Milo

DECEMBER 7

Reading 341

FAITH DISPLAYED James 2“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26).Biblical faith is alive and active.

Overview

Favoritism does not fit with love of neighbors (2:1–13). By its very nature faith must express itself in works: a faith without works is dead and useless (vv. 14–26).

Understanding the Text

“Don’t show favoritism” James 2:1. The original says, “Stop showing favoritism!” James was dealing with a problem that already existed in believers’ fellowships. It’s fascinating that James spoke of “our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” “Glory” in biblical times indicated a person’s “weight” or “importance.” In comparison with the overwhelming glory of Jesus, any differences in importance society assigns to one human being over another are insignificant indeed. Placing importance on people because of their wealth or social position, rather than to love each individual equally, is out of harmony with the nature of our faith. We have to be as careful of showing favoritism today as in the first century. We sin if we elect the “successful” to church office, without consideration of spiritual qualities. We sin if we ignore the poor man who comes into our church, and fawn over the well-to-do. The church of Christ is a family of brothers. We are to live together as a family, freed of the discrimination and pride of position that corrupts society. “A gold ring and fine clothes” James 2:2–4. Clothes make the man, the saying goes. It’s true that clothing does symbolize social status in nearly every society. But symbols of status shouldn’t determine the way you and I evaluate others. That’s what James was so upset about. The Christian community saw people with fine clothing as more important than the poor. In making this distinction, they became “judges with evil thoughts.” How are we to evaluate others? First of all as persons for whom Christ died, and thus important. No one is to be shunted aside or asked to “sit on the floor by my feet.” But other Christians are also vital members of the body of Christ, for each is gifted by the Spirit of God to minister to the rest. The poor may not add to our church budget. But the less able financially contribute just as much, and sometimes more, to our spiritual vitality. “Chosen those who are poor . . . to be rich in faith” James 2:5. We’ve seen it over and over again throughout church history. The poor, with no hope but in God, seem far more rich in faith than the wealthy. You don’t have to be poor to love God and look eagerly for Jesus to return. But there are times when it helps. There’s another thought here that is important. God has “chosen” the poor. He has looked at the neediest among the human family, and poured out His grace on them. What the poor lack now will be more than made up when we inherit the kingdom of God. “Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?” James 2:6–7 In biblical times one major reason for the desperate condition of the poor was their exploitation by the rich. Those with social power could easily take advantage of the powerless—and they did. How wrong it is for the church to find itself lining up against the powerless by showing favoritism to the wealthy. What God’s people should do is to remind the wealthy of their obligation to the poor, not side with the rich. “If you show favoritism, you sin” James 2:8–9. The Law that Jewish Christians rightly venerated commanded, “Love your neighbor.” In no place was “neighbor” defined either as your friends, or as the rich among you. Neighbors are simply people: any and every person you may come in contact with. To show favoritism violated the ancient Law, for it redefined “neighbor” and ruled out the poor. Actually Old Testament Law carefully guarded against showing partiality to either the rich or poor. James didn’t mention bias against the rich, simply because the people he wrote to would never discriminate against them! The sins we don’t commit do not require correction. It’s the sins we do commit that are the problem. “Is guilty of breaking all of it” James 2:10–11. I suppose that showing favoritism to the wealthy in our chruches seems like a “little” sin. After all, it’s hardly in a class with adultery or robbery or murder. But this wasn’t James’ view. To him, sin is sin. Breaking the Law is breaking the Law. Imagine a woman who has made a special cake for her women’s group, and warned the family, “Don’t touch.” Do you suppose, if she came home and found one tiny piece cut from the cake, that she wouldn’t be upset? Of course she would be! The cake would no longer be whole. We tend to divide up the Law into small pieces, and label one slice “adultery” and another slice “theft” and another slice “favoritism.” We tend to see “favoritism” as a much smaller slice than most of the others. But James, like the woman who baked the party cake, saw the Law as a whole. When just one tiny slice has been cut out, the party cake was ruined. And when even one commandment of God has been violated, Law has been broken. Never comfort yourself by saying, “Well, I’ve only committed a few little sins.” Any sin violates the Law, and condemns us as lawbreakers. How important then that we seek to be holy in all that we do. “Judged by the law that gives freedom” James 1:12–13. The “law that gives freedom” is the Christian law of love, which sums up in a single principle the rationale behind the rules and regulations of the Old Covenant. This law gives us freedom, because it helps us focus on the true meaning of all we do. We are not boxed in by rules, but released to live dynamic lives of love. How serious then that early Christians were already violating that law, and showing favoritism to the rich. Rather than display the mercy they received when Christ welcomed them as they were, they withheld mercy from the poor in order to play up to the rich! The judgment of Christians, here as elsewhere, carries no threat of hell. But the threat is real. In the day you and I stand before Christ to receive our rewards, if we have failed to display mercy, the record will be scoured clean, and we will have nothing to show for our years here on earth. “The demons believe that—and shudder” James 2:14–19. We all know that there is faith, and then there is faith. One kind of faith says “I believe,” and means, “I suppose it is true.” The other kind of faith says, “I believe,” and means, “I commit myself heart and soul to God.” The devils believe in the first sense. Christians believe in the second. It’s easy for folks to get confused about which faith is meant when someone says “I believe.” What James said was that there is a way to tell the difference. Faith that says, “I suppose” has no transforming power. This kind of faith produces no works. Faith that says, “I commit myself, heart and soul,” is transforming faith. This kind of faith will always produce good works in the life of the man or woman who believes. What kind of faith do you and I have in Christ? A look at our lives ought to tell. “A person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” James 2:20–26. The word “justified” is a legal term that can mean declared innocent, or proven innocent. We are justified by faith, in that on the basis of our faith God declares us innocent. But we are also justified by works, in that it is on the basis of our works that we are proven innocent. The proof of the pudding, the old saying goes, is in the eating. The proof of justification is in the good works that a true faith in Jesus Christ produces in our lives. That’s why James concluded, “Faith without deeds is dead.” If your faith in Christ has made no difference in your way of life, then you have a dead and not a living faith in our Lord.

