Shut my Lips (James 1:19-20)

   "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow the wrath;for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20)

   Imagine the one who is the opposite of this exhortation "Slow to hear, swift to speak, swift to wrath." (sounds like a typical American tourist, but I digress). What can be said about verse 19 is this--don't be foolish. For is it not the man who doesn't listen, and arrogantly speaks his mind without regard to the people around him, is this man not a fool? We've all found those type of people among our lives, reverent respect is far from them and they pride themselves on articulating their views, though their voices usually annoy the ears of those among them.

   Now, before we go on spotting out specks in others' eyes, lets then check our own eyes for planks. We have to be honest and ask ourselves "Am I the one who prides himself in answering every remark, or the one who is so impatient that he does not listen to his quiet and wise brethren beside him. Am I the man described in Proverbs 10:19 "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking" O God give me grace to be the one described in the second half of the verse "But he who restrains his lips is wise."

   Look at our Savior whom "opened not His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7) and He did "not cry out nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the streets." (Isaiah 42:2) Is it not the whole Christian life but "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29) and is it not true that "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk as He walked." And how did Jesus walk, you might ask? Well: "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench" (Isaiah 42:3) "Be slow to wrath," (James 1:19) Does this describe my life, do I cut down with my tongue, those who have been bruised by the world, Satan, and maybe even  their own whims and sins; do I throw out those smoking flax that has not oil and quench the Holy Spirit with their backsliding; well I do everyday in my heart, in my mind, and that is just as bad. Yet Christ! He gently lifts the bent reed of its shame, and applies more oil to the stinky flax. Oh, that I may become like Him, thus fulfilling one of the loftiest commandments of God's royal law: "love your neighbor as yourself."

Application: More often than I probably notice myself doing it, I find myself talking when I could be the humble one listening to others and to be gentle "slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." I need to pray for the Holy Spirit to help me shut my lips and still my tongue, and thus be more like Jesus.

My Frequently Forgotten Promise (James 1:5)

   "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." - James 1:5

   So often as I'm on my way to deal with a problem, I pass by this very promise in James, that I should stop, ask God for wisdom in which I so lack, and go on to solve the problem. Why is that I act so much like one of those simple men, described in Proverbs (specifically Proverbs 1:20-33) who pass by the house of wisdom, ignore her invitations for wisdom being so focused on the matter at hand that they don't heed her generous cry. It's like an anxious man who's running back to put out a blazing fire at his house and as he's running, a woman comes out of her home with a long fire hose that is able to quench the blaze and says to the man "Sir! Would you like this hose." and the man says "I would love to negotiate with you ma'am, but my house is burning down, I don't have time to talk." and he continues on his way.

   We're like that man every time we forget to ask God to give us wisdom before we go out to do something. But yet, sometimes the problem isn't that we forget about this verse, but also we don't want to humble ourselves to receive that wisdom which is offered to us freely. Far worse, we sometimes reject it offhandedly because we figure we already have the wisdom that is able to solve the problem, though that isn't true, maybe so we can at least boast in our half-solved problems though it could of been fully solved by God given wisdom. Like a man refusing a cure to his cancer because he feels sufficient with cough drops, we don't accept the divine, Solomon-like wisdom of Christ because we try to accomplish things by our own, insufficient wisdom.

   Application: In instances, especially when I'm emotionally charged, where I need to solve a problem, I need to remember to stop, silently ask God for wisdom by faith, for then I have God on my side rather than just myself and my depraved wisdom to depend on. I also realize that in my frequent requests in prayer, I don't ask for wisdom from the Lord to tackle my day and the problems that come alongside it. I frequently ask for forgiveness and grace, I intercede, I ask for strength, I ask for humility, and more of His presence in my life, but I rarely ask for wisdom (which can probably explain my lack of wisdom and spontaneous solutions to problems.) So therefore I'm going to add wisdom to my list of requests I frequently take to the mercy seat of God.

Produces Patience (James 1:2-3)

   "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3

    It has been said that when you pray for patience, God just doesn't give you patience automatically, but rather He gives you opportunities to exercise and grow your patience. Well though questionable, these verses from James seems to teach it.

