Earlier in this chapter, James writes about our tendency to position ourselves as friends with the world, making us enemies of God. James explains that God’s response to our rebellion is to extend more grace and offer forgiveness. Our response to God’s grace is to humble ourselves before Him and submit.
Jesus said those who are forgiven much, love much. When we recognize that our great offense against God has been forgiven, we live our lives in a different way. James lays out what that looks like in this verse. We no longer speak evil of our brethren, even when they have wronged us. To speak evil of a brother is to speak evil of the law and makes you a judge of the law. As James states, there is only one Lawgiver who is able to save and destroy. If God is able to forgive our great offense, who are we to judge others and speak evil against them. As followers of Christ, we are in the family business of forgiveness.
For the King,
Daniel Batistelli
In a world where it is pretty much everyone for themselves, scripture can correct that. In Philippians, Paul addresses this issue with the Christian believers. It is okay to look out for your own interest. We do need to be good stewards over what the Lord has given us, but the Lord also desires that we would be concerned in what concerns others as well. If we are only concerned over what concerns us, then we are not interested in glorifying God, we are interested in glorifying ourselves.
Whom has the Lord placed in your life that you should care about? Pray the Lord would strip you of your selfishness and see how you can serve others and glorify God.
In Christ,
Pastor Sean Boehm
This verse and passage always forces me to reflect on what my life was like when I first met Jesus in a real and personal way. It was truly like falling in love. I couldn’t get enough of Him in prayer, in reading His Word, and in going to church to be with other believers. It seemed like every prayer was answered, every verse ministered to my heart, every message was spoken directly to me, and all my brothers and sisters had amazing words of encouragement and exhortation every time we met.
When Jesus spoke these words to the church in Ephesus, He was calling them back to this very kind of love relationship. Have you fallen out of love with Jesus? Get back to doing the things you used to do when you first met Him and fall in love all over again.
Remember, repent, return,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw
The book of Job started with him losing just about everything — his possessions, his servants, and his children. He then lost his health and he ended up sitting and scratching at painful boils with a shard of pottery. If that wasn’t enough, three friends came and heaped accusations continually at him until Job reached the point of glorifying himself instead of God. After Elihu, a youngster, spent some time correcting Job, God Himself showed up and let Job know He was in charge and His ways are perfect.
Job’s answer shows he learned the lesson. He admits now upon meeting God, he spoke of things he didn’t understand, wonderful things he didn’t realize.
On reading this, it brings to mind how many times I have spoken out of turn, babbling about subjects beyond my comprehension. Especially when those subjects have to do with God. If we truly understood God — as Job finally does here — we would do a lot more listening and lot less gabbing. May we use our tongues for praise!
Well, shut my mouth!
Pastor Ron Kitchell
Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, addresses the false teaching that had permeated the city regarding the rapture of the Church. He spoke to them about knowing the times and knowing God’s Word. He encourages them in our verse today that they should remember what they had already learned. How vital is that! Remembering what we have learned, building on that knowledge each day.
I have over 10,000 pages of notes having taught through the entire Bible several times. Whenever I start a new book, I pull out the old notes and find myself thrilled again with the verses before me. Why had I forgotten such a good word, forgotten that verse, that lesson, how I felt the last time I considered it. Today, review what you have been learning, write it down, and carry it with you until it becomes part of you. You will be blessed!
Recalling to mind what I have learned,
Pastor Jack Abeelen
Between the Old and the New Testament, there are 400 years of silence. As hard as it is for us to comprehend 400 years, the Bible tells us that’s how long God’s people waited to hear Him speak. At the end of the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophet Malachi – and then nothing. God went silent. It’s hard to imagine such a long time, but for the people who had seen God’s miracles firsthand, 400 years must have felt like an eternity. And the longer God was silent, the worse things got. It certainly seemed as though God had forgotten both His people and His promises.
Can you relate? When God goes silent, it doesn’t take long until we assume God must have forgotten about us. Suddenly we begin to take matters into our own hands – walking away from God in the process. But, God is always at work in our waiting. Waiting reminds us who is ultimately in control and prepares us for what’s next.
