Devotional - March 7, 2023
James 4: 1-3 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
When picking James as the next book in my Weekly Devotionals, I did not think about Lent. Yet, James is perfect for Lenten meditation. He drives straight to the core of the problems which often originate within ourselves. It makes sense. When two people are confronted by the same problem, one is overwhelmed and the other works right through it. The difference is found within each person. God is certainly gracious, but there are times when we must measure up before we get blessed. Not many want to hear or do it. Instead, they seek ways to take it or get it without doing their interior work. The church is no exception. People have ulterior motives or agendas they seek to accomplish at the expense of God's plan or vision for the church. They go about their tasks in ungodly ways. The result is never good, but ends up costing the church in the end. It's so sad, especially when God is there to aid and support the people (church). The factions in the Jerusalem church were many and strong. They wanted a church. The problem was, they wanted their church. A church that matched their vision of what a church should be, not God's. In a place where two people gather, three opinions can result, rather than Christ's presence. It can make for a lot of problems. So, what to do? We do what James recommended a few chapters back. We peer deep into the perfect law (James 1:25, Luke 10: 25-37), the law of love toward God, others, and ourselves. We do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reason. Unfortunately, many do not have the inner fortitude to do so. They would rather scheme than have faith and go forth. The toll this has taken on the church is immeasurable. Others see it and separate themselves from it. Who needs more trouble in their life, especially at church.
Pray with me, ...Holy God, we confess, we often think our way is right without considering others. We lack the patience and faith needed to work the problem in Your ways, not ours. Help us Lord, so we can be the church You call us to be. We pray for our loved ones, we ask Your blessing upon them. In Jesus name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