   So often we, like impatient children, get so hung up with such small and trivial problems and darken our countenances, forgetting that "we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance." (Romans 5:3) And it's this very knowledge that our struggles grow us to be more patient and perseverance is what makes us able to get through the tough times, through those moments where misfortune seems to repeatedly befall us.

  Those times of misfortune, some of which have come today, seem to really frustrate me because I see them as arbitrary things that, in my mind, aren't supposed to happen. They are big stumbling blocks that keep me from being what I want (which I sometimes disguise as God's will). But instead, if I would rather see them as "tests of faith" from God to make me more patient, it changes everything, for it changes my outlook.

   God is more concerned about making me more like Jesus than accomplishing some grand purpose in His will. Actually that is His will, for me to "be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). Instead of wallowing over these various trials that befall me daily, I should see them as tests from God so that I may step up to the challenge of being more like His Son, Jesus. A biblical example is Job, whom God let the most faith-deepening of trials so that He might show, to Satan, how righteous His servant truly was, and so that God might later bless Job.

  "Count it all joy" Why? "For the testing of your faith produces patience." Yet still, why count it all joy? Because a patient Christian is a Christ-like Christian; for he will be bale to train the Peters, bear the crowds, wait on the Lord. Also a patient Christian is a happy Christian. Despite what the devil may throw at him. the patient Christian sees the trials as, not punitive judgment from God, but as a challenge to prove his faith. Also a patient Christian is an edifying Christian. Is it not amazing how the calm of one Christian can bring peace to the most stressful crowd even in the face of massing persecution and most heated of trials, for patience is also contagious. The patient Christian is also the loving Christian; for one of the pillars of love is patience (1 Corinthians 13:4) and is it not the patient Christian that can best endure the most blabbering of sobs and bear the most fieriest bursts of wrath and the most prolonged bouts of depression from other people. Surely a patient Christian makes the best minister.

   And finally, the patient Christina is the most rejoicing Christian for "patience (produces) character, and character, hope; and hope does not disappoint for the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:4-5)

   Application: Therefor I will see the trial and moments that usually give me silent frustration, and see them as an opportunity to grow in patience and become more like Christ.

To the Church Scatterred Abroad, greetings! (James 1:1)

    “James, a bondservant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
    To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. Greetings”

    Colin, a bondservant of God and Jesus Christ; to those of the church scattered abroad that may happen to read this blog:

Greetings from El Salvador.

    As I read this verse, the second phrase: “to the twelve tribes” gives me a sense of the breadth and width of James’ influence and authority. James’ ministry was specifically appointed to the baptized people of Israel as a head elder in Jerusalem. Now imagine the responsibilities and tasks this man had-- probably numerous. He had to minister and pastor the thriving yet poor church in Jerusalem, defend the faith from the legalistic Judaisers in the capital of Judaism, he had to delegate and discipline his fellow leaders and help alongside them to grow in their walks with Christ, plus many more things including the possibilities of being the head of a family. Yet finding gaps within his schedule, he capitalized on them by writing this divine letter full of encouragement, correction, and exhortation.

    Application: The Holy Spirit has been convicting me for a couple of days to follow James example and write letters to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I tried limiting myself just to my parents, supporters, and fellow Igniters which are working in Costa Rica and Uganda; but James didn’t jusrt write to the twelve tribes that might be close to him but the “twelve tribes scattered abroad.” So
I’m also going to write letters to my brothers and sisters I’ve left in Vancouver that I don’t usually contact with and build them up and stir them for love and good works.

Isaiah 55:10-11

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread for the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

                Here we get a beautiful picture about the various purposes the word of God fulfills. God uses the rain to personify His word; it provides words for the evangelist “seed to the sower” and nourishment to the spiritual man “bread to the eater.” But not only that, but it gives growth to fruit of the Spirit, it softens dirt to mud so that Satan’s armies would halt in their advance, it ignites the energy of the ones who have walked through the valley of spiritual drought, and it purifies and cleanses the spirit of men.

                Now, just as we can’t manipulate the rain to fall within its descent, we cannot control the word of God to constrain what it’s sent to do. Look at how it’s not my word, or our word, but God says it’s “My word that goes forth from My mouth.” It’s not our word that will not return void, but God proclaims “My word… shall not return to Me.” We may handle the word of God to try to encourage, exhort, correct, and teach yet it is God who says “it shall not accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing which I sent it.” God takes ownership in His word and what will be done by it.

