family member, who is going to remain nameless, gave me a Christmas gift. It was a large box wrapped in gorgeous paper and bows. I was supremely excited for what this gift could be. With a big grin, excited about getting something more than a gift card, I tore off the paper, and there it was…a leaf blower. And not just any leaf blower…one that required a special mix of gasoline to operate. I couldn’t help but notice that a gas can was not included. Some items sold separately. I had a regular yard service at that time, so the gift went into my hallway closet until by some magical occurrence it walked itself to the church yard sale. 

Sometimes we receive really big, overwhelming gifts, and we simply sit there asking, “What do I do with this?” On Pentecost we celebrate that God gave us the big gift—the Holy Spirit, our guide, our comforter, our Savior dwelling with us and in us. Just as the early disciples discovered, the Holy Spirit gives power, strength, conviction to follow God, to speak the truth, and to live Christ-like in this life. 

But then we read in First Corinthians that we have other gifts as well, and here things get a bit more complicated. I guess the simplest way to understand this is to ask two questions: what are spiritual gifts, and what do we do with them? First Corinthians tells us right at the beginning that there are many gifts but one Spirit who is the source. That would be God dwelling in us as the Holy Spirit. “God works,” we are told, “in different ways, but is the same God who does the work in all of us.” This work within us is seen in the gifts we possess.

We are given this definition, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us, so we can help each other.” A spiritual gift is both a talent or ability coupled with a calling or a push to share that gift in some way. Some are given the ability to speak in wisdom, while some are given the ability of knowledge. The simplest way to describe these two is to say that knowledge is knowing what to do and wisdom is knowing how to do it. We are also told some have faith, and some have the gift of healing. 

Others have the gift of prophecy while some have discernment. Another set of gifts going hand in hand is that of speaking in tongues and the interpretation thereof. In each of our lives there are many gifts. This is not an exhaustive list. Some have a gift for planning and organization. Some have a gift for teaching, and others for sharing music and arts. Others are gifted in leadership and strength. There are many, many gifts of the Spirit, and each one of us has some kind of gift to further God’s kingdom. 

We are called to use this gifts as God gives them. If you have the skill and ability, use it! Our gifts are meant to show Christ and Christ’s love in this world, of furthering the work of God, and equipping the church to lead in our communities and nation. It’s much like the light we receive from Christ, we must let it shine. Hide it under a bushel—no! Don’t let Satan blow it out! This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. 

Letting our light shine means we use our gifts routinely and for Godly purposes. Sometimes that looks at caring for one another. Many of you have been calling and checking in on one another, have encouraged and reached out in marvelous ways to keep our members connected and reminded that there is a body of Christ who loves them. Shining our light and using our gifts also means we have to take daring and challenging stands for what is right. In our modern society we must confront racism, bigotry, and hatred. We must say that kneeling on the throat of a black man until he suffocates to death with depraved indifference is wrong. 

We see this two part way of the light of Christ and sharing of gifts even in the early church. Acts 2, near the end, says the apostles sold all they had and cared for one another as they were able—especially the poor, widows, and orphans. But over and over in Acts we hear the record of the apostles speaking out. They preached Christ’s love and grace, redemption, and a new way of faith that saw beyond all the complex rules and hierarchy of old religions. Instead, all that mattered was a relationship with a loving Savior, “for in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” 

One of the fastest ways to solve our problems is to stop looking at the inherent differences we see and to start seeing all of the people around us as either children of God or God’s creation. When the apostles received the Holy Spirit, they went out and spoke and preached. Logic would say that they would speak only in their own known language, likely Aramaic or some regional dialect. But everyone who heard their preaching they spoke in other languages and all who were gathered heard the message of God’s love in his or her own native language, whether from Judea, Mesopotamia, Asia, Egypt, Arabic nations,…all heard a language they understood. 

