Holiness, Love, Prayer and Obedience

James 5:13-20

He was the man reported as having knees like those of a camel; such was his devotion to, prayer. Not unsurprisingly it’s the subject of prayer that James bookends his letter.
If we recall the opening words to his letter he was aware that even for Christians who are committed and faithful, we are not immune from the challenges life throws at us. James says “consider it pure joy” when you’re facing into all those challenges. For the past couple of months James has been our mentor, urging us through his letter to look at ourselves in the mirror toward what authentic Christian living looks like for us today. We’ve learnt about faith, being doers of the word, humility, wisdom, what is the Lords will, stewardship of wealth, submission, godly perspective in suffering, patience and lastly, but most importantly, prayer.
Prayer and Praise are the go-to modes in whatever situation we may find ourselves. Never does James suggest prayer for the removal of the cause of trouble but rather for the strength to endure a difficult situation. What prayer in the face of difficult circumstances does, is defers our dependence onto God.
What God can do and what God does are 2 different things. Our faith is not in what we expect as an outcome, our faith is in God who will bring about his outcomes, his way in his time.
In James we have been confronted with a value system that sits in contrast to the worldly.
If we have listened to James, there can be no sitting on the proverbial fence. We must choose this day whom we will serve. James is blunt, black and white, but a man who loved the Lord and loved the church. He leaves no ambiguity to what is of God and what is not. He has shown us that being Christian is a serious and unequivocal call to honour and love God and reach others, it is a call to, holiness!
It is the cross before me, the world behind me. It is death to self to live for him, salt and light, light among darkness…to become like Christ.
How do we get there? Love the Lord & be doers of the word!

Contributed by Ross Woodhouse