                Application: I’m called to handle His word wisely and divide it correctly, but I need to make it clear in my mind that it’s His word that is effective with accomplishing His divine purposes, not my words or my use of His word. Will I be faithful in speaking His word that He delegates to me even if it doesn’t produce the expected results that I’m looking for? I need to be content with what God says whether it ignites revival or hardens wicked, unrepentant hearts. Such is the job of a prophet: speak what God says to speak and do what God commands to do, and the prophet will be used to accomplish God’s sovereign purpose within His word.

Isaiah 55:9

                “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts”

                So not only are my thoughts not His thoughts, but His thoughts are higher than mine. How high? “As the heavens are higher than the earth” for His thoughts are heavenly while mine are carnal. I can imagine and picture the intricacies of science and examine the ways at which the clouds form and how mountains are founded, yet the Lord knows both what I’ve just explained and how the cosmos array His glory and how HE sets the earth in such a place with all the precise sets of physical laws so that rushing activities of the stars will not destroy the earth till God permits.

                “My ways are higher than your ways” I might build a city with relative beauty and wise design, yet the Lord is going to create this “New Jerusalem” who’s designed perfectly in dimension and ascetics and is lit up by the glory of God. I might sacrifice my time or energy or even my reputation to try and help someone, yet God sent His son to be spat upon, scourged and absorb the wrath of God for my sin. “For scarcely a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.”

                Application: What’s amazing about this verse is that His ways and thoughts, which are infinitely higher than mine, are bent towards my good. Will I have enough faith that all things, no matter how unusual or painful or beyond my comprehension, will end up being for my highest good and His highest glory. I will work harder to work faithfully in this wise covenant with the Lord and invite people into this wonderful covenant with the Lord who’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours as the heavens are higher than the earth.

                “Yes, I will rejoice over them and to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.” (Jeremiah 32:41) In times of distress and confusion, may the Lord give me grace to hang on to this verse.

Isaiah 55:8

“’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD.”

                Though I will not admit it consciously, I get the impression in my mind that I comprehend the unsearchable depths of the knowledge of God. Yet I haven’t even scathed the surface of God’s knowledge and wisdom for my thoughts and His thoughts are categorically different. Yet this is comforting to know that His ways are incomprehensible in perfection and His thoughts are so higher than my depraved thoughts.

                “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them, if I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand,” (Psalm 139:17-18) My thoughts of myself are so degrading when I hear and believe the condemnation of the devil. Yet “My thoughts are not your thoughts” The condemnations I believe of myself don’t even pass God’s mind, instead He looks at me with such delight, affection, and love. Oh how freeing is this!

                Application: This verse applies to me two-fold. One, I need to understand how much wiser and knowledgeable God’s ways and thoughts are so that I may be humbled. Secondly, I can be comforted in the knowledgeable that His thoughts are not my thoughts and that His love passes my understanding.

                “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.” (Psalm 139:6)

Isaiah 55:7

“Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

                As a minister of reconciliation, I’m called to this very verse. The word “let” strikes me; it doesn’t say “make” or “force” but it says to “let” meaning to permit or allow the ungodly person to repent without being an extra stumbling block to them. I need to be open, not only practically, but mentally for a wicked person to repent and be reconciled to God, for that’s my calling.

                Another responsibility as a minister of reconciliation is tearing down obstacles that prevent sinners from being reconciled to God. False assumptions of Christianity are a large part about why unbelievers won’t turn to God, such as what the church should be and how Christian life should be lived. How often does my conduct or attitude feed the unbelievers false assumptions that drive them farther from God? My pride and selfishness can spring up to create a taller stumbling block for the sinner, and it ends up damaging my ministry. I’m going to need to pray for God to show me those unneeded stumbling blocks within myself or the world that keeps people from repenting to God. I will ask for the wisdom and willingness to clear the rubble along the road for the sinner to walk into the forgiving arms of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 55:6

                “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near,”

                This divine invitation is mainly for unrepentant sinners, yet the true believer even now can apply this verse. Though he’s already found the Lord, He is still beckoning the believer: “Seek the LORD while He may be found” which is a constant truth for the believer that the Lord is always near with him. How often though, is the believer so distracted by little trinkets such as creation, theology, blessing, evangelism, even fellowship and ministry, that he does not hear the divine knuckles of his Savoir knocking on his heart so that the believer might welcome Him in and dine with the Lord, which is the highest form of communion and fellowship on earth.