God broke down the differences that day. There was neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, all the different people heard about how they, too, could be God’s beloved. Knowledge teaches us that no matter where we come from, we are all human; faith teaches us to treat one another with Christ-like love accordingly. Faith teaches us that we must believe God has a plan for all and for every neighbor; healing means we put our calling to work. Prophecy said we must stand for justice and God’s truth; discernment tells us who needs to hear. Speaking in tongues is God’s language of grace to the world; interpretation means we must help the world to know and understand. There are many gifts, all of them designed to give us the best witness of God’s love if we use them. 

Sometimes we are given a gift we don’t understand. That Christmas several years ago, I stood, holding the box of the leaf blower. I shook it a bit, glanced at the directions, and promptly hid it away. That next fall, I regretted not learning how to work the thing when my yard became covered by leaves and debris from the changing season. God gives us gifts which are meant to be used, to break down walls of difference that keep us from one another and keep others from knowing the love of Christ. “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” There are many, many gifts, but one Spirit, and since God has equipped us, we should be ready for God to call us. 

The Book of James: Wisdom

James: The Wisdom of God: I Kings 3: 1-15; James 3: 13-18

When I first passed the Bar Exam, I had to go through a mentoring program in order to complete my continuing education. It’s required of all new lawyers in Georgia. It just so happened I had taken a couple of mediation courses with an attorney who agreed to provide this mentoring. I’ll never forget a story he told about wisdom in times of trouble. A man went to a local wise woman asking about how to find peace in life. She handed him a bottle with a duck happily swimming in it. “Get the duck out without harming either the duck or bottle,” she said. The man comes back saying he could smash the bottle, but was told that wouldn’t work because he couldn’t damage the bottle. 

Shortly thereafter he came back believing he could yank the duck out. “No,” he was told, “That may harm the duck.” Finally he came back a week or two later with a big smile on his face. He put the duck in a bottle down in front of the wise woman and said, “Not my duck, not my bottle, not my problem.” She replied, “Ah, yes, you have learned.” James teaches us about wisdom in our text for today. Sometimes wisdom is minding our own business, but sometimes wisdom calls us to act on problems in life. On Memorial Day weekend, we talk about sacrifice, suffering, and especially from our soldiers who return from war in many cases broken and vulnerable. That IS our problem. When you live with tremendous power, you must also have tremendous wisdom. 

The wisdom from God is shown in living an honorable life. James tells us, “If you are wise and understand God’s way, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.” Wisdom has to start with the idea of humility. We see it in Solomon, who displays for us that he’s not automatically wise, or simply born that way. He has to ask God, rely on God, for the wisdom that he has. If you intend to be wise, it starts with a humble admission that an honorable life, and the good works we do come from the humility to rely on God. 

Now, some folks pretend to have God’s wisdom, and try to cover over the fact that they, in fact, do not. James tells us that earthly or human’s best attempt at wisdom masquerades as something else and can clearly be seen in versus 14 and 15 by bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, and covering up the truth with boasting and lying. Those with God’s wisdom have no cause to be bitter or jealous, for their wisdom and ability are found in their relationship with God. It’s our sin that tells us to be jealous of others, and in fact if you consider jealousy and envy similar, then it’s one of the seven deadly sins. Again Christians do not need to be selfishly ambitious for what we have is a gift from God and not of our own merit. And because these two things are sins, they are usually covered up by loud boasting and lies. 

We are told over and over in Proverbs and by Paul not to boast, or be proud, or puffed up. Jesus said the first shall be last and the last shall be first, so wining, being number one, and bragging about all things do not follow Jesus’s teachings. These things are not God’s kind of wisdom, says James, and “wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” We should be thankful for our blessings and achievements, giving God the credit. We cannot worship such things, and we must not let the allure of earthly success rob us of holy Savior and holy calling. 

The wisdom we receive from God, however, also has tell-tale signs. James tells us that such wisdom is pure, peace loving, always gentle, willing to yield to others or find grace. Such wisdom is full of mercy and good deeds, shows no favoritism, and is rooted in sincerity. These things bear a striking resemblance to Paul’s fruits of the spirit. If you want to see whether someone is operating (or whether you and I are operating) with God’s holy wisdom look to those things: peaceful, loving, gentle, merciful, sincere, and pure. Many people believe hat the louder they are the smarter they seem, but God’s wisdom is seen in Christ-like action coupled with decision-making led by God, not by how often one can spout off. 

