II Samuel 6:12-23
Love is not only something you feel or a spirit connection, it is also something you do. We love God physically. The story of David dancing before the LORD after returning the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem is classic. It is at a time of early success in David's reign. He dances to the LORD with all his might. Some of us have not been taught how to physically worship the LORD. We know to fold our hands or bow our heads, but Old Testament worship is much more active: playing instruments, dancing, clapping, shouting and raising of hands. Lately, I spend part of my time jogging and walking in worship to the LORD. It sure is better than counting steps! It is not easy for me to be physical with my worship. I was brought up in a setting where that was not taught or encouraged. Beside there will be those like David's wife who will not appreciate people making spectacles of themselves in worship. I invite you to consider how you might become more open in your worship. The word worship can literally be translated as "work"ship, a labor of love unto the LORD.
James 1:1-16
How is your faith when the heat is on? James says "Consider it pure joy when you face all kinds of difficulties." We really do have a choice when it comes to handling our problems. We can "spin" trials as unfair things that are undeserved punishments or we can see them as situations that can grow us in the Lord. For when we see our difficulties as opportunities for our faith to be tested and strengthened then we are open to the lessons and the growth that trials bring, mainly the development of endurance. The Christian life is not a sprint, but rather is a marathon. We often outlast our trials. But our own attitudes decide whether trials will make us bitter or better.
Verses 5-8 invite us to boldly ask God for wisdom. We are to do so with confidence and resolve, believing that God will do what we ask for. Here we have another discussion of doubt. This is different from the doubt earlier described. James is arguing against being double-minded and urging us to choose to be believe. Jesus did the same with Thomas in John 20 ("Stop your doubting and believe..."). We can ask God for what we need with confidence. When we ask without faith, we cut ourselves off from the very power of God we need. Faith chooses to trust the power and grace of God more than our questions.
Most of James' letter is intensely practical. He introduced a subject he will take up later, how people handle class differences in the church. There is always the tendency for the church to structure itself like the society around it, in the same old income groupings, same thinking, and same cultures. The gospel has problems with that and likely always will.
The last topic here is dealing with temptation. We already handled this in the Garden of Eden discussion. The thing to notice here is just how temptation works, more like a fishing expedition in which bait is used to entice the fish to bite to its own demise. Temptation lures us away and entices us and has us in its grasp often before we realize it. This temptation is different from the trials talked about in verses 2-4, for the goal is not our growth but our compromise and even destruction. These temptations must be resisted or avoided.
Trials and temptations are common for us all and they often are the place where our Christian faith shows itself to be genuine or not. The other thing is that it is in those testing and tempting times that others watch us closely to see if our faith stays strong. If it does, then it gives others hope that they to can make it through those times.
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