James 4:17

COMMENTS

My practical side tries to “divide and conquer” whatever book I’m studying.  You know:  break it into small chunks that are approximately the same size.  (I guess my OCD is showing!)  Today, God said, “Nope!  One verse today….”  One verse, and it’s a powerful one.

NOTES

Are you curious?  Here’s our one-verse subject:

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”  (James 4:17)

Wow.  That sentence, the last one of Chapter 4, immediately preceding the final chapter of the book, is easily overlooked.  Actually, I passed it over in my last blog.  God, however, took me back there today, even as I was trying to press forward to Chapter 5.

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

It’s worth repeating.  If I know “good” that should be done but don’t do it, I’m sinning.

So, what is the “good” that James is talking about?  He’s just spent four chapters telling me some of it.  Other teachers (Peter, John, Paul, and many others) have also given me God’s instructions.  And sometimes, God speaks directly to me about my specific circumstances; like when he calls me to a specific ministry or calls me out of one.  If I know what I’m supposed to do but don’t do it, I sin.

Here are some of the specific “goods” that James has pointed out:

*Be joyful in trials.

*Persevere with a goal of becoming mature and complete.

*Believe and don’t doubt.

*Be aware of who I am in Christ.

*Don’t blame God or accuse Him of tempting me.

*Recognize my human weaknesses.  Don’t give Satan a chance to use them.

*Listen.  Think before I speak.  Be slow to anger.

*Listen to God.  Then OBEY! 

*Obey out of LOVE, not obligation.

*Don’t show favoritism.  Treat everyone the same.

*Put my faith into action.  Let my preaching be with my hands and feet as I meet the needs of others.

*Control my tongue!!!!!  Let the Lord purify and make consistent the stream of words that flows from my mouth.

*Choose “the wisdom that comes from heaven”, not earthly wisdom that’s “of the devil”.

*Be “pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”.

*Don’t be quarrelsome.

*Don’t be selfish.

*Be humble.

*Submit to the Lord.  Resist the devil.  Purify my heart.  Grieve my sin.

*Don’t boast.

All of these things are “good” things that I know.  If I don’t do them, I sin.  This list is not given to take me back to legalism but so that I recognize my sin.  But when I look at that list—an incomplete list!—“sinner” seems to be an understatement.

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”  (Psalm 51:3, 4a, 7)

Yet, my God offers me hope and challenges me to make choices that will please Him.  Even as I continue to sin, He continues to forgive me and cleanse me.  He is always faithful, always forgiving, always good, and always WORTHY!