                “Call upon Him while He is near.” Again for the believer, this will always be true. Even when our minds are thinking carnal things, or when our soul faints within us because we believe Satan’s lie that God is far away on His lofty throne dealing with more important matters than answering us, He’s yet more near to us than how our eyes are near to our head. What father doesn’t run to his child when the child cries out in distress, what father doesn’t keep his yes affectionately on the child whom he loves; how much more than with our omnipresent and omnipotent Father be towards His children who’s names are engraved into His hands? Even in times of spiritual silence and dryness of prayer where the Lord seems far, He’s near.

                Application: Sometimes I can be so distracted by things at the Ranch that I don’t seek the Lord who is always near to me. In times of business, service, and ministry, I can still be with my Father, acknowledging Him and seeking His help and counsel. I’m also going to spend more time in personal devotional time with the Lord instead of being distracted by guitar and games in the coffee shop.

Luke 17:10

                “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. WE have done what was our duty to do.””

                “We are unprofitable servants, unworthy slaves, even serving the Lord at the lowest position of service; I’m yet unworthy and unprofitable for such a position. Even after I’ve done all what was command of me—still unworthy. This title will always be attached to me even through eternity. For even if I’ve done all, have I done all with humility? or with joy? or with Christ-like love? Even so, have I done such things with the depth of devotion that Christ deserves? Anything short of Christ likeness is unworthy, for Christ didn’t just do all that He was commanded, but did it in a way that pleased the Father.

                Yet our Master knows this “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14) He alone knows the extent of our own unworthiness because HE alone knows the extent of the His Son’s worthiness. This should humble me in the greatest extent for I’m just a drop in the bucket compared to the humility and service of Jesus Christ my Lord.

Application: As a result of the juxtaposition between me and Christ, I will always be unprofitable and unworthy. If I truly grasp this, I will be able to be humble in my service and confess to my Master honestly that “I’m an unprofitable servant; I’ve done what was my duty to do.” I will be meditating on the preeminence of Christ and reading about His service through the gospels and be humbled by Him, then strive to be like Him the best I can through God’s grace.

Luke 17:9

                “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.”

                Reading and meditating on this verse convicts me deeply on something I’ve ignored for weeks on end. This sinful attitude and motivation has always been a crux for me on my lack of true humility and it’s one of my traits that largely shape my behavior; and it is this: receiving praise. It’s not that I receive recognition that’s the sin, but the active seeking out for it; the hunger, the desire for compliments and renown. This is the main reason why I act respectfully towards people, why I follow leadership and try to be a good leader, why I behave well, why I show love and kindness towards people, why I do the best job that I can. All these things within themselves aren’t bad, they are actually good and biblical; but they are all tainted by my deceitful intention to receive praise.

                Just thinking about writing this makes me sick, for I know I will get compliments for how “honest and genuine” I am by writing this. It makes me cringe in frustration, for a part of me looks forward to receiving such praise. It’s one of the Pharisaic woes that Jesus pronounced for their desire for attention from the people. I’m the Pharisee in the front of the altar that prays to himself, while I should be the tax collector, not even looking towards the heavens, asking God for mercy on my men-pleasing, compliment seeking, fleshly sinful heart.

                I don’t even know where to start from here, for I always have the hope of what other people even good Christians, think about me. It pollutes almost every Christian service and show of character; I even try to be consistent when people aren’t around so I feel better. Even if I somehow get the desire not to be recognized out of my flesh, I will probably boast about it within my mind. I’, supposed to be genuine and obedient for my Master, and I shouldn’t even desire for praise from Him. Why can’t I follow Jesus’ commandments for His praise alone, and not to be thanked or praise for it? I should genuinely see myself as a lowly servant who’s only will is to do what the Master wills.