I will never forget one time I was in the courtroom and there was a very slick, fancy Atlanta lawyer who had come down to show us poor bumpkins down in Macon how this law stuff was supposed to go. It was a civil case, and he was 15 minutes late, strolling in importantly and pompously with a fancy suit and big coif of hair. He proceeded to holler and interrupt, talking over the local attorney, interrupting him with loud “NO!” shouts. He cited no cases and provided no state laws, but he could bluster, huff, and puff in front of the judge. Finally, the Macon lawyer found his commanding voice and in two sentences skewered the blustering fool. Defeated at his game, the fancy Atlanta lawyer went home and dropped his case entirely. 

How do we have wisdom? We must follow the example of Solomon. He first realized how inadequate he was. Though he was a smart man, in his humility, he realized the need for God to provide wisdom and guidance. He says to God, “I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around.” Then he simply asked God for the wisdom to do what was right, saying, “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” It goes back to an earlier part of James, if you lack for something, ask God for it in faith. 

But also, be willing to sacrifice. Solomon could have had anything else—riches, power, everything. But he asked for wisdom, and because God was so pleased with Solomon, he was given everything else he could ever want. Memorial Day Weekend for many is a fun holiday, but for others it is a painful reminder of sacrificed the wisdom to know when such sacrifices must be made to help and protect others. 

Sometimes wisdom tells us to stay out of places where our nose doesn’t belong—not my duck, not my bottle, not my problem. But we must also have to wisdom to know when to act. On Memorial Day we pause and remember the sacrifice of our men and women who gave themselves for our freedom, our lives, and our peace. In these times we are called to small sacrifices as well—to wear a mask in public, to stay out of large groups, to protect the fragile and elder ones in our communities. Those things really aren’t much to ask—in reality—they’re a minor inconvenience to us. 

Others have sacrificed far more: our soldiers on the battle fields, our police in the streets, black and brown men and women struggling for equal rights under the law, those around our nation who put themselves in harm’s way each and every day have learned what wisdom means—personal sacrifice because you love someone and want good for them. It’s what Jesus did for us. Christ laid down his life so that we might have hope here and in the hereafter. God’s wisdom teaches us to be gentle and humble, peaceful and merciful. The greatest sacrifice one can give is to lay down his or her life for another. So let us be grateful and mindful, and humbled by those who in wisdom counted the cost and gave everything they had for us, in that same way that Christ loved and sacrificed as an example of grace. 

The Book of James: Words Matter

Words Matter: James 3: 1-12

Words matter. I’ll never forget hearing that in a closing argument years ago. The poor lawyer had gone all the way through the case, which had been tough to say the least, and was now at the end—the closing, the summation, her time to shine. The problem was—she really had nothing she could say and could think of no real way to defend her client. So she stood up, looked the jury squarely in the eye and said: “Words matter.” It flowed powerfully and carefully from that point talking about the witnesses’ words, listening to them, the importance, what might be said or missed. 

After careful deliberation, the jury came back and seated itself, poised to deliver a verdict that was carefully considered, a verdict which spoke the truth, and which understood that words matter. In the end the guy went to prison because he was guilty as homemade sin. But the phrase still resonated—words matter. The problem James presents to us today is controlling our tongue. Now the tongue itself is just a mechanism for speech. It doesn’t really do much in and of itself. But the tongue is controlled by the heart, and in that control can do more damage than any other power we have. 

James starts on a specific point then becomes more general in his discussion of words and speech. First he notes that teachers should be guarded in their role. In the scripture he says, “not many you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.” He then talks to teachers and to everyone more generally, “For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way” Teachers should actually have the spiritual gift of teaching. In James’ day everyone wanted to be a teacher, and it created problems in the a church filled with everyone saying different things to the members. Such a situation confused and alienated people. 

