Author: timmacbride

James 1:19-27

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This week we’re looking at the letter of James, which is all about the temptation to be double-minded: trying to be friends with God and friends with the world. (See Monday’s post if you missed the intro to the series, as it’s foundational for all of the others.) Today we look at James 1:19-27.

This passage is a bit like the first minute of a “World’s Craziest Grainy Security-Camera Footage” type of TV show. Where they flick through all of the coolest bits (explosions, crashes, and armed robberies) to get you to watch the rest of the show. And over the next hour you realise they didn’t have much more worthwhile footage than the bits you saw in the first minute.

James 1:19-27 is a bit like that, as we get a quick preview of the upcoming highlights – snapshots to whet your appetite. But don’t worry, James has got far more substance to the rest of his epistle. Let’s begin:

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James 1:12-18

/ timmacbride

This week we’re looking at the letter of James, which is all about the temptation to be double-minded: trying to be friends with God and friends with the world. (See Monday’s post if you missed the intro to the series, as it’s foundational for all of the others.) Today we look at James 1:12-18.

Back in the opening verses of the letter, James said that “the testing of your faith” (the temptation to be double-minded) produces perseverance. Here (sounding a bit like his brother in The Sermon on the Mount) he describes the person who perseveres when their faith is so tested as “blessed.”

1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

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James 1:9-11

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This week we’re looking at the letter of James, which is all about being double-minded: trying to be friends with God and friends with the world. (See yesterday’s post if you missed the intro to the series. One of the reasons we’re doing James over the summer break is because each section is relatively independent – you can dip in and out while you’re in holiday mode, without feeling like you’re getting behind. But you do need to read the series intro first. And a big “hi” to northern hemisphere readers who are freezing cold and back at work. We’re all reading this at the beach.)

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James 1:1-8 – Double-mindedness

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I heard the story of a guy who got two job offers from different companies – both would be located in the same building, but on different floors. So he decided to take both of them. He’d get in early and start the first job around 7am, and then go upstairs and clock in at his second job around 9. He would then spend his day travelling between floors every hour or so. If people came and found him away from his desk, they just assumed he was in a meeting. He’d then finish at his first job early to work back late at the second. For 6 months he collected two paycheques before he was found out – and only then because someone resigned from one company, got a job with the other company – and recognised him. He was then sacked from both of them.

The letter of James, which we’re going to be studying over the next few weeks, warns Christian against trying to do this – against trying to work for two masters. It warns us against trying to live for God and for ourselves – or for everyone else’s expectations – trying to fool God that we’re working for him full-time, when every chance we get we’re sneaking off to our second job. Except God isn’t fooled. And sooner or later, we find it impossible to keep up the double life.  Continue reading →

Kingdom Conspiracy

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Looking for something for your reading list over the holidays? Just finished Scot McKnight’s Kingdom Conspiracy. Worth reading for his stimulating critique of what he calls the “pleated pants” and “skinny jeans” views of the kingdom of God. You can see a 2 minute promo for the book in the YouTube link below, which gives you the flavour. Available as an ebook too.

Out of Egypt (Matt 2:13-16)

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(Continuing in our pre-Christmas series through Matthew chapters 1 and 2, focusing on the Old Testament background.)  

Last week we saw one example of how Matthew takes time out from telling the story of Jesus to draw out parallels with events in the Old Testament. “That reminds me of the time when…” There’s often an immediate surface connection between the New Testament story and the Old Testament reference – for example, place names, or key words. But the primary connection is big-picture. It’s in the continuity between the way God worked in the history of Israel, and in the life of Jesus.

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We are the Magi (Matt 2:1-12)

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(Continuing in our pre-Christmas series through Matthew chapters 1 and 2, focusing on the Old Testament background. Read Matt 2:1-12.) 

This is a very familiar story – the Magi coming to worship the infant Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. An overly familiar story. To the point where we often gloss over some of the questions it raises.

What are astrologers doing as the ‘good guys’ in a Bible story?

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The Sign of Immanuel – Part 2 (Matt 1:18-25)

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Yesterday, we saw the Old Testament background to the famous “sign of Immanuel” in Matthew 1:22-23. You need to read that post for today to make sense. Because in it, we saw that just like God was with Ahaz for his good, so God is with us in Jesus for our good. And yet, there’s another side to this sign.

