Radiant Blog - by Tina Sumpter

Radiant Blog: A Fizzling Faith

tina@tinasumpter.com (Tina Sumpter) — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 22:01:23 GMT

Is your faith steadfast? Or fizzling?

Radiant Friends,

Today we will finish up chapter two of the book of James. And just think! It only took us 7 months to cover the first two chapters! ;-) I actually hope to finish up the book of James by Christmas. This book just has too much to say to rush it!

The last two paragraphs of James 2 are probably the most controversial part of the whole letter. Did you know that this book was almost not canonized? This passage is one of the reasons for that! Here’s the passage. Please read it and take in its meaning:

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."

James 2:14-26

Let’s take a minute to remember that at the very end of chapter one James gave us a reminder that ‘religion’ that is pure and undefiled will take care of the vulnerable. This was one of the “tests” of a genuine faith. He then very naturally flowed right into a discussion of the injustice and sin of partiality and mistreatment of the vulnerable in the church. Another important part of the context for our focal passage today is that in chapter one James has emphasized that we must not be only hearers of God’s Word, but also doers of God’s Word. There was already a call for action. Now James will make this point even more clearly than before. And this passage also makes it strikingly clear that he considers this a test of whether one’s faith is genuine and steadfast.

Some questions this passage leaves us to wrestle with are:

Does the faith I claim to have prove itself genuine in my everyday life?

Do my actions reflect that I have true faith in the Lord Jesus?

Do my choices show that I really trust Him?

Simply stated, James is telling us that if indeed our faith is real, it cannot help but show itself in our actions.

For the first time, I noticed today that James is using two related words for “faith” and “believe” in this passage. One is a noun, and one is a verb. Now that may not sound like a big deal to you, but I think it is directly related to the point he is trying to make.

A belief is a noun. It’s unable to be active on its own. It’s something you could hold onto, but you may or may not choose to do anything with it. Faith, on the other hand, as used in this passage - is a VERB! Verbs are the ACTION words in language! If we have true faith, it will be active and drive our actions, or “works.”

For me, this is such a timely lesson! We live in a day and age of cultural Christianity! There are many who claim to have Christian “beliefs.” In fact, I heard today that 95% of people in America say they believe in God. But it was a much smaller fraction of those same individuals who said they had a personal relationship with “God.”

James was dealing with something similar! He said quite bluntly that we must not merely believe…even the demons do that! So what’s the difference? How do we move from simply holding a belief to truly having genuine faith?

We entrust ourselves to Jesus.

We entrust every part of our lives to Him.

That’s the difference. And when we entrust our whole selves to Him, we will let Him direct our actions. And friends, that will cause us and our faith to grow! We will begin to be transformed - becoming more and more like the one we have entrusted ourselves to.

So here we find ourselves facing another TEST of genuine, steadfast faith. This one is a very simple test:

Our WORKS are evidence that our FAITH is real, genuine, steadfast, and LIVING.

Therefore, if someone claims to be a Christian but that person’s works are not in alignment with that faith, there is a flaw. A pastor I adore and have quoted many times is Brother Jim Everidge. Many times I’ve heard him say,

“A Faith that Fizzles before the Finish was Flawed from the First.”

James calls this a DEAD faith

As always, let’s consider James’ original audience: they were JEWISH Christians. Their whole entire history as a people involved adherence to so many “works” that they may have believed these "works" saved them. Now they're trying to grasp that there’s been

a glorious new covenant…

and now…

salvation rests on JESUS’ works alone!

They needed to place their faith in Him…entrust every part of their lives to Him. But maybe they were struggling to understand this point:

This glorious faith-based salvation enables us to do good works

for His glory …but not for our salvation.

Good works are evidence of salvation - not the means of that salvation.

And yet works still matter very much.

I happen to think James offers simple messages throughout his book. I happen to wonder if many, without meaning to, have complicated this passage. And maybe, just maybe, the two Old Testament examples James provides muddied the waters for them. But overthinking these can cause us to miss James’ very strait-forward message. Notice James has been a very strait-forward communicator from verse 1:1. We have no reason to believe he has changed his whole style of communicating for this one point. . ere’s what I see in his two Old Testament examples of Abraham and Rehab.

Abraham was a Jewish male , and his faith caused him to obey God even when it was hard. His faith was shown genuine by his steps of faith, which in turn “completed,” or “perfected” his faith and grew his character. He became more godly over time as he exercised his faith through works.

Rahab , on the other hand, was a Gentile woman . Her faith caused her to help God’s people despite the great risk. She began with a limited understanding of God, but as she acted on her faith, her understanding grew.

These examples show us that genuine faith

can take root in any person of any background

and be developed into steadfastness

that causes spiritual growth.

I think James wanted his Jewish Christian readers to remember that while works did not save them, works are still important because salvation is accompanied by sanctification. There will always be an outward expression of inward transformation.

This message wasn’t just needed and timely for James’ original audience. We need this today too. Otherwise - we could grow up in a Christian home; go to church and even Sunday school. We could be part of a certain denomination; wear Christian t-shirts or cross necklaces. And we could essentially be lost in the flood of cultural Christianity without having any real salvation, relationship with Jesus, spiritual growth, or life change.

Let’s truly examine ourselves today, as James has clearly intended. Let’s ask ourselves some very important questions. In fact, now might be a great time to journal and/or pray. It’s good for all of us to take time to examine ourselves and ask the Lord to search us:

What works or deeds in my life are evidence of a faith that is alive, real, and genuine?

When has my faith led me to act in obedience that required sacrifice or risk?

How am I using my time, energy, spiritual gifts, and money to help others?

In what ways have I obeyed so consistently that it transforms me to be more like Jesus?

How might I be avoiding actions or steps of faith?

(Examples: Feeling sorry for others, but taking no action. Or praying for people without a willingness to help them.)

Am I really trusting Him in each area of my life?

Looking to Him - and examining myself,

Tina

Radiant Blog, James 2: Lawbreaker Judges?

tina@tinasumpter.com (Tina Sumpter) — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Three Types of Judgement

Dear Radiant Friends,

The book of James provides ample opportunities for examining oneself - specifically for testing one’s faith. And chapter two has provided much room for some healthy conviction! I actually love today’s topic very much. It really packs a punch! It's hard Truth, and yet it's so freeing at the same time!

Let’s start with a reminder of our text: James 2:8-13 . The immediate context of this passage is that James has just confronted believers for showing partiality, biases, or prejudices against the less fortunate - in the church. Now he will elaborate on his rationale…his biblical view of this problem of partiality in the church.

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and

are convicted by the law as transgressors.

For whoever keeps the whole law but

fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.”

If you do not commit adultery but do murder,

you have become a transgressor of the law.

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

I’m so excited to unpack some of this text with you! Let’s look at some obvious things first. Notice how James has shifted our attention:

It’s a shift from focusing on the laws and standards of the world

…to…

A refocused attention on the God’s Law.

"James the Just" is reminding us that we must look into the true Law, written by our Just King and Merciful Judge, in order to address the problem WITHIN ourselves, within the church, within the world. In fact, today we will see how:

Inappropriately judging others

can keep us from

appropriately judging ourselves.

Whew! What a distraction! What a way to avoid our own need for change?! Let’s avoid getting distracted in this way! Because judging others by the world’s standards is a sin according to the real Law of God.

Notice how James describes God’s Law. He uses two particular terms in this passage. First, he refers to it as the Royal Law. Then in verse 12 he refers to it as the Law of Liberty. Is this how you see God’s Word? As a Law of Liberty? And a law that supersedes every other law. We certainly know that it’s the Truth that sets us free, so it makes sense that we would see it as the Law of Liberty. But what if we were to use a different law for judging and also use it to create bondage rather than freedom? James says that’s sin. God’s Word is authoritative - Royal - coming from the King of kings. If this perfect Law has the power to set people free - why would we ever use a different standard? And why would we use any standard(s) in order to oppress the vulnerable people around us?

Rather than honoring people who appear noble or royal to us (by our diseased, worldly, carnal standards), we are called to honor the noble, royal Law of our King and His Kingdom - a God who is rich in mercy.

Rather than judging others by false standards

we are to be judging ourselves by God’s standards.

As we receive His mercy, we should be extending it to ALL others as well.

The reality here is this: We were all born as Law breakers . It is by God’s mercy that we are even in this Kingdom!

So, what I am saying here - and what I’m convinced James is saying here, is that looking to the wrong laws or standards is only part of the problem with impartiality. Another part of the problem is

we who are law breakers have tried to make ourselves judges.

Just picture this with me! When we were born, we entered the scene of a spiritual courtroom. We entered the scene already falling short of the glory of God and facing the death penalty, because the wages of sin is death. That’s your story. That’s my story. We were born having been declared guilty of sin, convicted, and sentenced…to death. From the beginning we were the the guilty ones in that courtroom - we were not the judge. Given our position in the courtroom, would we really have the audacity to attempt to usurp the True Judge?

