James 5:10-11: God’s Merciful Law
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Ultimately, God will vindicate those who live and enact the Law of Love; there is no need for us to struggle against life when we place ourselves in God’s hands. Our behavior during times of trial and temptation illustrates our belief in the goodness of God; our grumbling sets up signposts to the world about our suspicion of God’s goodness. James cautions us against all of this.
The prophecy of Isaiah (50:4-10) is full of honesty and hope. When we read it alongside James’ words, we better understand the Law of Love that Jesus brings to us.
The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, so I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders.
Jesus calls us to join him in discipleship to act with him in prophesying and enacting the Law of Love.
The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn’t go back to sleep, didn’t pull the covers back over my head. I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard, didn’t dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face.
Jesus is persistent in his call. Eventually we understand that the way we best participate in God’s plan is to do nothing more than witness, watch and enact God’s love in all we say, think and do.
And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I’m not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I’ll never regret this.
The Spirit has taken up her place in our hearts, consoling us in our trials, bolstering us as we confront our temptations.
Lean on your God! But if all you’re after is making trouble, playing with fire, go ahead and see where it gets you. Set your fires, stir people up, blow on the flames, but don’t expect me to just stand there and watch. I’ll hold your feet to those flames.
James, like Isaiah, is honest and hopeful. Offering us a clear image of how the Law of Love operates in our world. Rather than stir up division and discord, we witness to the story of Jesus, we watch for ways to live out this witnessing, and we hand over our frustration, anger and fear to the one who authors this merciful law of love.
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