Day 272: James 1-5

I've never really thought about the chronology of when James was written, I guess. Yesterday we read about the persecution was taking place in Acts 12-14. This persecution resulted in the believers being scattered throughout the empire and we find that James is writing to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations". The reason I think this is interesting is that I've always thought of James as just a simple, practical guide for Christian living. Now that I think of it, though, he does spend a fair amount of time talking about being patient in times of suffering and persecution, which would be a subject his readers would certainly need to be encouraged in.

Nevertheless, he still does write some very down-to-earth, everyday living kinds of instruction.

The first one that stuck in my mind this morning is this...

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. (James 1:26)

It's one of those verses that, when we read it, we automatically think of people to who we think it applies...and this usually doesn't include self. He gives a description of what pure religion really looks like in the very next verse but, to me, he comes closer to telling us how we can actually pull it off in chapter 4:

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:7-8)

Sounds simple, right? Yeah, not really.

I have a poster that I love with the picture of a farmer standing in his field. He has a hoe in his hand and he's wiping the sweat from his brow with a red handkerchief as he gazes out toward the horizon...looking for something. Underneath is this verse:

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. (James 5:7-8)