James exhorts us to draw close to God. How? By avoiding temptation, by resisting the Tempter, and by humbling ourselves so that God might lift us up. Once again, one of the most important ways we can humble ourselves is to refuse to judge one another. Only God can judge and any "judgments" we make must be based on what God has declared to be true.

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For Reflection:

Draw near to God and God will draw near to you (v8).

- Why do you think James places such importance on "resisting the Devil" (v7)? What temptations most commonly interfere with your connection to God?

- James tells us that our job is to obey God's law, not to judge whether it applies to us (v11, like when we decide that we are justified in speaking against one another). What are some of the ways that believers today are tempted to disregard God's law? In what ways are you likewise tempted?

The world tells us that success is an upward climb but James reminds us that in God's world, we descend into greatness. Rather than climbing over others, we will be lifted up by God when we lower ourselves to become servants, just like Jesus. The lure of the upward climb is strong, and thankfully God is more gracious than our failures. God pours out grace on the humble.

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For Reflection:

We all struggle with divided loyalties and the world's vision of "the good life" can exercise a strong pull on our hearts.

- What aspect of the world's vision of "the good life" is most tempting to you, and why?

- How might an exercise like "counting the costs" be helpful (or not) when facing such temptations?

- Who do you know and trust who follows God in such a way that it helps to make God's vision for a good life more powerfully appealing?

If you were to unpack the reasons for your most recent fight with someone else, what might those reasons be? We might think it is because the other person is wrong and cannot or will not see how we are right! Whatever reasons we might give, James says that the underlying reasons are often the sinful desires at war within us. If James is right, then we will never resolve the conflicts we face until we allow God to bring peace to the conflict within our own souls!

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For Reflection:

James tells us that in order to understand the conflicts around us, we have to understand the conflict within us.

- Think of some of the conflicts you regularly witness or experience. How do you see selfish desires feeding into those conflicts?

- Sometimes we want the wrong things. Sometimes we fail to want the right things. Sometimes we want the right things for the wrong reasons. How might God's Spirit be inviting you to be more aware of these desires and to allow God to change them?

"Sticks and stones may break my bones..." but words cause lasting damage. The true children of God will be peacemakers and healers, including how we speak to and about one another. As James put it, we cannot praise God and also curse those who are created in God's image. Once again, there are two paths and we must choose one.

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For Reflection:

James tells us that the mouth that blesses God should not also curse people, who are made in God's image.

- Recall a time where you were in the wrong. What did others do that was helpful or not helpful in persuading you to change direction?

- What can you learn from that experience (or others) that might help you to more fully embrace the path of wisdom as laid out by James? What might help you to remember the image of God in others?

In this flashback from June 12, 2024, we see the Teacher turn to the idea of worship as the foundation of true wisdom. We are continually tempted to speak in ways that sway others to think better of us, whether true or not. With God, word and deed are the same, and so it should be for us. Let us be careful about making promises and let us honor each promise as we honor a God who does the same.

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For Reflection:

After speaking about his own thoughts and experiences, the Teacher turns directly to us with instructions about true wisdom's foundation in worship and reverence.

- What do you think of the connection the Teacher draws between worship and wisdom? How has your identity as a worshiper changed your understanding of yourself, others, and what is good in life?

- We are told to make few promises and to keep those we make. If someone were to notice a mismatch between your words and deeds, what would they have perhaps seen you do and say?

James returns to the topic of the way we speak to and about one another. We might be tempted to think that words are small things, and they are, but they have the power to redirect a person's very life. Just as a spark sets an entire forest ablaze, so the tongue can set fire to our lives -- individuals, communities, and even entire nations!

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For Reflection:

Words may be small and passing, but they have great power for good or evil.

- Think back to some of the power that words have had over your life. Perhaps it was a taunt or insult, or maybe an encouragement or blessing. Do you think the other person had any idea of the lasting impact of those words?

- How might God be inviting you to be more careful with your words? Might God be inviting you to make amends with someone else for what was said, or something left unsaid?

As James continues to argue for the necessity of a faithful response to God's grace, he brings us two examples of such faith. First, he goes back to Abraham, the very father of our faith. Next, he points to the mother of all converts to the faith, Rahab. Both Abraham and Rahab were blessed by God not just for intellectually believing in God, but for trusting God by taking sacrificial risks to put that faith into action.

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For Reflection:

The authenticity of Abraham's and Rahab's faith was proven by their faithful actions.

- Abraham's and Rahab's faith demanded a willingness to take great risks or to make gut-wrenching sacrifices. What are some of the risks or sacrifices that your faith has asked of you?

- Abraham had many years of stumbling towards faithfulness before he was ready for that great test. Is there a way that God may be training you and inviting you to trust more deeply today?

Are we not saved by faith? How can James say that faith alone cannot save us? But is James alone? Paul said that a faith that can move mountains but without love is worthless (1 Cor 13:2). Jesus said that the person who hears his words but does not put them into practice will be swept away with the storms of life (Mt 7:27). For James, a merely intellectual faith that does not produce a faithful response in us is not true faith at all -- even demons have that kind of faith. Real faith must move us to love God and others.

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For Reflection:

Paul says that we cannot earn God's favor, it is a gift (Eph 2:8), but we are also created to do good works (Eph 2:10). Or as James says here, faith without good deeds is dead.

- Supposed a child asked you about the relation between faith and good deeds? How might you address this child's question?

- What are some of the transforming effects that faith has had on your life over time? What have others noticed in you for which you might point to God's grace at work in you? Take some time to thank God for those things.

God is merciful, yet James tells us that there are certain conditions under which God will not show us mercy! When will God not be merciful? When we refuse to show mercy to others. If we refuse to imitate God's mercy, God will imitate us in our lack of mercy. It is just as Jesus taught us to pray, "Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us."

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For Reflection:

In case we may be tempted to judge others, James reminds us that we all break God's Law and thus have no right to judge others.

- In the moments when you are tempted to be judgmental, what helps you to be more understanding and merciful?

- Suppose you were teaching this passage in a Sunday School class and a young child asked you, "Why won't God be merciful to you if you are not merciful?" How might you answer that child's question?

In this flashback to January 19, 2024, we see Jesus continuing to break the rules about the Sabbath, sending his opponents into a rage. In truth, he is only breaking the religious leaders' misunderstanding of God's rules. Jesus' honoring of God's rules and the breaking of human conventions both come from the same place—to bring about flourishing for the people he loves.

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For Reflection:

Jesus' opponents were trapped by rules originally meant to foster life and they fought to keep others trapped in what had become an oppressive system.

- Do you tend to be a person who finds security in rules or a person who chafes under their restrictiveness?

- If you dislike rules, what are some ways that you can remember God's desire to protect us and cause us to flourish?

- If you find security in rules, what might help you to recognize when rules have become too restrictive or misapplied to your detriment and the detriment of others?