God with us: part two

Because that wasn’t the end of the story back in Isaiah’s day. It’s not the end of the connections that Matthew spotted with the sign of Immanuel. Remember the sign given to King Ahaz? A young maiden was to have a child. And before he’s grown up, God would show that he was with his people, by rescuing them. God used the nation of Assyria to come and defeat the threats of Samaria & Damascus. Immanuel: God with us.

But the idea of ‘God with us’ isn’t necessarily reassuring. The idea of being ‘with’ can cut both ways. Think about it. If you walk into an office and the receptionist is on the phone – and they look up and say ‘I’ll be with you in a minute’ – that’s a good thing, right? But if you’re a schoolkid walking in to the principal’s office, and the receptionist says ‘the principal will be with you in a minute, young man’ – well, that’s not so good. If someone says ‘the police’ll be here any minute’ – whether that’s good news or bad news depends on what side of the law you’re on. So ‘God with us’ – is that really a good thing?

For Ahaz, initially, it was. God was with him in rescuing him from his enemies. That was the good news. But Ahaz refused to trust God completely. He seemed more worried about Samaria and Damascus than the creator of the universe. In fact, it looked like he was trying to make an alliance with Assyria to protect him. Meaning he’d be placing himself under the protection of a human king and their idols, rather than the one true God.

And so because Ahaz refused to trust God – there was also some bad news. A few years later, God was going to be with him alright. Again in the form of Assyria. Who would come and take over the land and carry some of the people off as slaves. God would be with Ahaz – but with him in judgement.

Isa 7:18 In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria… (20) In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River – the king of Assyria – to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also… (23) In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns.

God with us. It cuts both ways. If King Ahaz had trusted in God rather than another nation, God would have been with him for good, not for judgement.

It cuts both ways with Jesus, too. Which is, I think, what the Matthew was wanting to remind us. God with us – for those who trust Jesus, for those who acknowledge him as the son of God, it’s good news. Good news for the simple shepherds, who were the first to hear. Good news for the Magi, those outside the people of God, who were seeking a saviour. And as we read in the gospels about Jesus ministry, it was indeed good news for the poor, for the outcast, for the meek, for the broken. Those who have given up trusting in themselves, or in other people. Those who fall upon the mercy of God. God is with them – for good.

But for those who reject Jesus, it’s bad news. Bad news for King Herod, who tried to kill him. Bad news for the religious leaders of the day, who tried to shut him up and when that didn’t work, put him to death. God will also be with them – in judgement.

And it’s the same for us today. God with us – it cuts both ways. Matthew’s little trip down memory lane – it isn’t an irrelevant digression. It forces us to see the whole picture. Christmas isn’t just a feel-good story about God doing a photo-op in a stable. It’s a choice. A choice as to how we respond.

God’s given us the sign. The sign of Immanuel. God will be with us – that’s guaranteed. But how will he be with us? For good or for ill? That’s our choice.

Will we accept him as our rescuer – his death in our place? Will we put our trust in him to make right the mess we’ve created, confident that his death and resurrection has made it possible for us to be with him forever?

Or will we choose to reject him – continue to keep him out of our life. To put our confidence in the things of this world, in other people, in ourselves. Because if we do, God will also be with us. With us in judgement.

This Christmas, God will indeed be with us in Jesus. But our response to Jesus will decide how.

The Sign of Immanuel – Part 1 (Matt 1:18-25)

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(Continuing in our pre-Christmas series through Matthew chapters 1 and 2, focusing on the Old Testament background. Read Matt 1:18-25.) 

It’s Christmas afternoon. Things are quietening down after lunch. Everyone’s well fed and starting to get that glazed look in their eye. It’s about time for a nap. And then, probably from one of the older relatives in the room, you hear the dreaded phrase: ‘that reminds me of the time…’ And you all settle in for a long-winded story from the distant past. One that appears, at least on the surface, to have only the loosest of connections with what’s going on in the present. ‘That reminds me of the time when your father was a youngster…’

Or if you survive Christmas day intact, just tune in to channel 9 the next day. First day of the Boxing Day test. Guaranteed it won’t be long before something reminds Richie Benaud of a test match back about 50 years ago. Invariably involving a leg spinner. Again, the connection’s lost on most people. But at least in Richie’s mind, something in the present sparks a memory from the past, and away we go.

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