                Application: Again, I don’t know where to start, for it’s a deeply habitual and powerful thing for me. Could I just do God’s will for no thanks at all, not even from Him? That sounds good on paper, but it seems impossible for me practically. I can’t let this paralyze me though, for God still uses my actions for His glory, though they’re deeply polluted like dirty rags. It makes me question on how few of the “good works” I’ve done aren’t hay and stubble that fail the test as they go through the fire. I’m just thankful for the cross right now, and I pray that this habitual desire won’t get in the way too much for God to accomplish His will through me.

                O God, circumcise my recognition seeking heart, that I might not sin against You. It’s impossible with men, but with You, O God, all things are possible. Forgive me and cleanse me, and give me a clean heart. Amen

Luke 17:8

“But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk and afterward you will eat and drink.’”

Oh another source of grace. He has angels, more glorious, more holy than we are; yet we are brought in to His Kingdom to serve the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Jesus can speak things into being by just a breath of a syllable, yet we get to be a part of the ministry of reconciliation and the establishment of His kingdom. Adam received the curse to his labor, yet we’re redeemed in that we plow a field whose ownership is the Lord’s and we tend this sheep that has been bought by His blood.

He can make His own seasoned food that far surpasses the finest cuisines, yet He tells us to takes up His pots to make Him food a loving response to Him who has bought us by His own precious blood.

May it not be that I drag my feet towards the kitchen in frustration while complaining about how I have to serve Him even more. Far be it that I gird myself with a scowl and a self-pitying countenance. Why? For it’s grace lavished on grace that the Lord, not just let me dwell with Him in His holy palace, but also to serve Him! This passage implies a spiritual truth that before I enjoy the fruit of my labor, I give Jesus my first fruits and then He allows me to enjoy it with Him. Yet it’s not my meal, it’s His. It’s His plates that I set on the table, it's His apron that I gird myself with, and it's His food, grown in His field, cooked by His stove fueled by His wood cut down by His axe-- all thigns I use ot serve Him, they are all His.

Application: It's an absolute privelage given out of grace adn mercy, that He commands me to do for Him. He commands me to do for Him. Before the spirit of grudgenment indwells my heart when I'm told to do something more than usual, I need to remind myself that He's commanding this out of love for me, for I will be laboring and being blessed with that labor with Hi. "And afterwards you will eat adn drink." Every morning I'm going to pray expecting that I will recieve more work than I expect so that I won't be suprised and I will be ready to go through it. 

Luke 17:7

“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, “Come at once and sit down to eat”

How often do we spend time praying for Jesus to come back quickly or for the Lord to take us into heaven in times of distress? In some moments, this is a rightful prayer to ask, just like how our Lord asked the Father “if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” asking God for another way than the cross. In times of infliction and of sorrow, we rightly and honestly put out this desire. Bu then we should then utter the words “Your will be done,” declaring that God’s will be done above our own.

When we look thought the rest of the New Testament, we find that there are certain things God has willed for people to do. Paul escaped many near death experiences because it was God’s will for him to suffer many things and to write the divine texts of God. We also see this with Jesus Christ as He dodged stoning and escaped angry crowds so that He would work more works, and finally do the ultimate work for our salvation on the cross.

Application: While I’m doing the normal universal will of God for being a Christian, I should be looking out for the unique, specific will of God for my life. I know while seeking and fulfilling my specific calling, I will be in tribulation that will grow a desire for me to stop my work. Yet through that, I should remember that I’m but a slave that has more work to do for Him and His kingdom. Lord, give me this humility and perseverance that doesn’t expect reward for works that I haven’t done yet.

Luke 17:6

“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea’ and it would obey you.”

The power to do this is not out of the size of my faith, but rather the size and power of whom my faith is in. Even a tiny little mustard seed or a speck of dirt is enough for the Lord to work His omnipotent power. Five loaves and two fish, with the Lord can feed 5,000 people. I need to not look at my faith, but to the Lord who’s able to move this tree. Even something that doesn’t seems impossible to happen practically “be planted in the sea” still happens!

Application: When I don’t have enough time or strength or energy to do something, I need not look at myself, but look to the Lord who’s able to accomplish it through me. I should also pray for the weird and impossible, for the advancement of His kingdom and the further praise of His name.