What makes it far worse that in this spiritual courtroom,

WE were granted a PARDON!

We’ve received a pardon ! Are you familiar with this notion? Do you realize how RARE it is? In fact, do you know what is required in order to receive a pardon in the state of Alabama?

You must:

Serve your full sentence, OR
Serve 3 years of permanent parole, OR
Be innocent.

Even under this set of requirements,

WE WOULD NOT HAVE QUALIFIED FOR PARDON!

We did not serve our own sentence.

We can’t stay clean for 3 minutes let alone 3 years; and

we weren’t innocent to start with.

And yet!

We received a pardon,

Our records have been expunged,

and we have been granted full rights of the Kingdom!

What kind of MERCY is this?!

And after all that - through the sin of partiality, would we have the audacity to withhold mercy from others and try to judge them instead?

I will close with this: There are at least 3 types of judgement James has brought to our attention in this short passage.

First, there is Man’s Partiality.

Second, there is God’s Eternal Judgement.

And third, there is a call for Man’s Self-Inspection.

We’ve examined the harshness of the prejudiced, biased partiality of man that dishonors God and our fellow man. We’ve also had a glimpse of God’s eternal mercy to us in place of judgement…because the fullest extent of our judgement fell fully upon Jesus on the cross. But what about this third type of judgement? Since a tree is known by its fruit, are we willing to inspect our own selves to see what type of fruit we are bearing? Will we “judge” ourselves by examining how well we are loving our neighbor? By examining how we are harming others with our false judgements? Would we boldly examine whether we are heaping judgement on the very people around us who need compassion and love?

In the final passage of James 2, James will ask us once again to inspect, examine, and judge our faith. He will remind us that our faith will produce fruit…it will produce works . What kind of fruit are you bearing? Go ahead and begin inspecting before we step into the next leg of the race with James. God will mercifully help you. And his Royal Law will set you free.

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. I think the best possible summary of today’s post comes from James himself in James 1:22-25: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

P.P.S. I can’t help but wonder what it was like to be James’ friend. I mean, this guy! He gets straight to the point! And he isn’t afraid of stepping on some toes. But I think he was a trustworthy person. He cared about Truth and obedience. He didn’t just care about it; it sounds like his life bore the real-deal fruit of faith, justice, and mercy. Humbling.

Steadfast Faith: The Pain of Partiality in the Church

tina@tinasumpter.com (Tina Sumpter) — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 10:00:01 GMT

Partiality in the Church Hurts People

Dear Friends in Christ,

In my last blog, we addressed partiality in the church according to James 2:1-13 . You may remember that I asked you some pretty hard questions. I’m hoping we can all examine ourselves very vulnerably before the Lord so we can learn to honor all people. May we love all people well, friends!

This week, we will look at the same passage of James 2 but from a different perspective. This time I’d like to ask a different set of questions. I’d like us to be vulnerable in a whole different way. This time, let’s look at

ways you may have been hurt by biases within the church.

Before I ask you to do this, I think it would be wise for me to take a second and share some things about myself before we even move forward on this topic. Because, truth is, I don’t know what ideas you may have about what kind of person I am or what kind of experiences I’ve had. It might matter to some of you as we discuss being mistreated based on factors such as race, ethnicity, disability, intelligence, age, gender, beauty, profession, spirituality, past mistakes, or socioeconomic status (those are the factors we looked at in the last blog post .)

I’ve experienced a measure of unfair treatment based on several of these above factors - although neither extremely nor pervasively. Some are so personal or even traumatic, that I would never share them in this context. And some are changing as I age and enter very new seasons of life. I can promise you that I know the pain and even trauma of being judged and/or mistreated for factors you don’t even have control over. I’ve also walked alongside others who were far more mistreated than myself.

I am a person who has always been drawn to people - I love people - and have always had a particular love for people of all cultures, languages, ethnicities, and races. I was an exchange student in high school and college (thanks to scholarships). At the age of 15, I sat in shock and wept at places like Nuremberg where Nazis once rallied, and you could still faintly see swastikas on the sides of the buildings. And again later in places like Dachau, where Jewish people - because of their race and their faith - suffered. They were treated like animals, tortured, and killed. The whole time I had the knowledge that I am 50% German.

Many of you already know this, but my husband and I have four children (they’re young adults now actually). We have three boys, and one daughter. We were blessed with our daughter through international adoption. She is Chinese (or at least we think so). While we were in China, many Chinese people told us, “She’s mixed.” We don’t know for sure. Here’s something I do know…each of my four children has a very diverse group of friends, and they ALL come and make themselves at home at my house. They are welcomed, loved and respected here.

From the time I became a Christian at age 14, God has spoken to me about love. I’ve learned that we must first learn about His love for us. Then He can teach us to properly love ourselves. And in the process, He can teach us how to love others well. That’s when we can love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength; and love our neighbors as ourselves.

And here’s what really stinks…

If you’ve been devalued through biases or partiality,

it often makes it much harder to grasp God’s love;

Harder to love yourself appropriately;

And harder to love others well.

Here are some of my questions for you today. Please reflect and pray about these questions:

How have you been mistreated by bias, prejudice, or partiality in life?
In any of these situations, were you harmed in some way by the church or a person in the church?
If so, has it impacted your ability to receive God’s love? Or your ability to love God? If so, how?
Has such partiality or hurt caused you to struggle in valuing or loving yourself properly? If so, how?
Has your way of coping with “church hurt” or any mistreatment from the church left you unable or unwilling to love others well?
What other ways has unfair judgment from within the body of Christ harmed you emotionally or spiritually?
What are some biblical steps you could take to heal from this type of pain? If you are unsure, please seek wise counsel. Healing is possible!

Friend, if you have been hurt by partiality in the church,

I am so very sorry!

I am praying for you as I write this blog!

My prayers for you:

I’m praying you’ll allow God’s love for you to saturate your entire being!

I pray you’ll never doubt how much He cares for you!

I also pray you’ll be able to see yourself through His eyes and through the lens of the Truth!

Based on God’s Word, my encouragement to you:

You are His treasured possession and the apple of His eye!

You might believe you aren’t valuable, because others treated you as though you had no worth; but it’s not true!

You have great worth in the Lord’s eyes, and He sacrificed His very life to have a relationship with you! He is able to heal you!

And He is able to restore your ability to love others well.

One last story...

A couple of years ago, I had the humbling opportunity to teach this passage of James 2 to a Bible study group of approximately 25 incarcerated females - in Birmingham, Alabama. Please stop and take that in. These women know what it’s like to be judged for their past mistakes. And some of them lived through the days of desegregation here in Alabama! In our group, about one third of the ladies were African American women; and the other two thirds were Caucasian women. Various ages and backgrounds were represented in the room. And we set aside a couple of weeks to work through a racial reconciliation curriculum a fellow Christian counselor had written.

We had some very uncomfortable moments. We shed some tears. We grew in empathy. We sat in shock with one another. We grew in love and respect with one another. And my favorite part:

We grew in our understanding that

all people are equally worthy

of love and respect.

We each agreed that we did not want to be a “respecter of persons.” We want to be more like Jesus and James instead. Let's love one another well as a way of exhibiting our steadfast, genuine faith!

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. This blog post is not perfect. It’s not a theological treatise. It’s not a scholarly article. But it does contain significant ways to consider applying James 2 to our own lives and relationships. Also, it is from my heart - the parts I’m at liberty to share anyway. Consider it a letter...from one friend to another.

P.P.S. I’ve discussed some of these same ideas in the workbook and teaching videos of my Bible study, Through Seasons of Beauty . You can take a closer look on my website .

Steadfast Faith: James 2 The Faulty Thinking of Partiality

tina@tinasumpter.com (Tina Sumpter) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 11:00:01 GMT

Exposing the Flawed Thinking behind Partiality in the Church

Hello Radiant brothers and sisters in Christ,

I am so glad to see you are back after our last blog post. I know it was a tough one. We heard some hard Truths and asked ourselves some hard questions. Could we do that again today?

Last time we looked at “the problem” James has identified in James 2: partiality in the church. This week we will join James in exposing the flawed thinking that causes this problem. Once again, James will instruct us…and…he will make an appeal for a change in perspective. After all, we are to be a people of steadfast, genuine faith. This will always require biblical thinking! Here we go...another test...

Please read James 2:1-13, and then consider the following Truths reflected within the passage:

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

TRUTH #1 : Biases divide people.