DEVOTIONAL

That Kind of Faith(James 2:14–26)

Luther called James an “epistle of straw,” and was upset by what he viewed as its works/righteousness teaching. Really though, this critical segment of James does not teach works/righteousness, but asks a vitally important question. And that question is—what kind of faith do you have? Abraham had a very real faith. We know that Scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (v. 23). In one sense of that legal term “justified,” Abraham was justified at that moment, declared innocent in the sight of God. But Abraham was not proven righteous until he subsequently obeyed God’s command and came to Mount Moriah, ready and willing to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. In that act he was justified in another vital legal sense: his innocence was displayed! What James tells us is that the kind of faith that makes us righteous before God will also make us righteous before men. A true faith in God will transform us within, and the new person we have become will act out a relationship with God. Even as Rahab showed that she had a true and saving faith in God by hiding the spies that had entered Jericho. Even as you have shown that you have a true and saving faith in God by many of the choices you have made since you became a Christian. What a joy it is to know that our faith is real. What a joy it is to have a faith that works.

Personal Application

Consider some of the ways your faith has expressed itself in your deeds.

Quotable

“You can say you are a Christian, but that doesn’t make you one. The true Christian will give evidence of faith by a transformed life. The kind of faith that will take you to heaven is the kind of faith that will produce godliness in your life here and now.”—Charles H. Robinson

James

DECEMBER 6

Reading 340

FACING TRIALS James 1“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).Trials and temptations are God’s invitation to overcome.

Biography: James, the brother of Jesus

The Gospels tell us that at first Jesus’ brothers were skeptics (cf. John 7:5). After the Resurrection James, one of the brothers, became a leading figure in the Jerusalem church (cf. Acts 15:13–29; 21:17–25; Gal. 2:12). Church history calls him “James the Just,” and also gives him the nickname “Camel knees,” because the skin on his knees is supposed to have become calloused from spending so much time in prayer. According to Josephus, James was martyred inA.D 62.

Overview

God provides the wisdom we need to face trials (1:1–8), and perspective on poverty (vv. 9–11). God does not tempt us to do evil; He gives only good gifts (vv. 12–18). God’s Word can save us from anger and moral filth (vv. 19–22), but only if we practice it (vv. 23–25). The truly religious person cares for those in distress (vv. 26–27).

