Stone Lions
Imagine two hundred years ago, someone wrote a book titled, "How to Survive in Everyday America." - And then each decade or so it was updated a little to reflect any necessary information. And then comes 2020 - and the whole book gets tossed out. And in these years since, we find ourselves regularly arguing about stuff that had been accepted as fact for thousands of years - how many genders there are, who can and can't give birth, how do you even define a woman...?
I heard someone suggest that what we're experiencing is because someone invented a time machine and went back to 2020 trying to find 'patient zero' in order to prevent the pandemic. But - every time they went back and tried to fix one thing, they messed up something else - and that's why 'reason' and 'common sense' have gone out the window and we have $5 gas...
Fortunately for us, we do have a book that tells us how to live - despite 'crazy circumstances' around us. But just having God's Word is different from following God's Word. Last week Larry shared an overview from the book of James - a very practical writing of 'no-nonsense' guidelines. This morning I want to look at one specific passage in more depth. So let's jump in with James 1:19-25 (NIV)...
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (20) for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (21) Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (22) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
(23) Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror (24) and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (25) But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.
I'd like to suggest that in order to actually follow God's Word in our daily lives there are a few steps we need to take. And the first one sounds pretty basic. Let's start with...
I. Accept the Word
In order for us to follow God's Word, we first need to know what it says. But sometimes, there are things that may get in the way of us accepting it. I want to look again closely at the first part of our text, to identify some of those things...
James 1:19-21 (NIV)
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (20) for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (21) Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
The first thing to do in order to accept God's Word is to be...
A. Quick to listen and slow to speak
James didn't know anything about social media - but I'm sure he'd want to apply that rule to Facebook! Try having an actual adult disagreement there and see how long it takes to slide into name calling and 'tribalism'... You can't have a discussion with someone who really isn't interested in listening. And I wonder if God feels the same way about us at times...
I don't claim to be an expert - but I do 'do this' for a living and I'm always amazed at how some, who don't even 'go to Church', are quick to explain to me their personal philosophy of who God is and what He expects of them. And it usually has no real basis in scripture, but focuses more on who they want God to be. And again - does God ever see us that way? Are we slow to listen to Him but quick to speak about our own opinions - whether they agree with scripture or not...?
God wants us to be quick to listen to His Word. For some of us, that may mean shutting out the other noise around us, or even in our own head as our own thoughts may crowd out God's Word. We're also told to be slow to speak. Sometimes that's a hard thing to do. How many times when you're arguing with someone are you figuring out what to say next as soon as they stop talking, rather than actually listening?
Do you ever do that with God? You probably don't actually sit and try to argue with God - but when you hear His Word, do you really sit and listen to it or are you quick to rationalize or explain how it might not apply to you? - "That's good advice for others and they really need to hear this." In being quick to speak, do we miss out on God's message for us?
Be quick to listen and slow to speak and we're also told to be...
B. Slow to anger
That's where I've seen most of social media and actual human interaction break down. We can't seem to just disagree. Now, if I don't agree, embrace, or celebrate everything that you say, I apparently hate you...? And it's easy to get angry in such a hostile climate - but James is calling us to be different in order to be able to fully accept God's Word.
Years ago a man enjoyed attending public debates at a certain academy, which were only spoken in Latin. His friend was surprised and commented, "I didn't know you knew Latin." "I don't - but I know who's losing the argument by seeing who gets angry first."
Anger doesn't help us lead the righteous lives that God desires of us.
Last week. Larry mentioned that James, the author of this book, was the actual brother of Jesus. But we don't know that information from the Book of James. Rather, what we see when James introduces his book is this, from James 1:1 (NIV)...
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
Being the brother of Jesus is kind of a big deal. If you want people to listen to you - listing that fact on your resume would bring a bit of weight with it, a bit of authority. But James chose instead to defer and simply introduce himself as 'a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ'.
Humility is essential in helping us become the people that God desires us to become. We first have to humbly accept God's Word and then we have to...
II. Live the Word
Putting God's Word into action makes all the difference. Let's look again at the second section from James 1:22-25 (NIV)...
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (23) Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror (24) and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (25) But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.
James points out that we need to give more than a cursory glance at God's Word - in order to really live it, it requires that we...
A. Apply it
Just 'listening' to a preacher on a Sunday morning doesn't make you a disciple of Jesus. That's why many aren't here anymore after the pandemic... They were here to 'listen', but then found other things to occupy their time during the shutdown rather than continue in their faith. Being a Christian requires that you take the time to examine the Word and then apply it to your life - regardless of circumstances. That's something that requires effort on your part. Being a Christian is not a passive journey, it requires that you internalize God's truth and allow it to make a difference in your entire life.