In verses 2-3 we see a physical division of people based on partiality. Verse 4 tells us of a different kind of division. James said the church was making “distinctions,” which is a word for discrimination, dispute, and separation. And verse 8 makes it clear that this type of division falls short of the love believers are to display toward all people. Please let the weight of this really impact you. We are talking about the church! This is to be a people of unity and love. A people amongst whom Paul said we are to “make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” This verse is calling God’s people to diligently guard the unity and peace of the body of Christ. Division is the very thing we should be diligently guarding against. Partiality divides rather than promoting peace, unity, and love.

TRUTH #2 : Partiality and division HURT people.

If we look once again at verse 4, we see that biases and division are very hurtful to the people being judged. James specifically says that such action are driven by “evil thoughts” or motives. James’ choice of words indicates motives and thoughts that are blind, diseased, and wicked AND cause pain, hardship, harassment, or annoyance. Does this seem ironic to you? The first chapter of James’ letter emphasized how suffering believers are to deal with hardship and trials - and now we are learning that some of the trials God’s people have faced are at the hands of other church goers!? It must have been hard enough to be mistreated by those persecuting the church; it seems far more tragic for harm to also come from within the church.

TRUTH #3 : Biases can involve illusions/delusions.

James points out that if the readers of his letter really take a closer look, the standards by which they are trying to judge others are not consistent with their own reality. Our evil (or blind) thoughts can cause us to see the world and specific individuals in a way that is not even accurate! Verses 5-7 illustrate that there are realities being overlooked and distorted! Rather than perceiving according to God’s standards, they were operating based on the confusing and harmful standards of the world.

TRUTH #4 : Those who operate out of biases are making themselves JUDGES .

Maybe I am naive, but I still think of judges as people who are wise - people who’ve somehow earned the title, “your honor.” But when we exercise partiality and prejudice, we appoint ourselves as judges who cause division, pain, and harassment by using faulty laws and standards. In such cases, the judges are biased and the standards are faulty. But have you wondered, what is being judged by these faulty standards? It's not a matter of whether someone is "guilty" or "not guilty." I believe James is saying that these self-appointed judges are attempting to determine the worth a value of another person! It's a matter of "worthy" or "unworthy." They have wrongly assumed they can determine that some people are worthy of respect…AND…that some people are not worthy of respect!? And again, I add, all of this was happening in the body of Christ. And...unfortunately, it still happens today.

I would like to leave you with five questions to ponder about partiality and prejudice in the church.

In my next blog, I will explore these questions with you:

1. How have you experienced or witnessed division in the body of Christ because of partiality, prejudice, or faulty judgment? How have you and others been hurt, harassed, or annoyed as a result?

2. How can these things test one’s faith in God?

3. How are the standards by which people are judged in today's world “inaccurate?”

4. Have you ever had to appear before a judge? What were you hoping (s)he would do/not do?

5. Who amongst us is worthy to “judge” another person’s worth/value? What really determines a person’s worth?

Looking to Him...and respecting you,

Tina

P.S. Believe it or not, I have addressed some of these same issues in the chapters of my Bible study on Ecclesiastes 3 - it's called Through Seasons of Beauty . As a Christian counselor, I cherish opportunities to watch faulty thinking become healthy, biblical, accurate thoughts! This is helpful in any season of life - but especially when we face hard seasons. You can find my Bible study at www.tinasumpter.com/store or email me for more information at hello@tinasumpter.com.

James the Just: An Appeal for Impartiality in the Church

tina@tinasumpter.com (Tina Sumpter) — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:52:40 GMT

Introduction to James 2

Good morning, my Radiant friends!

Well, we’ve made it to the second leg of the race! We are moving into chapter two of the book of James! I happen to be very passionate about this chapter! The first part of the chapter can be a little heavy…AND…it’s so worth it! I hope we will all see from this passage that people are worth it…all people. All people are worth treating with love and dignity.

As you may recall, we endearingly and comically called James the “bossiest book in the Bible.” And true to form, he starts chapter two with a command. And you may also recall, one of his nicknames was “James the Just.” So it may not come as a surprise that his first words in chapter two are a command. Specifically:

“…show no partiality…”

Let’s read the first 6 verses of James 2 today. Then, true to my nature, we will slowly study our way through this passage before moving on to the rest of the chapter:

1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,

3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”

4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

I would like to repeat verse one for you: “…show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” Notice, James is once again building on the idea that we are to “hold” the faith - cling to it, keep, adhere - for the long haul. He will help us apply this in many ways in the chapters to come. And of all the ways he could ask us to hold the faith and persevere in Christ, here he has prioritized impartiality . May you and I prioritize this as well, for it is the Lord’s heart. Perhaps we can consider this the first TEST of faith in chapter two.

Let’s begin our look at partiality by defining it. What exactly is partiality? It means to be a ‘respecter of persons.’ But this too is a term that might need defining. Partiality is a faulty way of thinking. It causes a person to judge others based on outward circumstances rather than their intrinsic worth. This means respecting and deeming as worthy those who are rich, high born, or powerful…AND…deeming those who do not have have these qualities as not worthy of respect or value. According to this, to show partiality is to admire deeply, honor, esteem, cherish, and show favor based on others’ abilities, qualities, outward appearances, or achievements. It also means disrespecting, dishonoring, devaluing, and rejecting some who do not have such abilities, appearances, qualities, or achievements. Do you realize that another word for this is prejudice!? That’s right...

James is addressing prejudice .

This, my friends, is a huge problem.

I feel indignation inside of me even as I type these words! If you’ve ever been devalued or rejected in this world on such a basis, you probably remember how unfair it felt! In some cases, it’s not only unfair - it’s truly unjust. Let that sink in. Unfairness and injustice in this world really HURTS.

But there is an ever bigger problem.

Partiality and prejudice don’t just exist in the world…

They also exist in the church!

I'm so thankful the Holy Spirit inspired James 2! I pray that we will all be awakened to this sinful problem. As we read how James has elaborated on this problem, may our eyes be opened to just how sinful partiality, injustice and prejudice in the church really are.

James appears to have witnessed this type of sin in the church in Jerusalem - and it also sounds as though he is addressing this same problem with the Jewish Christians dispersed throughout other counties as well. It sounds like he saw it as a current, widespread problem - not a hypothetical situation. Specifically, James saw partiality in the church based on socioeconomic status. Wealthy members mistreating the impoverished believers. Who knows, James may have witnessed partiality based on wealth his whole life - after all he grew up in poverty himself! And as an adult, he is a pastor to impoverished believers. He is inspired by the Holy Spirit AND he is speaking from a combination of personal experience and personal observation.

I don’t know if socioeconomic status causes division in your church. But there are other ways partiality and prejudice can divide and dishonor. What biases might be present in your church? Or in your own heart?

Whether internally or behaviorally…have you judged others in the church based on…

1. Race or ethnicity?

Do you value individuals of certain races or ethnicities while holding a prejudice against others? Do you think or feel differently about them? Or to you treat them differently? With whom do you spend your time? Why?

2. Disability?

Are people with physical or mental disabilities worth your time and attention? How is that evident in your life?

3. Intelligence?

Do you esteem people of intelligence more highly? Or do you make fun of people smarter or more educated than you? What might be motivating this?

4. Age?

Are the elderly less valuable to you? Do you look down on teenagers? Or do you treat people of all ages with equal regard? How is this evident?

5. Gender?

Do you treat women or men as more valuable than the other? If so, in what ways?

6. Beauty?

Do you give more attention to children, adolescents or adults based on their outward appearance? Is it based on height, weight, hair or eye color, hairstyle, skin type, build, level of fitness, make-up/no make-up…(many women have witnessed that one!), or other factors?

7. Profession?

Do you tend to see blue collar and white collar works as equals? Or do you look down on one or the other? Similarly, do you have prejudices against certain professions? Do you automatically make assumptions about attorneys or police officers?

8. Spirituality?

Uh-oh. Do you value other believers based on their spiritual gifts? Do you treat other Christians differently based on their theology, denomination, or perceived level of spiritual maturity?

9. Past mistakes?

How do you esteem those whose sins are known openly? What about those who have been incarcerated? Do you see them as equals?

10. Socioeconomic status?

Have you avoided having relationships with people who you think have far less or far more money than you?

Why do our answers to these questions matter?

For me, the best answer is found in James 1:1: My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. The answer is: The Jesus Christ is our Lord and He is the Lord of glory. He is the one we are following on this race - in this marathon, in which we've been asked to persevere. He's the One we're holding the faith in... the Lord of glory . It's not a coincidence that James chose to refer to Jesus in this specific way at this point in the text. In fact, it's the only time we find him using this term at all! What does it mean?

Glory is a big deal in the Bible. We don't have time to discuss in full obviously. But what we need to remember here is this: as those created in God's image, those who are His image bearers, we are meant to glorify God in our lives. It is part of our purpose for existing! We exist to reflect His character to the world around us . According to Isaiah 43: 7, 10, and 11 - this is what we were created to do! If we are to reflect His character to the world and glorify Him - we must equally value all people . Because HE DOES. Conversely, we must not show prejudice or bias against anyone. We must not devalue others by showing favoritism. Because HE DOES NOT.