Understanding the Text

“To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” James 1:1. The greeting helps us grasp the historical setting. James wrote when the church was young, composed of Jewish believers. He wrote after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7), when severe persecution in Judea forced Christians to leave Jerusalem (8:1–3). Understanding this setting helps us see why James is one of the least theological of the New Testament letters. Early Jewish Christians knew who Jesus is! They had heard Him teaching in the temple courts. They knew Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, personally. They might even have visited the empty tomb, and most likely were acquainted with 1 of the 500 witnesses who saw Christ after His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6). These scattered members of the Jerusalem church did not need to be taught who Jesus is: they knew the promised Messiah, the very Son of God! And so James rightly assumed that his readers have faith in Christ, and moved immediately to his purpose for writing. In blunt, compelling prose James spoke about the lifestyle appropriate to those who know Jesus. And about the unique understanding faith brings to issues that are faced by all men, everywhere. When we read this little book we can hear James—and the Holy Spirit through him-speak to us. For the lifestyle of faith is essentially the same for you and me as it was for those who first believed in Christ, nearly 2,000 years ago. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers” James 1:2–4. The last thing we usually do when trials come is rejoice. The Greek word here, peirasmos, suggests a difficult situation; a painful pressure. We can understand why the Jerusalem Christians, forced to leave their homes and flee to foreign lands, would face “trials of many kinds.” But to “consider it pure joy”? James explained. God uses trials to develop our character. The process may be painful, but the product, maturity, is worth it! This is one of the unique things about faith. It shapes our perspective. It lets us look at even painful experiences in a new light. And when we look at trials from the perspective of Christian faith, and see the product God intends to produce in us, we truly will be able to rejoice. “Ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault” James 1:5–8. In Scripture “wisdom” is invariably the ability to apply knowledge in a real-life situation, and so make godly and right choices. The trouble is, some of us don’t really know what the wise thing to do is. That may have been the complaint of these early Christians, who were frustrated in the face of their “many kinds of trials.” James’ advice was, “Ask God.” After all, God knows what’s best for us to do. And, James said, unlike some human beings, God gives generously to all without finding fault. Our Sarah would understand how important that is. She came in the office yesterday and asked for help with a fourth-grade English exercise. I looked at it, and rather than tell her the answers, asked questions to help her figure out the answers for herself. Soon she flounced out in a huff. I’m sure she was quite disgusted with a daddy who wasn’t at all generous in his answers, and seemed to her to find fault. There’s no need to worry about that kind of response when we ask God for guidance and direction. He gives it to us—generously. And without finding fault. But there is one condition. We must “believe and not doubt.” James, in going on to draw his picture of the “double-minded man,” helps us understand just what he meant. If we ask God for wisdom, we must be prepared to act on what He shows us. We can’t go to God and say, “Maybe I’d like to do it Your way, and maybe not.” We must go in faith, and ask without any hesitation or mental reservation. If you and I are willing to do God’s will, He will show us what to do. But we can expect guidance only when we are ready to respond. “Take pride in his high position” James 1:9–11. Christian faith also brings perspective to the inequities of life. In this world great gaps exist between rich and poor. And people evaluate themselves and others by the criterion of wealth. James suggested a way to balance things out. The poor man can take comfort in his high position in Christ. And the rich in his “low position.” The thought seems to be that present trials serve to remind the rich man how fleeting and transitory life is—and thus guard him against the pride and self-confidence that insulate so many wealthy people from reality and from God. “When tempted” James 1:13. The word for “temptation” is also peirasmos, the same word we met as “trial” in verse 2. Its use in Scripture is shaped by an Old Testament concept expressed in the Hebrew word nasah. Pressure exerted on an individual brings a reaction, through which the character or commitment of the believer is demonstrated. Temptations are intended to reveal the quality of one’s faith—not to trip a person up. This is something we need to remember always. Our temptations are not evil. They are opportunities to display the beauty of Jesus and the reality of our faith (see DEVOTIONAL). “Humbly accept the Word” James 1:19–21. When temptations arise we can surrender to our inner urge to react sinfully. Or we can surrender to the guidance of God’s Word. James promises us that when we “humbly accept the Word” that Word will “save” us—from ourselves! “Do not merely listen to the Word” James 1:22–25. There was another of those stories in the newspaper just last month. An older woman, alone, living in squalor, starved to death. And in her bedroom the police found hundreds of thousands of dollars stuffed in pillowcases. What an image of the Christian, who has in Scripture all the resources needed for spiritual prosperity. But those resources will do us no good at all if we merely “listen” to the words of Scripture. To be of any value, we must look “intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it.” Scripture blesses us. But only in doing it! “Religion that God our Father accepts” James 1:26–27. Three of the five occurrences of the Greek word translated “religion” or “religious” are found here in these verses. The word portrays someone who performs the external acts of religion: who does what a religious person is expected to do. On the one hand, James said that the religion of a person who acts religious but does not control his tongue is a sham. On the other, he said that true religion is not measured by attendance at church or ritual piety, but by acts of compassion intended to help those in distress. True religion, which expresses outwardly an honest inner faith, serves people in need.