Years ago I remember seeing a stone fountain outside of an apartment complex. It was a lion statue with water pouring out of its mouth into a small pond. The lion itself was quite worn and cracked, but the water wasn't leaking anywhere. There was a metal tube running through the lion and just barely extending out of its mouth. The water simply flowed through the tube in the lion but it made no contact with the statue itself.
Are we ever like that lion? Do we hear the words of scripture - and can even repeat the words - but they move right through us without ever actually making any difference in our lives? - They don't affect us at all. I don't want to be that lion. We need to KNOW God's Word, but also internalize it as we GROW closer to God. Living God's Word means you allow it to...
B. Transform you
As we listen to God's Word, as we examine it and then internalize it, it will bring change. Not a single one of us is worthy of wearing the name Christian. God allows us to follow Jesus not because of anything good we have done but because of the greatness of Christ. By spending time in God's Word and allowing it to penetrate our hearts, shape our beliefs and actions - we will become what He needs us to be - through the power of Jesus!
God's Word can transform us if we let it. Many of us have experienced that transformation first hand. We are not who we were before meeting Jesus! Thank God that His grace brings freedom!
Vincent Donovan, in his book, "Christianity Rediscovered," shared his experiences of working among the Maasai people in Tanzania. He'd been struggling for many months to fully communicate, and he sat down with one believing Maasai elder to discuss his efforts.
In their conversation, the elder pointed out that the Swahili word Donovan had been using to convey the word "faith" was not a great translation. The word he was using for "faith" meant literally, "to agree to." The Maasai elder said that to believe like that was similar to a 'white hunter shooting an animal from a great distance'. Only his eyes and his finger got into it.
The elder shared that for one to really believe is more like a lion going after its prey. The lion's nose and ears sense the prey. He sniffs the air and locates it. Then he crouches, and slithers along the ground virtually invisible. The lion gets into position, and when everything is optimum, the lion pounces. All the power of his body is involved and as the animal goes down, the lion envelopes it in his arms, pulls it to himself, and makes it a part of himself. This, said the elder, is the way one believes, making faith a part of oneself!
Donovan was almost overcome by the elder's wisdom. But he wasn't done yet. He said to Donovan: "We did not search you out. We did not even want you to come to us. You searched us out. You told us of the High God. You told us we must search for the High God. But we have not done this. Instead, the High God has searched us out and found us! All the time we think we are the lion. In the end, the lion is God!"
We are to submit to God in sincere and active faith - and God will do the hard part of transforming us! If we don't allow Him to change us - He can't use us for anything good. We are to accept the Word and internalize it and act on it - allowing God to transform us - and then we will be useful to...
C. Share it
It is great that those of us sitting here who have accepted Christ through baptism have had our sins washed away and that we get to go to Heaven - that's great! However, there are thousands of people in our lives who have not really heard the true message of the Gospel. It's part of our responsibility to GO share that Word.
Last week Larry mentioned that God cares more about your actions than your words - and that's absolutely correct. But God does care very deeply about your words when you use them to invite someone else to Jesus. And that's when actions and words can very practically go hand in hand.
God has given some people the gift of 'evangelism' - sharing the Gospel; they feel very comfortable talking to others about their faith. Not everyone may have the gift of evangelism, but everyone has the responsibility to 'evangelize' - to share the truth. Just because 'reaching out to others' may be difficult for you doesn't mean you get a pass from the responsibility of sharing your faith.
You don't have to start with a discussion on the finer points of theology - but use your words to encourage. The world is great at using its words to tear down. Use your words to build up! You'll immediately stand out! Use your words to focus on the positive, to praise, to love, to be a peacemaker, to speak truth, to invite someone to come see why you spend valuable time here on a Sunday morning! Invite them to lunch next Sunday here, and to watch 'The Chosen' with you. Use your words to be different than the rest of the world!
Many times, as Christians - when we're doing it right - we don't really 'fit in' with this world. That very difference in itself can become a great witness for Jesus and draws others to Him.
So What?
In order for us to move beyond just words to putting our words into action, it may take a bit of 'righteous frustration'. "A man who is not angry at evil lacks enthusiasm for good." We know we're to accept God's Word, we're to live the Word, and we're to share the Word. What will it take to help us do that in our lives?
Do you relate more to the 'stone lion' that simply allows the water to pass through it without being affected by it - or do you feel more like the lion who pursues, and acts, and devours?
James wrote, 'the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, ... he will be blessed in what he does'
I read an interesting observation about a kite. The key to the freedom to fly is in the string. The very thing that holds the kite down to earth is in fact what keeps it in the sky. Cut the string, and what'll happen to the kite? It will fall. The string, which appears to restrain it, actually allows it to fly.
The freedom that comes with living a 'victorious Christian life' comes from the fact that we are bound to Christ. Perhaps if you're having a tough time getting off the ground, it's because you aren't grounded in God's Word. Let's put our faith into action and invite someone to meet Jesus this week!