Episode Transcript
Jon: “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient.” So he's using all these examples of being patient. Well, why would he do that and then go to healing after that? I think what he's dealing with is no matter what circumstance you find yourself in, the hope of it is that we will be finally restored, but not now. We are looking to that resurrection and that final day of resurrection. So for those of you that have been struggling and thinking to yourself, “Well, I could be liberated. I could be set free if I just simply had enough faith or if I believed longer or harder” - whatever circumstance you want to put yourself into - I don't think the entire letter of James ever was intended to do that.
This is why he even says in the midst of your trial, and I think trial literally means of any kind because a trial means to go without if you're lacking something. So, no matter what your trial might be, God is there faithfully sustaining you and keeping you strong. And then what I love, what James does is he says, “Listen, you can pray for wisdom and he'll give that to you in the midst of a trial, and you can pray for grace, and you can pray for mercy…”
Justin: Because He is good.
Jon: Right. And when you stumble and you fall, realize there's more grace and you can go and ask, and draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
I mean, there's so much that's happening here. And then he says, by the way, when you are selfish and in the flesh, you bite and devour each other. And so what's so encouraging here is James doesn't leave us without hope. He doesn't just say, Hey, toughen up, Bucko! You know, deal with it. He gives us power, supernatural power.
I love this. I'm going to go back up to the beginning, Justin. When someone finds themself in the deepest, darkest - like they are bitter at God. They're weak in faith. They just feel cold and distant. Do you know what James says? All right. Here's your list of things you need to do: call the elders. Here's your list of things to do: call for help. But what do we do to the weak and frail? We yell at them and we scream at them and we cast judgment upon them. And I just love that James is saying, listen, if you find yourself in this place, what you need is the power of prayer. What you need are godly people to come and pray the gospel for you.
Justin: Call for the people who have been entrusted with the care of your soul.
Jon: That's right.
Justin: And have them pray for you.
Everyday Grace 010