Teachers have a deep responsibility in the formation of faith in people. As a child, if you regularly went to church, sermons and services were not where you learned your faith; it was Sunday School with a teacher. I will never forget my Aunt Jenny carefully teaching us in our small church with the old school flannel boards and cut outs of Bible figures. She is a gifted teacher, was precise in her teaching, and between her and the other Sunday School folks, I learned a lot about the stories of the Bible. And as I recall, most of my Sunday School teachers brought snacks, which is the best way to learn and get the attention of a kid. But teachers should also be cautions to teach truth as God reveals it and even when that truth is tough to hear. 

As James moves more generally, he notes that people should be willing to lean on God’s help for controlling their words. Ultimately, words have great power. The example James gives us is that by placing a bit in the horse’s mouth where the tongue is, you can control the entire animal. Likewise, a small rudder, similar to a tongue, can control an entire ship. This small thing can control and do so much. But we must realize that both the ship and the horse are under the direction of the rider or the pilot, just as the heart controls the tongue, and we can see whether God controls the heart. 

Therefore, we should refrain from words that harm others. We should be quick to avoid gossip—something we all may struggle with, and chief of sinners though I may be! We should avoid criticizing others from on high, avoid trash talking about people, avoid abusive language in our conversations. The words we say and the way we say them have the power to destroy an already fragile mind and spirit. 

Words, then, have great potential for evil and should be watched over carefully. Look at the power—God spoke the world into existence. Christ spoke words of comfort never heard before. Paul’s preaching converted tens of thousands. Peter’s testimony literally founded the concept of Christianity and the church. And the best we can do is tell a dirty joke from time to time. Verses 8 and 9 warn us that no one can tame the tongue for it is restless and evil, “Sometimes it praises our Lord…and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.” When we speak it should not be for destructive purposes, least of all to our brothers and sisters made in God’s image. 

But, words have great possibilities and can produce good things. James tells us about good and proper fruit being produced by the olive and fig trees, of fresh water bubbling up from a spring. These things are wonderful, refreshing, powerful. And I love that last bit—you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. I remind myself regularly, when I get in some kind of way, that God’s Word says I better not be salty. Ultimately you cannot bless God while cursing God’s creation. Our words and speech should reflect God both in singing God’s praises and in speaking to God’s people. 

Perhaps, if we have trouble, we can look to a little checklist that Paul gives us in Philippians 4:8, which tells us, “And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” It’s a good verse, but it needs to be placed into context for us.

We should consider the following questions before we speak. Do we know it’s true? Does it bring honor to the person spoken to as well as to God? Is it a fair thing to say? Is it free from slander? Is it free from fault and malice? Does it portray the person or object in the best possible light? Is what we say positive and worthy of others (and especially children) to imitate? Does it look for the best in someone? 

Words matter. How we speak and what we say is a reflection of God working in our hearts and guiding our minds. It is so easy to be tempted to say something mean, hurtful, and bad simply because it’s funny, or gives us a false sense of power, or because our emotions outweigh our good sense and God’s grace. Speak with grace. Speak with the love of Christ and the goodness of God. Speak carefully. Speak in such a way that people hear the words of Christ speaking through your very voice and your very words which give life and hope to a weary world. Words matter, so use them carefully. 

The Book of James: Faith and Works

Faith and Works: James 2: 14-26

As we continue in James, an epistle which teaches us about our personal growth as Christians, we look today at James’s idea about the “authenticity of our faith.” How do we know something tangible and powerful is actually at work in a heart and mind? It reminds me of a story about my mother. Every morning before school we had a little routine. As she let me out in the drop-off line, she would say, “Remember the most important thing.” I would respond, “I love you and do good.” 

Now early on, I think that meant I should do my best in school, but as we discussed it, “do good” took on a very different and more powerful (even if unintended) message. So, as a study I read on James said, “We are saved by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone.” James very clearly believes and advocates that there should be some clear evidence of faith in our lives—and that is found in our actions. 