James is not the only biblical author God used to make this clear. Below are just 7 of the many passages that paint a very clear picture of God's heart on this matter. Take your time as your read and really hear what these verses have to say:

Leviticus 19:15

Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

Deuteronomy 10:17

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome. who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Proverbs 24:23

To show partiality in judging is not good.

Romans 2:11

For God does not show favoritism.

Ephesians 6: 9

...and there is no favoritism with Him

1 Timothy 5:21

I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

James 2:9

But if you show favoritism, you sin...

I realize that I have already asked a lot of questions today. But I actually still have more questions to ask! :-)

I really want all of us to think deeply about this…really search our hearts. I'm inviting you to please use these questions to examine yourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Please ask yourself both the 10 questions above - and also the 5 questions below as well. Then consider discussing them with a trusted friend.

Questions for Reflection:

When have you witness this kind of partiality in the church?
When have you had thoughts or even actions that were unjust or prejudiced towards people in the church?
When have you witnessed others properly valuing and esteeming others in the church in such a way that it glorified Jesus - with Whom there is no partiality? Please consider taking time to thank and affirm those you’ve witnessed setting this godly example.
Please also consider spending time in prayer for the Lord to open your eyes to any blind spots you may have that hinder you from seeing the true value in others around you - whether in the world or in the church.
Finally, please consider apologizing to anyone you may have hurt by exhibiting partiality in the past.

May we love one another well! Let's pass this test of the steadfast, genuine faith. And let's reflect the love of "our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1).

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. In Through Seasons of Beauty , there is a whole chapter devoted to "a time to love and a time to hate." In that chapter, readers learn how to properly love and value ourselves, others, and the Lord. If you and your small group would like to use this Bible study, you can find the workbook and teaching videos at www.tinasumpter.com/store .

The God of James 1

tina@tinasumpter.com (Tina Sumpter) — Mon, 15 May 2023 10:00:06 GMT

What has James told us about God?

Dear Radiant Friends looking to Christ,

You might not know this, but I have been praying for you. I pray for those who read this blog. And as I prayed for you this past couple of weeks, I couldn’t help but wonder how my last blog post impacted you. I can see how it could be pretty challenging to read! We looked at the possibility that James has provided us with more than a list of instructions, but a collections of tests…tests of our faith. We looked a number of ways to examine our walk to see if our faith is genuine and whether it will be steadfast.

In the test I labeled the “Blame Game” or “Knowing Who’s Who in Trials," we were challenged to ask ourselves whether we accurately understand who God is and accurately understand His character. I feel strongly that we need to elaborate on this today, in this, our last blog post on James 1. Yes, we spent about 5 months in James 1. If you’ve stuck with me so far, you are definitely developing steadfastness! :-)

Any time I study a book or passage of Scripture, I love to take time to really notice how the Holy Spirit-inspired writer has described God. For instance, if we look at James 1, what do we learn about God? Take a few minutes now to re-read James chapter one, then let me share a few things that struck me as significant!

We learn from the very first verse, James 1:1, that God is worthy of being served . James opens with the words, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” As a servant, James appropriately acknowledged God as his Master and Lord. I wonder if these ideas are foreign concepts for us modern day Americans. A master or lord is someone who owns, possesses, and has the power over someone or something. It means they have the rights to the person or thing as well. It also indicates a position of sovereignty and control. And finally, it is a position that is to garner reverence and respect. This is one way James has helped us see God’s greatness.

We also learn early on that God is wise . Already in verse 5 James makes it clear that God is our source of true wisdom. We can ask Him for wisdom, and He will provide it. That leads us to another theme of chapter one…

More than one time in chapter one, James lets his readers know that

God is a Generous Giver.

James 1:5 tells us that God gives wisdom, and that He gives it generously. James 1:17 says it most clearly, “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights.” James reminds us in verse 4 that even the trials of life serve to ensure we “lack nothing.” And the chapter ends with an appeal to care for those who lack physical means. Our generous God had provided for James and the impoverished church in Jerusalem, and James is sure to remind his readers that we are to imitate God's generosity by caring for orphans and widows.

Notice too that our God who is worthy to be served, wise, and generous - is not tempted by sin and does not tempt anyone to sin (James 1:13). Our God is pure and holy! Have you ever just sat and meditated on that!? I have - and not near often enough! How much does it mean to you that our God will not, cannot sin against you? Not ever! Absolutely never. If, in the middle of pain and confusion, you have found yourself wondering if something sinful might actually be God’s will for you…NO! It is NOT! I know the enemy is bold enough to tell you such lies. Please be bold enough to walk away. Actually, run away. Remain steadfast!

Let’s look at one other way James has described God in the first chapter of his letter. In verse 17 James says that with the Lord, "there is no variation or shadow due to change.” He has reminded us that God never changes. We can always count on Him to be the same perfect God He always has been! There will never be even the slightest shift in His holy character! We can always count on Him!

If we look at what James has said about God, we see God’s greatness expressed in His sovereignty and power. And we see that greatness balanced with God's goodness , expressed in His wisdom, generosity, and holiness. And because these are all true…and will never change…this all means

HE IS TRUSTWORTHY.

In times of trials.

In times of testing.

In times of need.

In times of confusion.

In times of temptation.

He is great, and He is good.

He is worthy of our steadfast faith.

We can trust that He wants good for us

…AND…

He has the power to carry it out!

What does this mean for us? What type of response does this require from us? In general, here’s one way to look at it:

God is always worthy of being trusted

AND

God is always worthy of being obeyed.

We can be steadfast because He is steadfast.

Specifically, here are the examples James has given us for application in every day life. Act in faith instead of doubt. Follow wisdom when you’re confused. Keep a humble view of material wealth and use it to help the vulnerable. Bridle your tongue and listen rather than speaking in anger. Live holy lives like the Lord rather than being stained by worldliness, wickedness, or filthiness. Read Scripture - and then put it into practice. Respect, revere, and serve your Master. He is a good Master.

These are all things that mattered to James very much. They mattered so much that he will revisit them again in the coming chapters! That’s one reason I’ve spent so much time in chapter 1. It truly introduces the rest of James’ letter. So next time, we will move into chapter 2! Buckle up though! It’ll be quite a ride! Let’s see this book through to the end! Let’s remain steadfast!

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. As I’ve been studying for today’s blog post, I have been reminded over and over of the hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. I encourage you to take time to look up its lyrics. Then find an arrangement you like, and sing it! Worship the God and Master from whom all blessings flow!

P.S.S. As you may already know, I’ve written a Bible study called Through Seasons of Beauty . It’s based on Ecclesiastes 3 and highlights that even in the hardest of seasons and trials, God makes all things beautiful. In this study, I’ve emphasized God’s greatness and goodness as much as possible, because I believe one of our biggest obstacles in remaining steadfast is misunderstanding God’s heart in the hard seasons. If you’d like to check out the Bible study and teaching videos, they are available right here on this website .

Steadfast Faith: The Tests of a Genuine Faith

tina@tinasumpter.com (Tina Sumpter) — Mon, 01 May 2023 10:00:20 GMT

Three Tests of a Genuine Faith

Greetings to you, Radiant Friends,

Are you wondering how much longer we will sit right here parked in the middle of James 1? Well, not much longer, I promise. There’s just so much Truth to explore! This chapter is so dense with necessary instruction for running the race and staying the course!

From the beginning, we’ve noted that this whole book is filled with commands and instructions. But there’s something else to be found as well. Some believe that the book of James contains not only a series of instructions, but also a series of tests .

A Series of Tests of Genuine Faith.

These tests may very well be ways for us to evaluate our own spiritual growth. And even more weighty than that, these chapters may even test the genuineness of our faith in general! Think back to the two articles I wrote to you about “What to Do,” and “What Not to Do.” What if those illustrations and word pictures are not only instructions…what if they are also a litmus test. That would mean

James is imploring us to first have a genuine faith

AND ALSO

develop a steadfast faith.

I'm sorry I didn't warn you in advance that today was test day. Below, I’ll outline the tests I see just in chapter one. You might want to take a minute to re-read James 1, then see what you think. I’ve given names to each test - just because I think that sort of thing if fun. :-) In fact, I’ve given each test more than one title. Feel free to pick your favorites. :-)

Test #1

The Test of Steadfastness in Suffering

Patience in Pain

Endurance in Trials

(I know. That’s 3 different titles. I couldn’t stop myself!)