DEVOTIONAL

Temptations Welcome(James 1:13–18)

I remember my first visit to a fun house. It was on Coney Island, in New York. Inside, mirror after mirror reflected a distorted image of me and my date. In one mirror we looked short and squat, in another we were thin above the waist, and lumpy below. And though I rather liked the one that made me look slender, I wasn’t sorry to leave. Christians sometimes have a fun house view of temptations. Situations in which we feel tempted are looked at as hulking and dangerous, or as wildly appealing. Sometimes such a situation even seems like a trap, set by God to trip us up. James wants us to leave our house of mirrors, and see temptations for what they are. In themselves, the situations we find ourselves in are neither evil, nor dangerous, nor appealing, nor traps. What transforms a situation into a temptation comes from within us: we are tempted by our thoughts and reactions, our feelings and desires. While the situation we find ourselves in may be from God, the temptation we feel in them is not. James reminds us of something utterly important. God gives only “good and perfect gift[s].” God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. This means that the situation in which we feel temptation is itself good—even though the evil in us wants to twist it into something evil. In saying “every good and perfect gift is from above” James calls on us to radically change our perspective, and look at the situation we see as an evil as something wonderful and good. But how can this be? Again, James explained. God, the Giver of good gifts, “Chose to give us birth through the Word of truth.” There’s more than “evil desire” in our hearts! There is a new and wonderful life, the very life of God, flowing through us now. And the same situation that as a temptation provides an opportunity for our evil desires to trip us up, provides an opportunity for the new life from God to enable us to stand! We don’t have to give in to the evil impulses that entice us and would drag us into sin. God’s new creation frees us to bring forth beauty, and good. In this wonderful sense, every situation and every trial, and even every temptation, is a good and perfect gift from our loving God.

Personal Application

Transform your temptations into triumphs by choosing to do good.

Quotable

“Why comes temptation but for man to meet And master and make crouch beneath his feet, And so be pedestaled in triumph?” -Robert Browning

James

INTRODUCTION

This letter was written by James, the brother of Jesus, who was a leader of the Jerusalem church (cf. Acts 15:13–29; Gal. 2:12). It may date from the late A.D. 40s, just after persecution scattered the members of the new movement (James 1:1; cf. Acts 8:1–3). If so, James would be the earliest of the New Testament letters. James’ focus was on how faith is to be expressed in a believer’s life. He concentrated on such issues as facing trials, dealing with temptation, showing favoritism, taming the tongue, patience, and prayer. The book continues to serve as a reminder that our faith is also a way of life, and as a guide to putting our faith into practice.

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

I.	Practicing Faith	James 1:1–2:13
II.	Principles of Faith	James 2:14–26
III.	Problems for Faith	James 3–4
IV.	Prospects for Faith	James 5

DECEMBER 5

Reading 339

HONORABLE LIVES Hebrews 13

“We are sure that we have a clear conscience and a desire to live honorably in every way” (Heb. 13:18).Exhortations to honorable living grow naturally out of the most exalted doctrine.

Overview

The writer closes with exhortations (13:1–19), with one of the most powerful doxologies in Scripture (vv. 20–21), and with personal greetings (vv. 22–25).

