QT 28 Feb 19, 1 Pet 1:1-2, Election is according to foreknowledge

1 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV) —

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

NOTE: It is always important to establish the audience when studying a letter or book or speech. First, in this case, it will be better understood by the person with a Jewish background since it is written to the dispersed Jews (the Hellenistic Jews). This is also different from writing to the Jews in Jerusalem. Secondly, "sprinkling with his blood" is an immediate reference to the Old Testament sacrificial system, but in the case it is not the blood of bulls and goats but that of Jesus' blood, sprinkled just once for the cleansing of our sin. The third thing that catches my intention is foreknowledge and elect. The elect exist according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. I always prefer this simple explanation of election. It is the same formula used in Romans. Foreknowledge precedes election. In my simple mind it helps me to understand free will. God knew our hearts beforehand and he knew our choice, and so we are the elect. We are elected by God in foreknowledge of our free will, and we are elect because we chose, elected, Jesus as our savior.

PRAYER: Father, thank you so much for the word of God and its clear, logical, and consistent instruction. Open my eyes to its further riches.

QT 26 Feb 19, James 5:19-20, We need to step out of our comfort zones to gently engage others

James 5:19–20 (ESV) — 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

NOTE: The death here refers to the physical body and not to the eternal. While all of our sins are paid for, the effect of sins continues while a person is engaged in a sin and afterwards as well. Helping a person recover saves that person from a multitude of problems from the sin and additional sins which occur as a result of the sin. It does not remove all effects or cover all the sins. We need to be on the lookout for those who struggle with sin. We need to try and approach and show kindness to the person. I saw an individual I knew the other day and he did not look good. I know now that he is dealing with a lot of problems and probably sin as well. I tried to get his attention by waving but he did not seem to see me or heed me. I did not know at that time all the issues. I need to look for those opportunities and not pass them up. The prompting of my spirit was probably the Holy Spirit trying to get my attention. I need to be more engaged during those moments.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for focusing on my things and my doings and not allowing the Holy Spirit to interrupt my plans for another person. Help me to make the effort to pull away from my own pursuits to meet the needs of others. I pray for another opportunity and the boldness to take advantage of that opportunity.

QT 25 Feb 19, James 5:16, Real life is much more that what is seen

James 5:16 (ESV) — Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

NOTE: One of the arguments for the health and wealth gospel when they do not receive their prayer answered is that the person was not righteous. But who then is really righteous outside our savior? Jesus has given me his righteousness according to 2 Cor 5:21. So all believers are righteous and we all can come before God in the name of Jesus and make our requests, and can be assured that our prayer has great power. "No" answers are just that, answers that tell us "no." God in his wisdom has reasons for answering "no." Most of them we can figure out with a little bit of work, but there are others, like the healing of a sick child that are harder to accept. Part of our problem is that we only really know the seen, temporal life, and not the unseen, eternal world, so our reasoning will always be suspect. Everything will be colored by our faulty view of what really makes up life.

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to see more of life. Give us faith to trust in your answers. Help us to really live as if Jesus is our reason for life. Amen.

QT 20 Feb 19, James 4:15-16, We are blind to many of our own faults

James 4:15–16 (ESV) — 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

NOTE: This requires a seriously difficult attitude change. There is a difference between confidence and cockiness. There is a difference between trust and feeling one deserves something. But the differences are not always that easy to discern in one's life. What seems obvious to an outsider is not so obvious to the individual. Clearly God is against this arrogant boastful behavior. So what do we do if we can't even see it in ourselves? There are two courses of action. One, we need to ask others and be willing to accept hard words. Two, we need to pray and ask God to reveal these areas of sin.

PRAYER: Father, I know I sin in ways that I am not aware. Open my eyes to my shortcomings. Open my eyes to my sin. Open my eyes to my ugliness. Help me to see, and then help me to repent, and then help me to change.