Parts of the Test

A. Have you exhibited consistent, gradual, spiritual growth over time?

B. Do you consistently put your faith into action even when life is hard?

C. Do you seek and also heed God’s wisdom?

D. Do you faithfully pray to the Giver of Good Gifts when you lack something?

E. Does your faith remain steadfast in the face of pain and life’s pressures?

F. Do you have a humble posture toward material wealth?

Test #2

The 'Blame Game' in Temptation

Knowing Who’s Who in Trials

Part of the Test

A. Have you falsely accused God? Or do you tend trust Him and His character when you’re confused?

B. Are you in the habit of taking responsibility for your own sin?

C. Are you careful to repent and forsake sin and evil desires rather than persisting in sinful desires and actions?

D. Do you tend to trust the sufficiency of God’s good gifts to you in times of temptation or trial?

E. Have you been careful not to misuse God’s gifts for sinful purposes?

Test #3

The Hearing Test and the Mobility Test

The Test of Being a Hearer and Doer of the Word

The Test of Responding to the Word

Parts of the Test

A. Are you usually slow to speak - remaining quiet and listening when needed?

B. Are you known to be patient rather than quickly giving in to anger?

C. Do you regularly renounce sin and anything unholy, impure, or worldly in your life? Do you maintain a life that is “unstained” by the world by living beyond reproach?

D. How teachable are you? Is your heart posture humble enough to hear God’s voice of conviction and engage in a regular process of self-examination?

E. Part One of Hearing and Doing

Are you a regular hearer of the Word? Do you believe you are 'super-spiritual' for reading, studying, memorizing, or even teaching the Bible?

No matter how you answer these questions, please see part two of this test.

E. Part Two: Part Two of Hearing and Doing

Has the Word of God gradually and consistently changed the way you live? Specifically, has it transformed your attitudes, beliefs, speech, decisions, and morality?

F. Do you have a heart of compassion for the vulnerable? AND how are you taking action on their behalf?

For the sake of spurring one another on toward love and good deeds - and just encouraging each other - I wish we could sit around the table and discuss these tests together. Please sit before the Lord and discuss your answers with Him. I pray you also have at least one friend you can discuss and pray with as well. As we are instructed in James 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

May we all be people of genuine faith in the Lord Jesus. And may our perseverance develop in us a steadfast faith that honors Him.

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. Which parts of these tests are hardest for you? What might this mean for you? What might you need to do?

STEADFAST FAITH: Hearing and Doing

tina@tinasumpter.com (Tina Sumpter) — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 10:00:42 GMT

Testing Us. Testing Him.

Dear Friends in the Lord,

I don’t know how you feel about us taking such a slow pace as we inch our way through the book of James. But I’m loving it! I love having the opportunity to uncover every ounce of Truth I can when I study Scripture! Therefore…today we will continue our journey through James 1. And to be honest, we’ll probably continue to study James 1 for a few more weeks. For now, I would like us to begin by reviewing James 1:2-3:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

As we’ve already discovered, James is challenging followers of the Lord Jesus to persevere during trials in life, including tests. And remember, he’s very practical - so James gives us plenty of instructions on how to develop and a Steadfast Faith as we navigate these hardships. One such set of instructions is found in James 1:22-25:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only,

deceiving yourselves.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,

he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.

For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres,

being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

James is clearly instructing us to be hearers and a doers of God’s Word.

BE HEARERS OF GOD’S WORD

I love how James reminds believers of the nature of God’s Word! Did you notice that too? He refers to Scripture as “the perfect law” and “the law of liberty.” It is perfect and it brings liberty! But it can only take effect in our lives if we choose to be hearers of that perfect law of liberty. This echoes what Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” The Father has spoken through both Jesus and his younger half brother that we desperately need God’s Word if we are to walk in God’s ways. That means that if we are to pass the tests in our spiritual lives, we will need to “abide” in God’s Word. Look into it “intently,” and the remember it. Keep it. Let it be implanted in our hearts.

Let’s allow God’s Word speak further on this today. Let’s take time to recall other passages of Scripture that drive home the necessity of God’s Word in our lives if we are to transformed enough to pass the tests of life:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:17

Oh friends! These “ are not just idle words for you, they are your life… ” Moses used these words in addressing the Hebrew people before crossing the Jordan (Deuteronomy 32:47). He knew they’d be facing trials…tests of many kinds! And he reminded them that God’s Word was the very key to living the new life He offered them. The same is true for you and me! God’s word is unique! It is alive and powerful! It actively pierces and impacts our very souls and spirits! It also provides discernment! Oh how we need discernment in the midst of testing! And God’s Word is a necessary part of our training in righteousness…our sanctification. Without this progressive righteousness and sanctification, we stand no chance of passing our tests. What a gift we have at our disposal!

Therein lies the problem James had detected however. The believers James wrote to - just like you and I - they had access to God’s Word. You and I are pretty spoiled, you have to admit. We can access it in print, online, or on apps on our phones. We can access it in umpteen translations in English. Not to mention translations in other languages. As I said, this gift is at our disposal.

But will we be hearers of the Word?

And just as importantly?

Will be also be doers of the Word?

BE DOERS OF GOD'S WORD

James gives many examples throughout his “bossy” book of ways to put God’s Word into action. In fact, it is a major theme of this letter. If we are to persevere in our faith, we must hear, believe, and know truth. But we must also obey that truth! Yes, I used the word, “obey.” I know, it’s not super popular to use words like obey nowadays. But truth is truth. We must obey, heed, surrender, submit, and yield to God the Father and to His Word. Even our ability to do so is a gift of God! It’s part of the inheritance of a child of God. He has given us power over sin and His spirit empowers us to obey and walk in righteousness. THAT is how we pass the tests of life! We obey Truth.

We must know and abide in Truth

…AND…

we must then trust God enough to obey that Truth.

When we obey, whether in a season of testing or not, we will see God work somehow!

AND

Whether we pass the test or not…whether we obey or not. Whether we surrender and submit or not. Whether we are faithful, or not.

GOD WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL

I’m about to say something that continues to absolutely blow my mind! And it’s straight from God’s Word! A verse that still blows my mind is Malachi 3:10. Here, in the context of obedience in tithing, God said,

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

And thereby put me to the test , says the LORD of hosts,

if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and

pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Now our conversation has gone from

God testing us -

to God inviting us to test Him!

Can you believe that? He is so faithful that when it comes to hearing and doing, He invites us to TRY IT.

What I love even more is that when He tests us, we can fail! But if we take Him at His Word - as hearers and doers of the Word, and test Him,

He will never fail!

2 Timothy 2:13 puts it like this,

“if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.”

He tests our faith…AND…He invites us to test His faithfulness by obeying Him.

So next time you face a test, test Him!

Be a hearer and a doer of His Word!

And friends, may we do it again and again. And again! Let’s run the race! One obedient, faithful step at a time. Then we can count it “all joy” when we face trials, because each trial is another opportunity to be a hearer and doer, whose faith continues to endure. And over time, we can look back and see that we have persevered by honoring His faithfulness. Because of His faithfulness, we can have a Steadfast Faith.

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. Are you already a faithful hearer and doer? Or is one more difficult for you than the other? For instance, is it hard for you to take adequate time to be a faithful “hearer” of God’s Word? Or do you already engage God’s Word daily but struggle to put it into action in your daily life? Pray for the Lord to help you be faithful in both hearing and doing! He will be faithful. I promise.

Snapshots of a STEADFAST FAITH: What to Do and What Not to Do - Part Two

tina@tinasumpter.com (Tina Sumpter) — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 18:59:35 GMT

What Not to Do

Good morning, sweet friends in this Christian faith,

I am so excited to look at the second set of snapshots from James 1 with you today! Last time I mentioned that James has provided us with some very concrete word pictures that depict what Steadfast Faith looks like in everyday life. I also mentioned that He has instructed us in both what to do…AND…what not to do!

Last time, we only looked at “what to do.” This time we will take a look at the contrasting snapshots that illustrate a faltering faith…what not to do.

A Faith that Falters: WHAT NOT TO DO

Snapshot #1: Waves of the sea

But he must ask in faith without any doubting,

for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1: 6-8

In this snapshot, we see lives of doubt being symbolized by waves of the ocean. Notice how James describes that in the ocean, we are ‘driven’ by the waves. They are an outside force pushing and pulling us in whatever directions it pleases. This great pressure keeps us from moving forward and making progress. This is very different from setting our eyes before us and pressing on toward the goal. Therefore, doubt hinders our faith and our spiritual growth. For this reason, it is a characteristic of faith that is faltering.

Snapshot #2: Tossed by the Wind

But he must ask in faith without any doubting,

for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1: 6-8

Here we find a snapshot of someone being tossed around by high winds. The word “tossed” means to be agitated, as in being tossed to and fro. This is very similar to what “unstable” means - it means to be inconstant. Just like a person driven by the waves of the sea, this person does not stay the course. This is perhaps related to being “double-minded,” which means to be uncertain due to mixed desires and interests. Imagine a person who hesitates about taking a step of faith. They’re torn. They have doubts and don’t even know whether they want to go forward. The winds of doubt result in a faith that falters.