When we consider how faith and action relate, we look to verse 14: “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?” We often talk about the idea that there’s nothing more we need than faith, but there is also a hard truth for us as followers of Christ. The way we live our lives, how we treat others, and how we live are a direct testimony to the faith in our lives. We should never be in the business of judging one another’s faith, but James begs of us—how will the world ever know about the power and impact of faith if they never see it? 

What we do is a product of what we believe. If you are mean and hard-hearted on a regular basis, then it says you are okay with that. If you utterly refuse to help the poor both physically and in spirit, or you choose to judge and punish the poor even further, then it shows a rejection of God’s call to help (as seen in last week’s sermon). James even goes so far as to say, “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” 

James gives us an example. We see someone without food or clothing, and upon seeing them we offer our warmest wishes and go about our way. That won’t suffice—well wishes to those suffering, thoughts and prayers to victims of violence, and a blind eye thereafter, is a faith which is cold, dead, and useless. The Book of James says this clearly and definitely in every single Biblical translation, including the King James Version. 

Faith, then, is demonstrated not in that we speak it correctly, but in our obedience. We are given two examples in James: Abraham and Rahab, and the two could not be more different. Abraham was a patriarch, the father of Israel, and a moral leader of the people. Rahab was a gentile, lived in enemy territory, and was, by trade, a person considered to be of ill-repute. In so many ways Abraham and Rahab were different, so why pair them together as examples? 

The answer is that both of them demonstrated their faith by their obedience. In verse 22, we read about Abraham, “You see, his faith and his actions worked together. his actions made his faith complete.” And about Rahab, we read, “She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid the messengers.” Two very different people in two very different times in history, but they both had the common thread of demonstrating their faith by their actions. When we act in faith, it demonstrates our trust in God. 

This week we all wrestled with the video of an unarmed young black man being chased down and shot by two white men. It cause anger, disgust, and a vast majority of people to rise up and say, this kind of behavior is not okay. In essence, faith demands we stand up for what is right when right is apparent but even when it is not easy. Abraham followed God into an unknown land uncertain of what the future would hold. Rahab could have been killed for sheltering and helping the Israeli messengers. Faith demands action, and faith is demonstrated in our obedience to doing as God directs even when when it is a risk to us, even when we have to take a stand for what is right and just, though being silent would be far easier. 

Lastly, faith is shown in our loving care to help others. James writes in verse 18, “Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’” There is also the argument that , well, anyone can do a good deed or help somebody out, what makes this any different? When we the followers of Christ act, we do so to both be nice and to show others the life-changing power of God’s love. That’s the source of our good works: this faith that teaches us to love God and love one another. 

A good friend of mine in college came from a lower-income, basically single-parent household. He had worked very hard in life and and had gone to school on what was nearly a full scholarship. But as graduate date approached, he was informed that there was an outstanding bill of several hundred dollars which would prevent him from being able to graduate with the rest of us. He had no resources of that nature and no way to pay it. One evening, while chatting with my mom, I mentioned that it was sad he likely wouldn’t be able to graduate with us. Very quietly, without any fanfare or notice, my mom called up to the college finance department and paid off that debt so he would be able graduate. I’ve never said anything about it until now. That, I think, on this Mother’s Day, is the example of faith in action and faith being shown by helping others which will stick with me for the rest of my life. As James asks us, if your faith doesn’t work, what good is it? 

Every morning my mother taught me the two most essential things: I love you, and do good. Both express what faith is about—the love of God and of others, as well as love and faith put into action. When Jesus was on earth he spent time giving us an example—of healing, teaching, lifting up, of working in the margins to help others. If the only thing that mattered was the cross, nothing else about Jesus would be recorded. But he lived to show us a glimpse of the way of God’s kingdom, a standard we are to strive for on earth. As the hymn “Living for Jesus” says, “Such love constrains me to answer [God’s] call, follow his leading and give him my all.” I pray that your faith may be alive, energetic, and a faith rooted in action. And above all remember the most important thing: I love you, and do good.