Are you in the midst of a season of waiting? Maybe it has been a very long and incredibly frustrating few months or years. You feel as though God has forgotten you; you’re beginning to doubt. Don’t lose hope – God is at work in the waiting. Even during the most challenging seasons, God wants to point us to Jesus. Jesus, the only one who can perfectly and completely fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts.
If you’re seeking hope – look to Jesus. Seeking comfort – look to Jesus. If you’re feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied – look to Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate hope and joy even when the wait feels like 400 years. Through Jesus, the wait is over as our souls find rest in the promise of God fulfilled!
Pastor William Del Casale
Job makes an observation in the above verse about the great speed by which our lives pass. In his despair at losing his children, he does not see any good as the days go by. His situation will change later when he is restored and he has more children. For us though, Job’s statement is a stark reminder of the brevity of life. Those of us who are older are more cognizant of how quickly time passes, but it is hard for the young to notice this phenomena as their perspective leads them to believe that they have all the time in the world.
Like the surprise of the prey as it is caught up in the eagle’s talons, we too will inevitably be caught up by time. As Christians, the end of life here on earth is just the beginning of eternity in the physical presence of God. Until that time, God has a purpose and a calling for our lives. He has a work that He wants to complete in us (Philippians 1:6). Lord, may we yield to Your work in our lives, and may we be mighty instruments of Your will accomplishing the work that You have set out to do through us.
Jeff Mericle
Paul prayed joyfully and regularly for the Ephesians after he heard of their faith and their love for the saints. His first request in v. 17 is that God would grant them “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” and this request is clarified in v. 18 where he reveals just how this spiritual knowledge is transferred to believers: the eyes of our understanding must be enlightened.
For anyone to grow in the wisdom and the knowledge of God, the eyes of our heart must be opened to receive this revelation. Before we were saved, Satan was blinding our eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4). After we are saved, we can still become blind, like the Laodiceans. Since the devil and our human frailties all are working together to blind us, we should be vigilant to pray consistently that God would actively open the eyes of our understanding so we can continue to grow in grace.
So fellow pilgrim, do you yearn for the wisdom and knowledge of God for yourself, or for your spouse, children, and coworkers? Paul has given us not only the words to pray, but the reason why we should pray. God must open our eyes to see Him.
Tom Day
Arthur W. Pink said that, “The Law of God [Ten Commandments] is an expression of His love, a manifestation of His mercy, a provision of His grace.” Deuteronomy 33:2-3 confirms this truth that “God’s fiery law” is because “He loves the people.” Pink goes on to say, “While divine love provided the Law, the prime purpose of God in giving it was that His authority should be maintained. Israel must be brought to see that they were under His government.”
By providing this people with the Mosaic law, they would be able to feel safe, they would be able to own property, and there would be provisions that allow them to enjoy life rather than take from it. The law of sin, that we instinctively operate by, is a law that hinders our freedom and places us in bondage and in opposition to the God we are accountable to.
As Christians under grace and not the Mosaic law, we have an even greater relationship under God’s governing — Christ living inside of us, directing us on the path that leads to life. The 10 commandments have not been replaced by Christ, but rather made possible for us to live out because of Christ. God’s instruction for His saints is always to keep us out of bondage, and as a redeemed people of Christ, may we view His instruction to us as a provision of grace that grants us more freedom, not less.
Pastor Jason Witt
The story of Joseph is one that we are all familiar with. We go to this story when confronted with sin. We tell ourselves, we have to be like Joseph and run. Joseph had the proper perspective of who he was. He knew what his position was in the office he held. He respected his master and all of the power that came with the position. He also understood where he stood before a Holy God. Notice what he says, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
If Joseph were to commit this sin, he would not only be sinning against his master who gave him the position he held, but more importantly it would be sinning against God. This serves as a good reminder to me when I sin. My sin is not only against those who I sin against but more importantly, it’s against God. This should drive us to think about what we’re going to do before we sin the next time.
If today you find yourself struggling with sin, ask yourself the same question Joseph did, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” and run from it knowing that God makes a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Joshua Navarro