Snapshot #3: Shifting Shadows

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights,

with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

James 1:17

This verse contrasts the character of God with the character of those who falter in their faith. While God is depicted as the unchanging Father of heavenly lights, remaining true to His perfect character as the planets remain in their orbits. God is not erratic or unpredictable! Rather He is purposeful, true to His promises, completely immutable and unchanging in His perfect character and perfect ways. He is always the same, always reliable, always trustworthy. Yet “variation” and “shifting shadows” refers to the wavering, unpredictable path of someone whose faith is failing. This person of untrustworthy character is not likely to remain steadfast or faithful during the trials of life.

Snapshot #4: Dragged Away by Seduction

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

James 1:14

This snapshot feels so dark! The word “carried away” involves someone or something being lured out of their hiding place or place of safety by the use of seduction. It’s not forced. But once the person or animal willingly exits their place of safety, they are dragged away. This is a picture of being seduced by something that looks appealing but brings harm in the end. For the believer, sin is a tempting force. But genuine faith in Christ leads to increasing power over sin and changed desires so that sin loses its allure. Without this faith and spiritual growth, sin continues to seduce and bring destruction in one’s life.

Snapshot #5: Ensnared by Deception

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

James 1:14

Similar to being “carried away,” the Greek word for “enticed” is a fishing and hunting term. It means to be baited or ensnared using guile or deception. This same word can also be used to describe the actions of a harlot. Only a steadfast faith remains committed to Jesus in the face of such guile. A faltering faith will become ensnared in the face of the trials of temptation.

Snapshot #6: Withering Wild Flowers

But the rich person is to glory in his humiliation,

because like flowering grass he will pass away.

For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass;

and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed;

so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.

James 1:10-11

Wild flowers are very beautiful, but their beauty doesn’t last. Wild flowers wilt, wither, and fade until they simply are no more. James attributes this to the wild flower’s lack of resilience in the scorching head of the sun. In fact, some wild flowers only have a lifespan of two weeks! This is a simple and relatable picture of a faltering faith that cannot withstand the trials of walking with Christ through hardship.

Snapshot #7: Forgetting

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,

he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

For once he has looked at himself and gone away,

he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

James 1:23-24

James’ snapshot of “what not to do” in this verse is found in the verb “forgetting.” We all forget sometimes, right? But forgetting God’s Word? We’re talking about a person who has professed allegiance to Jesus, who died for their salvation. A person whose entire identity has been transformed by Christ. Do you realize what it means to forget God’s Word? It means to literally neglect it because you don’t care about it. Individuals of faltering faith may listen to God’s Word, but they don’t put it into action - because it doesn’t matter to them. On the other hand, those with steadfast faith hear God’s Word, keep it in their hearts, and allow it to drive their attitudes, thoughts, and actions.

Snapshot #8: Worthlessness

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue

but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this:

to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1:26-27

A final snapshot James uses as a picture of faltering faith is found in the word “worthless.” This word describes something that yields no result. It is empty, useless, and devoid of power. A faith that is worthless, then, brings no fruit. James is pointing out that if the resurrected Christ lives in someone, their life should be full of Christ’s power. This power yields fruit - including a steadfast faith that withstands the tests and temptations of life on earth.

Why would James provide such an elaborate set of concrete pictures of steadfast faith and faltering faith? Why would he go to such great lengths to show God’s people “what to do” and “what not to do?” I have an idea about that. But before I share, I want to give you time to digest what we’ve already explored together.

For now, we can probably agree that these snapshots are part of the purpose of his letter to the suffering, scattered saints of his day. He knew they needed more than encouragement - they needed practical guidance on how to navigate their trials and hardships. They needed instructions for developing a steadfast faith!

Looking to Jesus,

Tina

P.S. Which of these snapshots have you struggled with in your own walk with Christ? Which one would you be willing to address right now? How could you grow more steadfast this week? What steps can you take today?

Snapshots of a STEADFAST FAITH: What to Do…and What Not to Do - Part One

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 03:04:27 GMT

Snapshots of a STEADFAST FAITH: What to Do…and What Not to Do

Part One

Hello friends!

I am pretty excited to continue our exploration of James 1! This literally thrills my soul! During my first in-depth study of James, I began to see what I call “snapshots” throughout the first chapter. I was overwhelmed by seeing one ‘word-picture’ after another. It was so exciting, but I wasn’t sure what to make of it all. What did it all mean? My brain was beginning to hurt a little, so I decided to take a break, pray, and wait. It was just a few minutes later that I “got it!” It suddenly made perfect sense! (Thank you, Holy Spirit!) I discovered that James has offered us some very concrete word pictures that illustrate what Steadfast Faith looks like in everyday life . He has also balanced this with other snapshots that are depictions of a faltering faith. Through this stark contrast, James has instructed us in

what to do…AND…what not to do!

Let’s take a look at the following verses from James 1 and the pictures they evoke in our minds. First we will explore the verses and snapshots about a faith that follows through - Steadfast Faith. Then in my next blog post, we will examine the verses about a faith that falters.

Six Snapshots of a Faith that Follows Through: WHAT TO DO

Snapshot #1:

Running a Race, and Crossing the Finish Line

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved,

he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

In English, this verse does not automatically evoke images of a runner of a race who perseveres until the end. However, the meaning of the word “crown” gives us some very meaningful insight. There are various types of crowns mentioned in Scripture, but the specific type of crown mentioned by James is a wreath or garland awarded to the winner of a game or sport. So this is the imagery of an athlete, a runner perhaps. I’m picturing a marathon runner who perseveres until the very end. This is very consistent with other passages in the New Testament. Hebrews 12:1-3 teaches us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” which will require endurance. Similarly, in Acts 20:22-24 Paul declares that his only aim was to “finish the race” God had called him to run. Both Philippians 3:12-14 and 2 Timothy 4:5-8 concur that when believers press on, strain toward what lies ahead, and endure hardship to finish the race - there is a prize, a crown. Simply for keeping the faith to the end.

Snapshot #2:

Staying the Course, and Not Changing Paths

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights,

with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

James 1:17

The images depicted in this verse relate to astronomy. The “lights” James mentions here are heavenly bodies, like stars - including our sun - that constantly emit light. We would never expect the sun to stop shining for any period of time. Other heavenly bodies - such as the planets - follow predictable orbits that never change. They never shift off-course nor vary in the path they take. They stay the course - never turning to the left or the right. There is no veering off the course marked out for them by their Creator, the Father of Heavenly Lights. Similarly, the runners in a race mentioned above can only finish the race marked out for them by remaining on the correct path. We are given this word-picture to encourage us to remain on the path of faith and obedience even when we encounter the most rugged terrain.

Snapshot #3:

Staying Close to Somebody

But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom,

and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer,

this person will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:25

In order to see this word-picture, let's focus on the word “ has continued .” This word means to remain close to someone. Isn’t that a beautiful snapshot!? I can’t help but think of an elderly couple who has stayed the course and are nearing the finish line…together, hand in hand. This is a picture of abiding and continuing to stay close together. It is not wandering off or being out of reach. It’s not short-lived, because it is permanent and steadfast. It continues to be near. It’s fellowship forever. In this case, the eternal fellowship and intimacy is between the believer and God’s Word. I don’t know about you, but I love to just sit and marvel at the fact that the only two eternal things on this earth are: God’s Word and the souls of (wo)men! Zechariah 1:6 mentions that there are times God’s Word “overtakes” people. May it be so with us, friends! May God’s Word abide in the depths of your soul! Hold tight to the Truth, and let it guide you on your journey of steadfast faith!

Snapshot #4:

The Imagery of Conceiving, Growing, and Giving Birth

In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

James 1:18

No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death.

James 1:13-15

As a mother of four, the image these passages bring to mind is an ultrasound picture. The ultrasound helps us see that a child has been conceived and whether or not the baby is growing as expected month after month. Then eventually there are those precious pictures of the infant once it has been born. In James 1, James is actually making a very elaborate appeal for believers to birth a life driven by genuine faith - evidenced by a life of perseverance. Once conceived, this faith may start so small, but over time this newborn faith grows and becomes a visible, tangible sign of new life in Christ.

Snapshot #5:

Bearing Fruit

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures…Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:17-18, 21

Notice the imagery of bearing fruit in these verses! First fruits are just the beginning of a harvest. Once the first fruits appear there is assurance of more fruit to come! Because of the first batch of harvested fruit, there is reason to believe the a greater is harvest will continue to cultivate over time. James has been making it clear throughout this chapter - and we will continue to see this in coming chapters - that steadfastness is a significant type of fruit born out of genuine faith. Perseverance and endurance are the greater harvest of the first fruits of authentic faith in Christ.