Understanding the Text

“Keep on loving each other as brothers” Heb. 13:1. Nearly every New Testament letter contains an exhortation to love. This is only appropriate, as the night before His crucifixion Jesus emphasized his “new commandment” (John 13:33–34). Christ’s followers are to love one another as Jesus loved them. This verse, however, has a distinctive emphasis. “Keep on” loving. The emphasis is important. As we come to know others better and better, more and more of their flaws are likely to appear. How many a gal has come home, excited over meeting “the” man, only to become disenchanted a few weeks or months later. We Christians, however, don’t have the liberty of disenchantment. Or of disengagement. Someone born to my parents is my sister or my brother, not by my choice, but by virtue of shared parentage. We may choose our mates, but we don’t choose brothers and sisters. And somehow, despite everything, in most families siblings learn not only to get along, but to love each other as well. It’s like this in God’s family. We are family, not by our choice, but by God’s. We have the same Father, and so we all belong. Period. We can become disenchanted. But we can’t withdraw, or reject someone whom God has accepted. And so Hebrews 13:1 sets a distinctive challenge before us. “Keep on” loving. How good to know that, as we keep on loving, love will find a way. Through love we will be a blessing, and find blessing. “Do not forget to entertain strangers” Heb. 13:2–3. Hospitality was one of the most important of ancient virtues. No hotels or motels dotted the first-century countryside. Tired and hungry people often appeared in town or at one’s door, hoping for a place to stay. There are distinct aspects to the Christian’s relationships with others. We are to keep on loving Christian brothers. And we are to entertain strangers. Whether the people we meet are in or out of God’s family, we are to show loving concern. The writer went even further. The believer is to “remember those in prison.” A person in prison isn’t free to come to your church. He’s not free to knock on your door. You have to take the initiative and search out the person in jail. What’s more, it is uncomfortable to take that initiative. When someone comes to your house, you’re on your own turf. You are relatively secure. When you go beyond the places you normally frequent, you feel uncertain and unsure. There you can’t insulate yourself from others’ suffering. It’s unpleasant at the very least. But if we remember all that Hebrews tells about what God has done for us in Christ, we understand why we need to relate to brothers, strangers, and prisoners. Christ’s gift of redemption is a love gift offered to every man. Christ’s blood was shed for the stranger and the outcast as well as the brother. We need to go where Christ would go if He were here. “Keep your lives free from the love of money” Heb. 13:4–6. It’s easy to say. But how do we find contentment, when everything in our society shouts at us, insisting that we desire more? The answer is, remember that in God you already possess everything. The stock market can fall, and you will lose everything. Thieves can break in, and your possessions will disappear. The economy can crash and interest rates rise. In this world there simply is no security in wealth, or the things that money can buy. But when God is with you, and when you have His promise, “Never will I leave you,” you enjoy the ultimate security. God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Owner of the cattle on a thousand hills, is your helper. There is nothing that can threaten the man or woman who walks hand in hand with the Lord. “Remember your leaders” Heb. 13:7. What a fascinating way to put this. The writer didn’t say, “Remember what your leaders taught.” He didn’t say “Remember what your leaders told you to do,” even though they “spoke the Word of God to you.” What the writer said was, “Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” We are to remember them, for their example teaches us something that their words cannot. As we consider the faith they live by, we learn to live by faith. “Our hearts to be strengthened by grace” Heb. 13:9–14. The ceremonial foods on Old Testament altars symbolized God’s sustaining grace. You and I, however, have no need of symbols. We have Christ Himself, who suffered to make us holy. Going “outside the camp” indicates breaking out of Old Testament faith and ritual. There is nothing left for us inside them, for with their symbolism fulfilled in Christ, they are now empty shells. And so the author said, “Let us then go to Him.” If you want your heart to be strengthened by grace, follow this prescription. Go directly to Him. “A sacrifice of praise” Heb. 13:15. Let’s not come empty-handed to the Lord. And let’s not rush into His presence, shouting out our needs and demanding attention without first paying attention to Him. What we bring Christ as our sacrifice today is praise. And He is worthy to be praised. Perhaps it’s not surprising, but even in this we find that God thinks of us, even as He asks us to consider Him. When we do focus our attention on the Lord, and praise Him for His great attributes, we pray with much greater confidence. Rehearsing His praises strengthens our faith, and faith is essential to answered prayer. “We have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way” Heb. 13:18. If this is true of us, and reflects our heart’s desire, we will do more than praise God. Our lives will bring Him praises. “The God of peace” Heb. 13:20–21. These verses contain one of the most beautiful benedictions in the Old or New Testaments. It is a “must memorize”: a passage that can bring confidence as well as focus to your life.

