Collected or prepared by Pastor Wilfred Chung

July 19- July 25, 2009

July 19, 2009 - The Path To Maturity

Meditation on James 1

James, the brother of our Lord tells us the purpose of trial in our lives. It is to produce endurance in our character. Through endurance, we will be developed to complete maturity. (The meaning of perfect in verse 4) Therefore, we should count it all joy when we are facing trial, James encourages us.

Of course, during trial we do need wisdom to know how to deal with it. We are exhorted to pray in faith without any wavering at all. Then God will give it to us liberally. (v. 5)

Whatever condition we are in, we must realize that one's life on earth is temporal. We need to remember our status before God. If we are rich, we should be humble. If we are poor, we should rejoice in our high position in Christ. And all those who love God will be tested. After our test on earth is done, we will receive the crown of life. (v. 9-12)

Would you ask today for God's wisdom to grow through trial so that you would be mature and lacking nothing in Him?

July 20, 2009 - Don't Treat People With Partiality

Meditation on James 2

Christians should not have an attitude of favoritism such as treating the rich better than the poor in our churches. When we do that we become judges of evil motives. (v. 1-4) There are several problems with that:

Favoritism fails to see people from the perspective of faith and dishonor them. Also it causes people to overlook the sins of the rich whom they favor. Showing partiality is committing a sin which leads to the offending of the whole law because the person fails to love his neighbor. The law of the Scriptures is the law of liberty. It should free us from partiality.

When we treat people with love and mercy, we will be judged with mercy. And mercy triumphs over judgment. (v. 13) If not, we will face merciless judgment ourselves. Therefore the injunction to avoid favoritism is very serious. As Christians we should do our best to be fair to all people regardless of their outward appearance, background, race, or social status. It may not be easy for some of us. But Christ has transformed us by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) Decide to change your course of behavior today.

July 21, 2009 - Not Anyone Can Be Teacher

Meditation on James 3

The word of God says, "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment." (v. 1 NASB)

Facing judgment from God is not a fun thing let alone a stricter one. Therefore, some people in our church should not be teachers at all because of their loose tongues. (v. 2) God holds us responsible for what we say especially when we attempt to teach others. James reminds us the powerful influence of our tongue. It is like fire that can set aflame the whole forest. The problem is that some of us cannot and would not control our tongues. So we teach people the word of God at one time but use our tongues to criticize, complain and condemn others in another time. God does not like that.

Another thing, teachers of spiritual matters ought to watch out. Teachers should have wisdom in order to teach others. Sometimes we may be confused in teaching others with worldly wisdom rather than heavenly wisdom. Our students will also be watching our behaviors whether they are deed of gentle wisdom or selfish ambition. Heavenly wisdom shows humility, peace, purity, righteousness, mercy and good fruit. But earthly wisdom is natural, demonic, disorderly and jealous. (v. 13-18)

We may love to exert our influence by teaching others in the church. But if we are not careful with our tongues and examine our own life styles, we will face tough judgment. Let us pray for wisdom now. (James 1:5)

July 22, 2009 - Correcting Worldliness

Meditation on James 4

Worldliness is a very serious problem in a church or one's personal life. For the Scriptures says, "Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (v. 4b NASB) Worldliness means that a person consistently cling to the system and value of the world which oppose to God. The description of earthly wisdom from James 3 and the quarrels and conflicts in the church are some of the indications. (v. 1-2)

How do we deal with such tragic condition? James ordered some steps we should take. First, genuine prayers and prayer meetings is the priority. (v. 2-3) We must obey God and draw near to Him. Humble ourselves, resist the devil and manifest a true sense of repentance before God, then God will certainly draw close to us and give us grace. (v. 5-10) We are also commanded to stop criticizing brothers and sisters and the laws. (v. 11-12) Also we should stop boasting our own plan and success but give credit to God and depend on Him completely in our daily walk. (v. 13-16) Finally, start doing the right thing according to the will of God. (v. 17)

I believe that we will have a revival in our lives and in the church if we follow what James says.

July 23, 2009 - Prayer For The Sick

Meditation on James 5

James calls on us to pray with the presence of the elders of the church when we are sick. The elders (pastors) would pray over the patient and anoint him with oil. (v. 14)

Most evangelical scholars would agree that the oil was used in the biblical time as medicine. The elder would rube oil on the patient as a medicine. It indicated that it is alright to use medicine when we pray. God can certainly heal the sick without any medicine. But in this case He wanted the elders to use medicine. But the prayers should only be offered with faith in God. Only He can bring healing to man's body which was created by Him.

Some illness is the result of sin. So repentance and confession to one another are important in prayers also. God will forgive the sinner(s). James emphasizes that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

It is interesting to know that Elijah was as human like us. He was fearful for his life. He was emotional and deeply depressed at one time. But when he prayed he could stop rain and call for rain at the right moment according to God’s will. We too must pray for one another especially for those who are sick.

July 24, 2009 - Our Great Salvation

Meditation on 1 Peter 1

The apostle Peter encourages us first of all to know what a great salvation we have in Christ. After the salutation, the first part of his letter shows us the plan of God's salvation for us (v. 3-9), the hidden element of this salvation (v. 10-12), and the expectation for our life from such salvation. (v. 13-22)

We can obtain such salvation of our souls through Jesus Christ who gives us new lives by His resurrection from the dead. He regenerates us through our acceptance of His incorruptible and living word which comes to us through His preaching of the gospel. (v. 3, 23-25)

Our faith would go through trials to prove whether it is genuine or not. But the result is durability to meet Christ at His revelation (v. 6-7) and we shall receive an incorruptible inheritance reserved for us. (v. 4-5)

God has given us something that is lasting and will not fade away. Let us praise Him! But if you have not received this salvation yet, ask Jesus to come into your heart today to live forever and let His blood cleanse you from all sins.

July 25, 2009 - Christians Are Royal Priesthood

Meditation on 1 Peter 2

Twice in this chapter, Apostle Peter tells us that Christians are priesthood. First, we are a holy priesthood being built up as a spiritual house to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (v.5) Second, we are a royal priesthood so that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (v. 9)

Notice the singular words, priesthood and a spiritual house. They mean that Christians should work together and not just serve individually as a priest by himself or herself.

The priests were to bring people back to God and offer sacrifices for them. The apostle Paul took us a step further by urging the gentile believers to present their bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God. (Romans 12:1) So he was right to say that he was ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that his offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctifies by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:16) When we bring men and women, boys and girls to Christ, spiritually speaking we are offering them as holy sacrifices to God and the spiritual house of God is being built.

We are also a royal priesthood, Peter says in verse nine. Royal means having a kingly status. We have the life-blood from the King of kings. We have our new life from Jesus. (1 John 5:11-13) We can look forward to reign with Him in eternity. (Revelation 3:21; 22:5) But now we should proclaim Him and His excellencies. It is our job to witness for Him and bring people back to Him as spiritual offerings to God.

All Christians are in the priesthood. You belong to God. Would you serve Him today?