Here’s my first entry for a new effort we’re calling the Blogger Small Group. The general idea is that a group of blogger have decided to form our own online small group and study the Scripture together. Once a week, Kyle over at Running Like a Vagabond releases a Bible passage on Wednesday, and throughout the next seven days we study, meditate, and reflect on what we are getting out of the Scripture. Then, on Tuesday, we post our thoughts to our own blog, and then link up to Kyle’s post at his place, thereby forming a small group.
We hope to read and comment on each other’s thoughts, and feel that we can create a real discussion and cross-pollination of insight that will lead to greater understanding and application of the Scripture. If you’ve got the time, I’d encourage you to join us. Sounds interesting, but you’re not sure it’s for you, give it a try for a couple of weeks and see what happens.
Our first study is centered on James chapter 1. For the record, I’m doing my study using Bible Gateway’s parallel passage lookup feature, and reading from NASB, NIV, ESV, NLT, and The Message.
James 1
1 = I love that some of the translations use “slave” or “bond-servant” when James describes his relationship with Christ. You know the phrase that God-rejectors sometimes use? “Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven.” To this I counter, “Better is one day in Your courts, than thousands elsewhere,” even if I’m allowed in the door as a slave. Remember also, this was the brother of Jesus writing this, a sibling. That’s some real humility going on.
James specifically states he’s writing to the twelve tribes of Israel, wherever they might be. Regardless, God’s Word is for all who will heed it.
2-3 = There is no other way to build up your endurance, but to be pushed. Your limits must be tested and those barriers broken through so you can be made stronger, faster, more fit and ready to endure. Also, look at the attitude of being pushed, it is to be a joyful experience. I was taught since I was a little child that, if you are in the Lord’s will times won’t be easy. Is your faith being tested? Good, you’re right where you’re suppossed to be.
4 = Interpret this verse be reading it in the negative: If you don’t let edurance be built up in your life, you will be incomplete, immature, in need, underdeveloped.
5-8 = There’s a lot going on here. First, if you need wisdom, ask for it. One of the first steps of wisdom is realizing you need it, and you need help acquiring it. I love how the Message puts God’s response to our asking: “He loves to help.” So often, God is just waiting for us to ask, but in our pride we don’t think to do this until a last resort. Second, when you ask, you have to ask in faith, no doubting allowed! So often, I think our prayers fail because we allow doubt into our heart and mind. Third, a person who has this doubt in their mind, is like someone who is easily blow by the wind, easily swayed into scepticism and dispair. Such people are “unstable in all they do.”
9-11 = If you are in “humble” cirmcumstances, count it as a high position, and when the rich and powerful are brought low, they should proudly proclaim it is God who has brought them low. Either way, God get’s the glory, because life is short and soon ending, but God is eternal. Riches will fade away like plants scorched by a hot summer sun, but God will never fail.
12 = OK, weird thought here. I just started watching Lost from the beginning. I saw the episode where Locke shows the moth cocoon to Charlie. He explains that if he helped the moth out of its cocoon, then the moth would not have the strength to survive its normal life. This verse is pointing in the same direction. Trials, temptations, troubles, testings are all for our good. They build us up to live and survive a normal life. It is the abnormal life that does not bring trials.
13-14 = Get it straight, it is not God that temps us, but our own lusts and evil desires.
15 = I love the picture of this verse. The very idea that lust/desire, when it is conceived (which means it had to be planted first), it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is accomlished brings death. The cycle of life analogy is perfect here. People can critisize all they want, but the ONLY way to guarantee you don’t conceive a child is to abstain from having sex. The parallel is that the ONLY way to guarantee you don’t become tempted by your desire is to abstain from being intimate with them.
16-18 = This means “listen up.” The only things pure and holy are from above, from God. Look at what He is like. He is pure light that does not change and dance around like shadows do. He created us from the very word of truth so that we would be the foremost of all His creation. We are supposed to be completely His.
19-20 = Remember that wisdom we were suppossed to ask for back in verses 5-8? Here’s the beginnings of that very wisdom: quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; anger does not produce righteousness from God.
21 = Remember the abstention from desire in vs. 15? Here’s how it goes: put away filthiness and wickedness, the evil in your life. Be humble and plant the Word of God in yourself, because it is able to save your soul.
22-25 = If you just read the Word of God, but don’t do what it says, essentially turning the Bible into metaphysical philosophy rather than truth to live by, then you are a fool. You are like someone who is so unintelligent, they see themself in a mirror and as soon as they turn around they forget what they look like. How dumb do you have to be? But, if you study the truth and internalize it, make it part of yourself, then you will be blessed in what you do and perform.
26 = Definition of a Pharisee
27 = Why do you think organizations like Compassion International and others similar are not only important, but doing the work of God? They are putting “pure religion in the sight of God” into practice. Want to win someone for Christ? Care for their body and relieve their distress, then you may be given opportunity to care for their soul.
