James. What a fella.
A few of us are going through his letter. It’s proving to be quite the provocative read.
In one part James really lets rip on the attitude in gatherings of treating the rich, well dressed types like they’re special whilst shunning the poor. His charge against the gathering is that they are sinning.
Now that’s fairly blunt as blunt goes. No messing about in the matter. The royal law tells us to love our neighbour like ourselves and this glaring opportunity sees us treat our neighbour in a disgraceful manner. We make a mockery of the faith we profess and we are law breakers.
Then James is off on one about faith by works being substantially better than faith without works which is called dead and useless. In his explanation Jimmy does a funny when he applauds those for believing God is, only to suggest that demons believe too and tremble.
Faith works.
It occurred to me to link very well with what he had just been talking about. Faith works when it comes to times when the poor come among us. That faith is launched from the royal law of love. Love is seen and faith expressed when someone’s appearance is not the consideration, but coming across God’s creation gives us another chance to show His love.
My faith is dead unless it does something. That something can be a simple act of expressing love to those who so desperately need it.
Imagine pouring out the love of God to those who have previously been considered of no worth, of little value, as a nuisance to society and a drain on resources. Imagine what it must be like for the forgotten to be remembered. Imagine what it is for those without a home or a hope, flooded with grace, loving support, acceptance and connection to the Source of Life.
Faith doesn’t give us the luxury of just imagining that. The love of Jesus compels us to walk by faith to play our part in turning that which is at the heart of His Kingdom and bringing it to our earthly reality.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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