QT 19 Feb 19, James 4:12, Do the right thing

James 4:12 (ESV) — There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

NOTE: I started writing a thought on verse 11 and found it far too difficult to parse during a morning quiet time. But this verse is a little easier. My job is to be a doer of the law personally, not the person who decides if others are doing the law. God, the lawgiver, is their judge. It is his job, not mine to judge the motives or actions of another. I have enough problem understanding my own motives and actions. And, even when I think I am doing the right thing, I find that others judge my actions by doubting my motives. They might be right in the sense that I do not know my motives, but they are wrong to judge.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me in my heart. I do not want to judge others. I do not want to be judged by others either. But that is not my problem. I need to do the right thing. Father, help me to know what is the right thing. You are in charge. You are sovereign.

QT 18 Feb 19, James 4:4, The world is NOT our friend

James 4:4 (ESV) — You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

NOTE: The verse is quite harsh but it does get to the root of the problem-- who are you going to serve, worship, and love? It must be God alone. To love the world and the things of the world is to hate God and to be an enemy of God. The world is not the physical environment, at least in my view, but the whole philosophy of the world. It preaches contentment in things, ruler-ship of your life, selfishness, conceit, and many other philosophies directly in conflict with the word of God. The world is not our friend, it is our enemy because it opposes God at every point. If you don't think so, then you have been fooled and deceived (like Eve) by the evil one.

PRAYER: Father open my eyes to the deceit of the devil. Help me to notice the subtle ways the world affects my thinking. Cleanse me from the world view that opposes you at every stage. May I speak truth unashamedly.

QT 14 Feb 19, James 3:13, 17-18, True wisdom is characterized by peace, gentleness, mercy, …

James 3:13, 17-18 (ESV) — 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  … 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

NOTE: This is a very beautiful verse. I think it is still pointed in some degree toward teachers -- and probably spiritual leaders. I love the phrase "meekness of wisdom." Truth can separate and cause division; certainly it did with Jesus and his opponents. But among the true body, truth can be shared in a way that is peaceable and gentle. There is so much more to be gained by sharing truth in a non-confrontational manner--a harvest of righteousness according to James.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for answering harshly at times. Give me a gently and peaceable spirit that responds accordingly. I know a lot, but that does not mean I need act like it.

QT 13 Feb 19, James 3:1-2, Teachers have an obligation to handle truth with deep humility

James 3:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

NOTE: The passage seems to say two things. First of all, teachers need to be very careful what they teach because there is a stricter judgment on teachers. I think it is not only what we teach but what we encourage. If we are filling up heads without encouraging the application of God's word, we have failed the sheep. Secondly, the passage says, teachers will fail and stumble. He will make mistakes. He will say the wrong thing. I think the key is recognizing the mistake and taking action to correct the mistake. We don't have to be perfect as teachers but we do need to be sober in regard to our teaching. We are not always right and we don't understand all things. We need humility in our teaching. We need a willingness to consider the thoughts and questions of others with a view toward a holistic view of scripture and not a view that agrees with our imaginations.

PRAYER: Search me O God and know my heart. Try me and test my thoughts. Show me if there is any wicked way within me, especially in the area of pride or pleasing others. God, help me to handle the word of truth properly and with the respect it deserves, the absolute, objective, and unfalsifiable word of God.

QT 12 Feb 19, James 2:14; 2:19, We need more than intellectual assent to the gospel

James 2:14 (ESV) — What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

James 2:19 (ESV) — You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

NOTE: The answer to the first two question should be yes, at least from a theological point of view. But the author is distinguishing the word faith as can be seen in verse 19 where he uses the same Greek word, pistis (but in the verb form) to show that verse 14 faith is the same as a demon's faith. It is belief in God's existence -- intellectual acknowledgment. Real faith is seen in as an expression of a changed life. James is not saying we are saved by works but that the difference between intellectual assent and true faith is seen in a changed life. And a changed life is seen outwardly. If there is no outward change, does the person really believe or just intellectually assent to the existence of Jesus and God. In fact one can assent to the entire gospel without being saved.

PRAYER: Father, I pray for members of our church body who intellectually believe everything about the gospel but have never surrendered their will to you. They have never experienced the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the changed life that comes as a result of real faith. Open their eyes to what is missing in their heart. Let them feel the true joy of real faith.