Snapshot #6:

The Sowing and Reaping of Farming

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness,

in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:21

Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

STEADFAST FAITH: The Power of Proper Perspective, Part Two

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 06:43:01 GMT

Good morning, Radiant friends!

It’s a warm, breezy Spring morning here in Birmingham. I am writing this blog post a week later than I’d hoped. I’ve been following the Lord on some wonderful adventures! Discipleship and women’s ministry have been my focus, and the Lord has overwhelmed me with one beautiful experience after another. Interestingly, I was also under the weather the whole entire time! I apparently had a virus that became a sinus infection that just would not go away! It’s interesting that only when my ability to breathe well is challenged do I stop and thank God for the ability to breathe! And during those 3 weeks of mixed blessings, I thanked Him constantly for breath and oxygen and physical health.

Now that I’m better, let’s talk about James 1:2,

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds”

There’s so much we could say about this one little verse! To simplify things, I’ll narrow our focus. Let’s just focus on how to “count it all joy” in the face of hardship.

We’ve probably all been told by now that joy is not happiness. Most people say happiness is based on our circumstances, while joy is more of a constant because it is not based on circumstances. I happen to think everything we feel is somehow correlated with our circumstances. More specifically however, it’s our perspective of our circumstances that determines our feelings about it ! I can’t wait to share more about that with you!

I looked up some definitions of joy, just so we can begin from a place of clarity. Some would say that the biblical definition of joy is gladness, rejoicing, enjoyment, or even bliss. It’s when something so wonderful happens that we feel compelled to celebrate. Others would say that joy involves taking pleasure or delighting in something. So if we enjoy or delight in a circumstance in our lives - we can expect that to spark some joy in our hearts! In fact, stop and think about some things you’ve delighted in throughout your life. Did it create in you a desire to celebrate? Did it result in joyful feelings?

If this is true, how can we count it all joy when we face various types of suffering and trials in life? I truly do not think James was suggesting that trials are by nature joyful. But I do believe he has helped us tap into a secret…a key to experiencing joy in the midst of even the most difficult circumstances.

What is the key? The key is our perspective! It’s partly how we view our circumstances. And it’s partly what we focus on during our trials. It’s also related to what we are looking for when circumstances get really hard. Above all, it’s most assuredly a matter of faith.

Here’s something I’ve learned as a Christian counselor. Well, first, I’ve learned that Christians are often not very comfortable talking about emotions. I honestly think it’s just a matter of not fully understanding how God designed our emotions to function (I’d love to talk more about this another day). But something far more important that I’ve learned is this:

A change in our perspective leads to a change in our emotions!

It doesn’t get much more biblical than that, does it? 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to take our thoughts captive. We must take charge of our thoughts and perspectives, and it is especially necessary when we face suffering. When Paul addresses anxiety in Philippians 4:4-9, he takes this same approach! As you read this passage, please notice what it teaches about how to rejoice “always.” Notice what the Lord asks believers to do in order to achieve this joyful state:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,

if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things.

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—

practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Did you notice how many different ways these verses redirect our thoughts and perspectives? We are first made aware that the Lord is near. We are also asked to remain prayerful. We are asked to purposefully think praiseworthy thoughts. We are also instructed to be mindful of all we’ve learned in the past. These are all such powerful steps for us when we are suffering! And those steps alone can help us persevere in trials. Just like we’ve seen in James 1, the focus is on our thinking! There is still one other significant factor found in Phil. 4:4-9. This factor is a huge part of the key to experiencing joy in our trials:

thankfulness.

Again, I will clarify - I am NOT saying that we are expected to be thankful for certain types of circumstances. Notice that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says it is God’s will for us to give thanks in all circumstances, not for all circumstances. Consider, as an example, my friend whose husband is likely to pass from this earth today. Is that family thankful for cancer? Thankful to lose their husband and father? Does this circumstance in and of itself bring delight and joy? No, of course not! But have there been things along the way to cause them to celebrate and feel some joy? Oh yes! And it’s been happening from the very beginning! God did a mighty work in this man’s spiritual life once he was faced with the reality of his own mortality. There have been many answers to prayer as well. And a massive outpouring of love and support from friends and family have allowed this man and his wife to experience joy even in the valley of the shadow of death. How?

They see so very clearly that in this very dark time, God is with them and making Himself known to them! They can delight in Him, His provision, and His love. They are still grieving, but they can’t help but also feel joy! Their circumstances haven’t changed. But their perspective and their focus have both changed. Just their awareness of God’s Presence with them has been enough to shift their focus. They have seen that even in suffering and deep sadness, it is possible to also experience joy.

If you’re a Christian, I have a feeling you’ve experienced this before too. It’s good for us to stop and remember…remember those moments when the Lord did something only He could do…right there in the middle of our sorrow! They are truly precious. Recalling these moments can strengthen us for the next hardship we face.

I would like to propose two specific perspectives that can help us experience joy even while we suffer hardship .

First, let’s expect to find God in the middle of our current circumstances. And let’s expect it so fully that we look for Him! Look for ways you can tell He is with you. Look for ways He has strengthened, upheld, or encouraged you. Look for His provision. Look for His protection. Notice the answered prayers. Look for ways He has given wisdom and guidance in decisions. Look for all the many ways He has been faithful to His Word! When you look for it, you will find it! And once you find it, give thanks! Giving thanks is one way of celebrating Him and allowing yourself to sit in the joy of that moment.

We can expect to find our Ever Faithful God in the midst of our trials with us. That’s joy for the present . It’s joy even as the hardship is happening. And guess what?! There is more joy to expect!

A second perspective to embrace in hardship is this: more joy is coming! There is joy for today, and even more joy for tomorrow. This perspective requires much faith - a faith that remains steadfast while waiting for the future joy set before us! Psalm 30:5 tells us “weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” It’s a faith that trusts that once the darkness of the hardship has lifted, there will be even more reason for joy. Because once the sun rises and the night has passed, we can see more clearly. In retrospect, we are often able to see even more ways He had been present and faithful. These new opportunities to see beauty in our rear view mirrors are occasions for joy!

And then, my friends, there will also be newly created beauty ! Expect joy on the road before you! Over time there will be new ways we can see how our sovereign God is still continuing to work. We will glimpse the ways He is working all things for good (Romans 8:28). It could be years later, but we can expect to see redemption. We will see it! How do I know? Because I know we serve a God who cannot be mocked (Galatians 6:7). He cannot disown Himself and become unfaithful (2 Timothy 2:13). I also know these things to be true, because I’ve seen it time and time again in my own life and in the lives of countless others around me!

Do you realize what all of this means? We CAN count it all joy! Joy from yesterday. Joy today. And more joy tomorrow! Because He is sovereign yesterday, today, and forever!

The joy begins during the trial,

and

we continue to find even more joy

as time passes!

There’s a verse that comes to mind about this - Isaiah 45:3. In Isaiah 45:3 God says that He will give His people the “treasures of darkness.” That means when suffering comes, there will be valuable, priceless treasures for us to find on that dark path. Treasures to be found now, and more treasures to be found further down the road. I can’t help but wonder what kinds of treasures you’ve carried out of your hardest seasons. Maybe you’ve gained wisdom. Or maybe a deeper understanding of God’s Word. Or maybe a rich harvest of the fruit of the Spirit. How about faith? Did your faith grow more steadfast?

The greatest of these treasures is the Lord Himself! He is our very great reward (Genesis 15:1)! Nothing is more joyful than an encounter with Him! Or a new understanding of Who He really is! Or a fresh glimpse of His purposes. There is so much beauty and glory to behold! All because - even though our circumstances shift and bring dark shadows upon our path, our Father of Heavenly Lights will stay the course! He will bring His Light into our shadows. Even if our faith feels as small as a mustard seed, we can use it to look for Him. And when we find Him there, let’s celebrate Him by giving thanks!

When we can find nothing else to delight in,

may we delight in Him!

Celebrate Him,

and count it all joy.

Joy now

and more joy later.

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. I hope you will take time to recall His faithfulness to you in dark times. Then with joy, celebrate by giving Him thanks! Maybe you could even share your story with others who are currently struggling to walk through darkness. It might help them gain the perspective they need and find that the joy of the Lord is their strength.

STEADFAST FAITH: The Power of Proper Perspective, Part One

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 20:07:37 GMT

Dear friends,

I’m sitting in Nashville - with a view of the Cumberland River. My husband and I felt like a change of scenery would be good for us this weekend. It turns out, getting away and enjoying a change of scenery has helped me gain some perspective! In a way, that’s what today’s blog is about. It’s about a change of perspective. Sometimes we need to arrive at a change of perspective without a change of scenery however. Sometimes a change of scenery simply is not possible. In times like this, we need a new view and a change of perspective while remaining in the very circumstances that trouble us.

