So that you can know.
- Christine DiGiacomo
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
One Sunday, I was walking through the parking lot, weaving my way through cars on my way into church when I encountered a pleasant-looking fellow near a Tesla. We exchanged ‘Good Mornings’ and a smile as we went into church. . . this was the start of our friendship. In time, I learned Timothy had just come through a couple years in a rehab/recovery house, following the murder of his youngest son.
Hmmm… without conversation, we just never know what is really going on with someone. At first glance, I thought he had exited the Tesla, clad in his brilliant suit and tie; in reality, he had arrived via the city bus. Hold that thought.
In my last Morning Briefing, ‘Don’t take yourself too seriously’ https://conta.cc/4wr6Elk, I addressed James’ comments about the will of God. ‘Why in the world should I concern myself with living according to God’s will?’ some of you asked. That is a lofty pursuit—daunting at best. And after all, James got four-fifths of the way through his letter encouraging the young Jewish believers to grow up before he suggested we seek to live according to God’s will. So, what’s the big deal?
Looking in the rearview mirror, I submit to you that James’ preamble to the letter could have read, “I am writing so that you can know how to live according to God’s will.”
So, come… come with me, as we take a look.
Right out of the gate, James identifies himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. From this starting point, everything else flowed. Let’s look again at James’ instruction about living well.
Simply, it is God’s will that we know:
->Trials and difficulties are the way we mature in our faith and character. We endure by trusting God, and entrusting our trials to him; then, we ought to smile, square our shoulders, tighten our abdominals and stand up straight, thanking God for the opportunity to grow. After all, we do not grow when life is easy.
->God is the source of wisdom, showing us the right way to think, understand, and make decisions, when we look to him. Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”1 It is God's will to look to him for wisdom.
->Humility helps us see ourselves and others rightly; the rich and the poor have this in common—none takes anything with him into the next life. Life is fleeting; one might say it is but a vapor. Oh, one did say that!2 It is God's will that we live with an awareness of the brevity of our lives.
->Temptation comes from our own desires, and we can stand strong against it by choosing God’s way over our own pleasure. When temptation comes, we can turn away from it and run toward God; but make no mistake, each of us knows it is our choice to make—God’s way or our way. Only one of those aligns with his will.
->Our words have power – they can give life or cut someone to the core. So rather than talking so much, we do well to listen; ask questions and listen some more. Awareness of what comes out of our mouth is so important, and the reason it is vitally important to be wise in what we take into our minds. As our Savior said, ‘out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.’3 God wills that we honor him with our words.
->Mercy comes from the heart of an all-loving God; we ought to highly esteem it and practice it. How? First, check your heart. Are you moved with compassion by someone’s difficult position, or are you more apt to say, ‘they did it to themselves’? Hey, Christian, does your heart break with the things that break the heart of God? hmmm
->Faith -> works Our lives ought to preach. Just saying, if our profession of faith in God, particularly in Jesus Christ, means anything, then our daily lives and priorities will tell the story. I'm wondering, 'If someone were to use an otoscope and look into your ear and well beyond it into your mind….what would she see? Would she find in you a desire to honor God above all, an effort to be holy?
Flashback: I will never forget praying with a large group of homeless people gathered at the Friends Church at 9th and Atlantic in Long Beach. Early on, as I surveyed the sea of faces trying to figure me out—my motive for being there4—there was one guy who gave me the creeps. His large, hulking frame leaning against a pillar with his ballcap pulled down on his face could not disguise his steely eyes. Each week, I shared a short Bible message before we took turns praying. So one day, I asked the question, ‘How can we be certain God hears our prayers? Are there things we do that disqualify us? What does the Lord want from us?’ The question hung in the air for a minute, and then from underneath that ballcap, a deep voice said, “Be holy.”5 I turned to him and said, “What did you say?!” [You see, you don’t address a large group of people, most of whom woke up with their head on the concrete, who may or may not be impaired, in a dainty way. No, I spoke much more directly, authentically – and they responded in kind. Maybe the ‘realest’ ministry I ever did.]
“Be holy,” came the steady reply. ‘That all?!’ I challenged him. “No, the rest of it said, ‘Even as I am holy.’
The Duke of Earl (his street name) was right on the money. God requires us to be holy, even as he is holy. After all, how can the HOLY Spirit of God dwell in us, if we are harboring sin or evil...flirting with compromise? Ugh....
Yes indeed, James addresses quite a few arenas of our lives that we ought submit to God, and daily remember that, if we draw near to God, he will draw near to us.6
Back to my friend, Timothy. He has surrendered his life to God, and is living for him. My friend just transitioned into his own apartment. Cue the fireworks!
And God's will? Yes, living according to God's will is Timothy's mission; he knows the freedom of living in the will of a loving Heavenly Father.
Listen: Morning by Morning, Pat Barrett & Mack Brock....beautiful declaration!
God, draw us close to you,
Christine
James, no.19
1 – James 3.17
2 – James 4.14
3 – Luke 6.45
4 - Hold on a second - do you think homeless people and judgment only goes one way? Those people wondered if I was 'for real'... if I authentically cared about them, about the Lord, or was there to polish my halo or something else.
5 - Leviticus 19.2; 1 Peter 1.16
6 - James 4.8
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