QT 11 Feb 19, James 2:1-4, Every person is made in the image of God and equally important

James 2:1–4 (ESV): 2 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

NOTE: Why do we do this, show partiality to the rich and powerful? We seek to gain favor and we seek association with the person. Even if we gain nothing, just the association makes us feel favored or important, and that is pride. Even if we have nothing, having a relationship to the rich and the powerful is something we will boast in. Few boast of knowing someone poor unless it is to prove their magnanimity. And when we do something for the poor, it is to be seen and known by our actions, not our relationship to the person. We are a mess relational-ly, never satisfied with our lot in life, always something more or greater. The real challenge is to pay attention equally to people independent of their financial status, circle of friends, or personal power.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to execute this way of thinking in all that I do. May ever person be important because you made them and not any other reason.

QT 7 Feb 19, Ja 1:25, There is blessing for those who act on what they hear

James 1:25 (ESV) — But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

NOTE: There is a blessing in the specific measurable application of God's word. A hearer hears and can recite it. He files it away in his huge encyclopedia of bible and theology. But ultimately he forgets most of what he hears. The one who is "a doer who acts" is blessed in the doing. We allow the word of God to chip away at our sinful nature when we act on the word. For those who don't think you have to be specific -- you can't act on the word without specific actions. Application without action is a scheme of the devil to fill you with head knowledge and leave you devoid of life change. Last night, I heard a testimony of a man who had been in the church and Sunday School years before realizing that he did not know Jesus. How could that happen? Why did he realize this when he attended an Intentional Discipleship Group and not before? Because, we do not look any different in church! There is no difference with the religious person! None! And so how can anyway come into our church and say, "wow, there is something different about you and this Jesus person." They can't if we are not applying the word of God to our lives and changing. If they can't see it in church, they are not going to notice it in the workplace either.

PRAYER: Father, I am so excited by what I see you doing in our body. And I yearn that our church would move away from superficial lukewarm Christianity into life changing relationships with the Savior. Oh, that we would be doers who take action on what we hear. Have mercy on us. Fill us with your spirit!

QT 5 Feb 19, James 1:14-15, We need stop blaming other things for our sin

James 1:14–15 (ESV) — 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

NOTE: Today, it is very popular to blame our problems on something outside of our control--to be a victim. To blame ourselves for our problems is not popular. And certainly sin has degraded the world from God's plan so much that there is reason to suggest DNA or medical, physical, and mental health reasons. But the real problem is then we stop caring or trying to change; and we blame other factors or our sinful self for our defeat. There is a danger in this approach, because we stop dealing with sin. What do we do then? Three things. One, we always repent because when we stop repenting it means we have accepted our sin as normal and okay. Two, we avoid situations where we can be lured. This area could be a whole thesis and we need to figure out what are our triggers. Three, we must not dwell because by dwelling we allow desire to grow. Ephesians says put off (sins) and put on (godly behaviors). What activities or thoughts can change me from dwelling (the opposite of putting off) to putting on new habits and thought patterns? It takes a little work, but this process can change a person's life.

PRAYER: Father, help me to think through my own sinful struggles. May I never stop repenting. May I seek to remove the triggers which lure me. May I replace the desire to linger near sin with activities that transform me. Father forgive us for our unholiness. Wash us, cleanse us, make us objects worthy of your name.

QT 4 Feb 19, James 1:9-10, The rich should live in humility and good deeds

James 1:9–10 (ESV) — Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.

NOTE: How does a rich person live as a Christian? In humility. We really don't own anything. It is all God's. We are not even sure why he has given it to us instead of someone else. What are we to do? Be rich in good deeds. Give as the Lord has given you. And most importantly, be humble. In some ways it is easier to be humble with riches than it is to be humble with achievements. But both are areas to exercise humility. If we can do it in riches, we can do it in accomplishments as well. And we need to quietly continue to do good deeds with the riches God has given.

PRAYER: Lord protect us from thinking that our riches are ours. Protect us from thinking more highly of ourselves. Protect us from the sin of thinking we should be treated better. Jesus was God and owned the whole universe and all power, and he lived the life of a humble carpenter and itinerant rabbi. May I live with such an attitude as well.