Ephesians 4:31

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

                Any prideful feeling of offense by a correction, any slight spark of wrath that impress on me to bark an insult or respond in a hateful and hurtful matter, any though of jealousy or bitterness, I need to make war on them and subdue them by the spirit. I must make an effort to die to myself moment by moment and not let these selfish characteristics swell up in myself. When I receive a correction or a rebuke, I need to suppress and kill any thought of justifying myself by tearing down my corrector, or self-righteously compare myself to other Christians. Any anger, or resentment or the slightest pride, I must declare them as an enemy to the cause of Christ and the gospel and ask the Holy Spirit to work in me humility and self-control.

                Application: When being corrected, or offended or hurt by another person, I need to receive them with grace and not let these things described in this verse to swell up within my flesh. After any altercation that produces these emotions, I need to pray and ask my Father to forgive me of these selfish, anti-Christian emotion or thought and accept them as wrong, though they may seem right at the time. By this I follow Paul’s earlier exhortation: “do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” (Ephesians 4:26)

Ephesians 4:29

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouths, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Corrupt words can come in deceitful and hidden forms, even idle words will be judged by our heavenly Father and we’ll have to give an account for them. What strikes me about this verse is the phrase “necessary edification.” Paul doesn’t generally say to have good words for edification, but to use words for edification which are “necessary” for the hearer. This implies that there are words of edification that aren’t necessary and aren’t specifically useful for the particular time.

For example, a brother could have a problem with pornography. I could talk about how it’s a sin and point to the Scriptures that say such a thing. Though this is edifying, it still may not tackle the main issue of why he has a problem with watching pornography. He could be feeling deeply guilty about this sin and it becomes a sin that the devil uses to persuade him that he can’t come back to God for forgiveness. The necessary edification then could be found in the Scriptures that speak upon God’s willingness to forgive like Isaiah 55 “Everyone who thirsts come to the waters…incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live… Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:1, 3, 7) or 1 John 2:1 “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. “

Application: Three things. One, be very careful about not only the words I say, but also the tone and attitude those words are portrayed in. Two, be open and attentive to those who need edification, and what problems their dealing with. And three, ask for wisdom from the Lord to pick the exact words to effectively edify my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ephesians 4:28

“Let him who sole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”

All of my life so far, I’ve been freely supported by many individuals, rarely having to work for my food or to support myself. When I see a mess, I tend to walk by it seeing it’s not my responsibility. When I need money, I ask for some from my parents. When I’m hungry I think about when diner is going to be prepared for me. Now I understand that I’m in a place right now where I need to be supported because I’m busy and don’t have time to take a job, but this is not going to be my lifestyle all the time. I’m going to need to start working after Ignite, preparing for my future family, career, and ministry. Even no I can lift up my supporters by cleaning things I don’t have to clean, fasting form things I don’t need, and being more efficient with my time here at the ranch.

Application: Later, when in El Salvador, I need to picture myself no longer as just a student, but I’m a fellow adult minister of the gospel. As a minister, I should have the mind set of Christ that I’m here to serve and to not expect anything to be done for me, but that I should labor and give service to those who have need.

Ephesians 4:27

“Nor give place to the devil”

                This morning a coupe of minor things were done in a series to the point where I wasn’t in the best mood. Instead of dealing with the frustration with the Lord right after the first event, I let it swell up and get me more and more frustrated as each moment raised its ugly head. These events kept going until I had a confrontation with another one of my brothers. The devil used my sinful pride, arrogance, and impatience to make compound on each other and escalate to a possible rift within the body of Christ. But it all started because I let Satan have his foothold within my heart.

By the grace of God, the Holy Spirit convicted me of it and I settled things with my brother. Because of that, the devil lost his foothold and I was freely able to walk in holiness and love.

Application: As unrest stirs within me in El Salvador, I should be steadfast and swift to ask the Lord to strengthen me with joy and longsuffering for the upcoming dart of the Enemy whose purpose is to stumble me and do collateral damage within the El Salvadorian people. By doing stumbling and lashing out on anyone, I make a bad name for Potter’s Field Ministry and the body of Christ in general. If I do happen to stumble though, I should repent quickly and ask for forgiveness to the person I offended, redeeming and closing the wound with the loving power of the Holy Spirit.