DEVOTIONAL

Let Yourself Be Led(Heb. 13:17)

It’s almost hidden, tucked in with a number of other exhortations that the writer of Hebrews hurried to add as he closed his epistle. Most who do notice it seem to take it wrongly, as if the writer were encouraging a hierarchy of leaders, who had the right to demand obedience. I don’t believe the first readers had that impression for several reasons. In the Greek the phrase reads peithesthe tois hegoumenois hyman kain hypeikete. The Greek work peithesthe means, “Let yourselves be persuaded, or convinced.” A fair English paraphrase would be, “Open your hearts to the persuasion of your leaders.” The word translated “leaders” here is used for rulers and princes, but originally meant “to lead or guide.” The idea seems to be that spiritual leaders are to be those who have traveled the road of faith (see v. 7), and thus can serve as guides for others. The single word hypeikete is rendered by the English phrase, “Submit to their authority.” Originally it was used in classical Greek to describe soft and yielding substances. The root idea is not “give in,” but “be disposed to yielding.” Putting this together the instruction focuses on the attitude that you and I are to maintain as we travel the Jesus road, led by others who have traveled on farther than we. What the first readers would have understood is this charge: “In your relationship with those who are your leaders and guides to godliness, be sure you maintain a yielding disposition, and remain open to their persuasion.” It’s an approprirate exhortation here at the close of Hebrews. In Jesus we have a superior revelation, a superior High Priest, a better covenant, and a better faith. And we are called by God to experience, through faith, every blessing provided by the Son of God. How important, as we travel the Jesus road with others, to choose as leaders those who have gone on ahead—and to let ourselves be led.

Personal Application

Though responsible for your own choices in life, remain open, and let yourself be led by godly men and women.

Quotable

“The question, ‘Who ought to be the boss?’ is like asking, ‘Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?’ Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.”—Henry Ford

DECEMBER 4

Reading 338

DIVINE DISCIPLINE Hebrews 12“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11).To benefit from discipline we must respond to it.

Overview

The example of Jesus stimulates us to struggle against sin (12:1–4). We are to view hardship as God’s discipline of dearly loved sons (vv. 5–11), and strengthen our resolve to live holy lives (vv. 12–17). For God has not spoken to us in a distant law, but in a nearby Christ (vv. 18–24), whose kingdom is not to be despised (vv. 25–29).

Understanding the Text

“A great cloud of witnesses” Heb. 12:1–3.

