1 Peter 1 - Be Holy

To whom does Peter write - to believers who are being persecuted.  "God's elect", who are "exiles scattered throughout" much of the known world.  Peter reminds them, and those who would follow centuries later, that those who are in Christ have been chosen by God.  The Father's foreknowledge, the Spirit's sanctifying work in us, and the blood of Jesus, God's Son, work in concert to make us who we were created to be.

Peter reminds his readers to begin with praise, modeling that for us in verse 3.  When are hearts are positioned to praise God first in the midst of any troubles, our problems and circumstances, no matter how dire, even life and death, can be seen for what they are.  God is working in us and in His world to build His Kingdom and build our faith (v. 5-7).

In verses 13-16, we are charged with being holy.  No human being other than Jesus has ever or will ever achieve sinlessness, but we can absolutely live lives of holiness.  Holiness requires a heart turned toward God.  Holiness says, "God is bigger than my troubles".  Holiness rejoices in the midst of suffering because we understand there is a bigger picture than what we can see and touch in the moment.  When my attitude is one of praise, trust and perspective, turning away from the "evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance" becomes more than a bunch of words that sound nice, but actually becomes our reality.  Sin loses its appeal when we are God-focused.  Understand, you and I are not going to do this perfectly.  Hopefully that's been made clear.  Perfection isn't the goal.  Holiness, a heart that seeks God and praises God at all times in all things, is the goal.  This is absolutely attainable.

Finally, understand that holiness and obedience enhance our ability to love each other "deeply, from the heart".  Let's do that.  Let's make that our goal.

James 5 - A Warning and a Call to Prayer

If you are a wealthy person who mistreats your employees, failing to pay what you owe, you'd better watch out.  The "misery that is coming upon you" is cause to "weep and wail".  Yikes.

In verses 7-12 we see a couple concluding instructions: be patient, don't grumble against each other, and don't go overboard swearing either by heaven or by earth.  The phrase "I swear to God" isn't one of holiness, but probably something to be avoided.

James finishes his letter by telling us to pray.  Pray when in trouble, when happy, when sick, etc.   In verse 16, "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective".  Prayer very rarely feels effective, especially in the moment.  It can feel like a poor use of our time.  James (and others throughout the Bible) make it clear that prayer is a fantastic use of our time.  It's hard for our finite minds to grasp how or why this is so, but that's OK.  Prayer is a great evidence of faith.  Prayer is about engaging in relationship with our unseen Creator and Savior in a way that might not make sense to us.  Am I willing to trust Him and pray, or do I need to understand how everything works?

James 4 - Resist, Come Near and Humble Yourselves

The later part of this chapter, about how we arrogantly make plans, assuming that God will allow our plans to come to fruition, flows from the charge found in verse 10: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

A view of the world that is entirely void of self-interest is rare (impossible?) among human beings, but that's the standard.  And it's still somewhat counter intuitive that the way to gain peace and freedom from the pressures of life is to let go of self-interest.  The best thing I can do for me is not worry about me.

Easier said than done?  Certainly at first.  But also progressively easier as we learn to submit to God, recognize the spiritual battle and resist the devil, come near to God, and watch Him come near to us (v. 7-8).  He has defeated this enemy.  The same God who has delivered a nation through the Red Sea, put a rock through the forehead of a menacing giant, and close the lions' mouths, can quite readily handle whatever situation we might find ourselves in, no matter how daunting or impossible they might seem.

James 3 - Taming Tongues and Gaining Wisdom

It's not a good idea to always boil things down to a bottom line.  There are truths to mine and depths to search in pursuit of wisdom.  Having said that, James chapter 3 seems like it can be summed up in a couple sentences:

Use words carefully to build people up, not to tear down.

Wisdom is contrary to selfishness.  Those who are wise live humbly, in peaceful service to others.

James 2 - Favoritism and Works-based Theology(?)

The first seven verses of the chapter speak to our human tendency to show favoritism to people based on their appearance, level of wealth, social standing, etc.  Simply put, according to James, don't do it.  In verses 8-13 we read about why not -- showing favoritism violates the law to love our neighbors as ourselves.  You can google stories about churches that ask people who aren't dressed as well to sit in balconies and stuff like that.  I won't presume to judge; perhaps there are other factors at play, but at first glance that type of policy would seem to fly directly in the face of this passage.  At the very least, it makes you think.

The rest of the chapter gets a little bit controversial, as James writes about the uselessness of a faith that doesn't manifest itself with any behavioral action.  "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds" (v. 18).  Verse 24 is the big one that people have to wrestle with, "You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."  Does this statement not run in direct opposition to the idea that salvation comes through faith, not by works (see Ephesians 2)?

I found this, and it makes sense to me.  Here's the link if you'd like to read more.

In Romans and Galatians, the apostle Paul has this question in mind: How can a guilty sinner be justified by God? Essentially Paul answers that a sinner is justified by faith in Christ, and not by the merit of his works. That is what we mean by 'sola fide'.

In his letter, James deals with a different question altogether. There is a man who claims to have faith and who assents to the cardinal doctrines of the gospel, including the first, namely, the unity of God. Yet this person is devoid of good works and is full of hypocrisy, so much so, that he insults a poor beggar with pious words without giving him anything. So, says James, can this sort of faith save him? 'What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?'

James is not asking whether a person is saved by faith plus the merit of his good works. He is asking about the kind of faith that saves. He mentions two types, the real and the counterfeit. Works distinguish one from the other: 'Show me your faith without your works; and I will show you my faith by my works.' Real faith is living, manifesting itself in good works; counterfeit faith is dead, barren, the mere assent to doctrine.

James asks, 'Can faith save him?' The answer is simply this: If it is real faith, manifest in good works, yes. But if it is a counterfeit 'faith', no, it cannot save him.

In verse 14, James writes about a person who "claims to have faith but has no deeds".  In this understanding, it isn't the works that make someone righteous before God, but rather the works serve as an indication that the faith in question is authentic, rather than the counterfeit faith that fails to show itself outwardly.  Some might take issue with some of this, but it makes you think.

James 1 - Pure Joy

James is chock full of goodness.  Combining the first sentence of each paragraph in chapter 1 would read like this:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial.  When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me."  Don't be deceived my dear brothers.  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

I guess that reads a little bit choppy, but it provides a nice overview of this chapter and the letter as a whole.  Looking forward to chapter 2.

Hebrews 13 - "Concluding Exhortations"

The NIV titles this chapter "Concluding Exhortations".  A list of what we are being exhorted to do:

v. 1 Keep on loving each other as brothers
v. 2 Show hospitality to strangers
v. 3 Care about prisoners
v. 4 Avoid sexual immorality
v. 5 Avoid greed, be content
v. 9 Stick with the teachers and teaching you know to be reliable
v. 15 Offer a sacrifice of praise
v. 16 Do good and share with others
v. 17 Obey leaders, submit to authority
v. 18 Pray for others
v. 22 Honor these exhortations

And importantly, remember that it is our Lord Jesus who equips us with everything good for doing his will, so that we can even hope to attempt to live out these commands (v. 21).  Our strengths and abilities are not our own, they are gifts of his grace.