Some consider this a reference to saints and angels observing us, as the crowd in a great stadium cheers on those on the playing field. Others see us observing the saints of ages past, taking heart from their consistent testimony (witness) to God’s faithfulness. Either understanding motivates us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” What a great responsibility, to know that what we do impacts others’ commitment to Jesus Christ. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” Heb. 12:2–3. Jesus is the “pioneer” (author) of our faith, in that He followed the path of faith all the way to its end. He trusted all the way to death, and then broke out of the grave to open the way to glory. Jesus is also the perfecter of faith. In Jesus we see faith’s ultimate nature perfectly expressed. Perfect faith is complete trust in God, however awesomely death and destruction crowd in around us. No wonder the writer said, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” When we are frightened, seeing Jesus will enourage us to keep on trusting. When we are tired, seeing Jesus will give us strength to go on. When we want to turn back, focusing on Jesus will reassure us that the glory ahead is well worth the present pain. “In your struggle against sin” Heb. 12:4. One of history’s great saints, John Chrysostom, whose exile inA.D 403 was caused by his denunciation of powerful churchmen for their pretentions and lack of charity, wrote from exile: “there is only one thing to be feared, Olympias, only one trial, and that is sin.” Jesus as faith’s pioneer and perfecter reminds us that we are better off to choose suffering rather than to choose sin. Christ resisted choosing sin “to the point of shedding His blood.” You and I are most unlikely to have so grim a choice to make. So let’s not feel sorry for ourselves when suffering comes. Let’s rejoice that whatever our suffering, we have not and will not choose sin in order to avoid it. “The Lord’s discipline” Heb. 12:7. As the early decades of the Church Age passed, Christians found themselves under increasing pressure. There was often hostility from neighbors. In some localities there was unofficial persecution. In others there was official persecution by Roman authorities. So the Book of Hebrews, written as it seems to have been toward the end of the 60s, speaks as do other later New Testament epistles, of suffering and pain. Here the writer of Hebrews asks us to view hardship and suffering as discipline. God has not abandoned Christ’s followers. God is simply treating them as any wise father treats dearly loved sons. It may seem strange, but this perspective makes any hardship we face so much easier. We no longer have to cringe away, wondering what we’ve done that God should punish us so. Instead we reach up in our pain, convinced that even our suffering is an expression of the love of God. If you know God loves you, you can endure almost anything. And if you ever doubt that God could permit His loved ones to suffer, consider Jesus. The pioneer and perfecter of our faith suffered the ultimate anguish, though He is God’s dearly beloved Son. “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness” Heb. 12:7–13. Two things reassure us when God disciplines. We remember that Jesus suffered first. And we remember that God has graciously explained His motive for discipline. One thing that bothers us is not knowing “why.” We lose our job, and in our fears about the future cry out, “Why?” We lose a loved one, and agonize, “Why him, and why not me?” We suffer from a lingering illness and, try as we may, we can find nothing “good” in it. We begin to doubt Romans 8:28, and again we ask, “Why?” God doesn’t give us reasons for specific hardships. But He does explain, carefully, what He is doing. God is treating us as any good parent treats his own children. God is disciplining us “for our good, that we may share in His holiness.” Don’t expect an economic benefit from the loss of a job, an emotional benefit from the loss of a loved one, or a health benefit from a serious illness. But do expect a spiritual benefit from any hardship. If you and I submit to God (v. 9), He will work in our lives, and through suffering we will grow in holiness. Even more, we will reap a rich “harvest of righteousness and peace” from the training hardship is intended to provide. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God” Heb. 12:14–17. The very hardship which is intended to bless can ruin us. Whether suffering strengthens or weakens us depends on our response to it. If we look at suffering only as an evil, and become bitter, the discipline God intended as a love gift will become a burden and a thorn. Such people miss the grace of God. No, not the grace expressed in bringing the specific trial. But the grace that marks our entire relationship with God, and the grace that is available to strengthen us in our difficulties. A focus on God’s grace will lead to an experience of God’s grace in our situation, and that will free us from bitterness, and we will grow. “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched” Heb. 12:18–24. When the people of Israel gathered at Mount Sinai to receive the Law, lightning flashed and thunder grumbled threateningly. The people drew back in fear, and Moses alone approached the Lord. It was hard to sense the grace of God there. But we Christians come not to Sinai but to Zion. There we meet Jesus Himself, as thousands of angels sing for joy. We come to God through Jesus, and experience an intimacy that was only dreamed of in Old Testament times. Let’s be careful that we do not refuse the God we know so well when He speaks. If those who knew Him less well suffered for ignoring His Word, how much more will we lose; we who know Him so intimately? “A kingdom that cannot be shaken” Heb. 12:25–28. God shakes the earth. The image reminds us how insubstantial and unstable the material universe is. Out of all that is, only human beings will exist out beyond time and into eternity. Everything else will disappear. How good God is, then, to permit us to suffer in this world, if the benefits of holiness and righteousness that divine discipline develops will persist long beyond time. God is good. And when He disciplines us, it is for our good as well.

DEVOTIONAL

Child Abuse!(Heb. 12:5–11)

Kids pick up on things so quickly. I suspect that’s why one parent we know was threatened by her 11-year-old. “Make me do it,” he said to his mother, “and I’ll call 911 and tell them child abuse.” Mom kept cool. “Go ahead. I may spend a couple of days in jail. But they’ll put you in a foster home. No Nintendo. No color TV in your room. No stereo. No tapes or CDs. No room of your own.” The boy thought for a moment and then said, “OK, Mom.” It wasn’t like that when I was a boy. I suspect some of the things that happened to me would have raised cries of concern today. Like the time Dad took me out in the garage and whipped me with a leather belt. Or the time I ran away, again, and my disgusted father took the collar off my dog Ezra and put it around my neck! “I can trust Ezra more than I can trust you,” he told me, and drove away. I sat outside that warm summer morning, totally crushed, until Dad returned from his mail route and let me go. But even then I would never have cried, “child abuse.” Even then I was perfectly aware that Dad loved me, and that what he did was not so much an expression of his anger as it was an expression of his concern. Dad disciplined me, not for his pleasure, but for my benefit. And somehow I knew. How wonderful it is for you and me, when tragedy strikes, to be able in our misery to look up and know that we are loved. How wonderful it is, when we can’t understand “why,” to know we’re not the victims of child abuse, but the recipients of love. Children today who shout “child abuse” when loving parents discipline them reject one of Mom’s and Dad’s greatest love gifts. They will surely be the poorer for it. And Christians today, who utter that same shout when troubles come, have forgotten the depths of God’s love, and miss out on one of life’s greatest gifts: the certainty that God is with us, always. And that He cares.

Personal Application

Let God’s discipline of believers serve as a model for your nurture of your boys and girls.

Quotable

“Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things.”—Henry Ward Beecher