Take a minute and think back over the seasons of your own life. Recall any trials or hardships you’ve faced in your lifetime. Then reflect specifically on tests and temptations you’ve navigated just in the past month. For me, this kind of trip down memory lane makes me keenly aware of just how many different kinds of trials a person can face! James acknowledges this too!

In the very first chapter, as soon as James humbly greets his dispersed and suffering brothers and sisters in Christ, he quickly jumps into a discussion of the various trials of life. It seems to have been the first thing on his mind. It is certainly the first thing out of his mouth! It is that one thing on the tip of his tongue. What stands out to me as well, is that he begins his discussion of trials by insisting that his fellow believers change their thoughts about adversity. He begins with an appeal for a change of perspective. Let’s look at how he does this!

Please take time to read all of James 1. Then let’s read James 1:2 together:

“Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…”

The very first word is “consider” and is the first of 50-something commands in this book. James is instructing his readers from the very beginning! And remember, James is wise enough to know that his suffering audience needs more than encouragement - they need practical help - instruction, guidance, and direction for everyday life.

As a counselor, I personally think it is particularly wise to begin with instructions on a change of perspective. We call it reframing. James starts with reframing while also redefining some important terminology. By doing so, he helps us set foot on the journey to a new perspective on adversity . Today we will begin this journey by noticing how James defines some very relevant terms. In the end, I hope we’ll all see the vast importance of properly viewing and defining the trials we face!

To “consider” simply means to “think.” A quick scan of chapter one reveals that James not only begins his discussion of trials with the word “think,” he also continues to focus on this theme of thinking! As a quick illustration, he uses the following words throughout chapter one: to consider or to think, to doubt, to be double-minded, to deceive, to deceive oneself, to suppose or expect, to remember, and to forget. Not to mention the theme of wisdom, which begins with wise thinking (and leads to wise actions).

I think he wants us to think about our thinking !

What does he want us to think differently about? Again, a glance at chapter one gives us some clear answers! He emphasizes trials. He even mentions tests and temptations, which are two specific types of trials. Like James, I think we need to be able to distinguish between tests and temptations! What is the difference? Well, almost everything!

First, let’s be clear that “ trials ” is a very general term (James 1:2). This broad term includes adversity, affliction, or trouble of nearly any kind. Trials are simply “trying” times. It can be private or public. Seemingly small or rather large. It can be physical, financial, relational, emotional, legal, political, and definitely spiritual. Trials can include tests, and trials can include temptations. Other than that, the only thing they really have in common is: they’re both hard!

Now let’s clarify what testing is. “ Testing ” (James 1:2, 1:12) means to try or prove something. In Scripture it is often associated specifically with the testing of our FAITH. This is certainly clear in James 1. I believe James would have us think of tests as being sent by God Himself. I also think James would have us to understand that tests serve the purpose of proving our faith, holiness, and godly character. I guess you could say it’s an invitation to ‘do right.’

That encourages me! I find it encouraging that when God tests us, He already sees the faith and character He’s developed in us and wants us to see it too. Not to mention the witness it can be to others! And in the words of Paul, it could even be an opportunity to make the manifold wisdom of God known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 3:10)! Testing may be uncomfortable, but friends, it glorifies God!

Finally, “ temptation ” is very different from testing. I’m afraid we tend to confuse tests and temptations simply because they’re both so uncomfortable! But James makes it very clear in James 1:13-15 that God does not tempt anyone! Temptation is not from God! Think about the very purpose of temptation. It is the enemy’s effort to solicit sin in someone’s life! God would never do that! Evil is at work when we experience temptation! He entices our flesh in the hopes that we will fall. He truly is a supplanter.

These simple definitions clarify that the trial of temptation is from the enemy and serves to solicit sin in our lives. The trial of testing, however, is from God Himself and serves to reveal the faith and righteousness that exists within His sons and daughters.

Think back on the trials of your own life once again…including the ones from this past month. Did some of your trials involve an opportunity to exhibit faith and godly character? Did some of the trials involve temptation to sin? And were both involved in some cases? Did you lack wisdom at times because you weren’t sure what to do? Can you see how a change of thinking in the midst of that confusion can help us act wisely when facing trials?

Proper perspective can help us

pass the tests and

triumph over the temptations.

With clarity, we are more faithful hearers and doers of God’s Word. With proper perspective we can persevere under trial and develop a steadfast faith in our ever-faithful, infinitely wise God.

Getting my thinking strait,

Tina

P.S. Next time, we will look at how to consider it all joy the we face our various trials! For now, does this clarification on the trials of testing and temptation help you better understand the hardships of your current season of life? If so, how? Have you ever added additional suffering to a time of adversity because you misunderstood God’s role in your situation? Feel free to share your responses in the Radiant Women’s Group !

STEADFAST FAITH: James and Jesus

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 06:03:57 GMT

Dear Friends,

Today we will finally begin our study of the book of James! Up until now, I’ve primarily been introducing you to this book and its author. But now - finally - we get to read James’ words, inspired by the Holy Spirit. From the very first sentence, I believe we can hear James’ heart. In fact, I think it contains a little bit about his story. Here is the verse…see for yourself:

James 1:1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Did you hear it? Could you hear James telling his story? If not, maybe I can help!

The opening greeting of James’ letter is very typical for his day and age. It contains his name, a little bit about who he is, and who his intended audience is named as well. Today,, let’s look closely at what James has revealed about his life simply by how he has introduced himself.

To begin, let’s look at the meaning of James’ name. As you may already know, names are very significant in Scripture. A person’s name often reveals something about their character. The NT Greek name “James” is actually the same as the OT Hebrew name “Jacob.” It means “supplanter,” which evokes a word picture meaning to ‘grasp the heel.’ These are just fancy ways of saying that the name “James” means to uproot or replace someone as if they are inferior - and to do so by force or treachery. When I put all of these ideas together, I imagine someone trying to walk or run down a determined path…but then somebody who is secretly lying in wait reaches out and grabs their foot, causing them to trip and fall down. What an ambush! We need to commit this imagery to memory - because it will help us better understand some of the verses that lie ahead in this book!

I believe the meaning of James’ name tells the story of his past. It’s a picture of who he was before he placed his steadfast faith in Jesus. If so, his faith radically transformed his life and character! This makes sense since we know that he later earned the nickname ‘James the Just,’ indicating that he was well known for being a man of righteousness and virtue.

After James gives us his name - he further describes himself as a “servant” or ‘bond slave.’ I think this is one of the many ways James is exhibiting humility. Based on the word James used, this is the type of servant who has given himself or herself up completely to the will of another. It is a choice. It’s not forced. It also indicates a person who is so devoted to another, that they disregard their own interests. This is a term often used to refer to true worshipers of God. Because these types of servants obey the Lord’s commands, they are seen as agents of God’s purposes in the world. God uses His servants to accomplish His purposes. If you wonder whether this was true of James…let’s keep reading and come back to that question at the end of my letter to you today.

Who does James say he was a servant of? He states that he is a servant of both God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Does this spark any questions in your mind? For instance, why did he mention both “God” and “the Lord Jesus Christ?” Surely he knows Jesus IS God. Then why name them separately? I think I might know.

I have often wondered what it must have been like for James to grow up with Jesus, his older half-brother. I wonder what he noticed about Jesus. And I really wonder how he responded in his heart to what he noticed about Jesus. I tend to think it would be obvious to James that Jesus was “good.” He would have watched Jesus live out his goodness day in and day out. He would have seen Jesus as perfectly loving, kind, gracious, gentle, and merciful.

But I wonder if it was as obvious to James that Jesus was “powerful?” Could he have seen that Jesus was sovereign and mighty? Especially prior to Jesus’ public ministry, maybe this wasn’t easy for James to see. But once Jesus did display His power in ministry, I wonder how James responded in his heart. Perhaps it was easy to accept that Jesus was good. But maybe it wasn’t so easy to accept that Jesus was God.

But now! Now, as he writes this letter to the scattered churches, James openly proclaims that Jesus is God! In fact, he even goes on to refer to Jesus as both “Lord” and “Christ.” Wait until you hear what that would have represented to James!

Let’s start with the word “Christ.” This is just the Greek word for Messiah. And for our purposes, it means that James eventually came to realize that Jesus was not only God, He was also the Messiah. Can you imagine the moment when he finally realized that Jesus was the fulfillment of every single OT prophecy about the Messiah!? I wonder if he did cartwheels!? Or did he jump up and down for joy? Well, I doubt it. Even as a saved guy he seems kinda serious to me. Lol More realistically, maybe he sat down and wept.

James also referred to Jesus as his “Lord.” In Greek this word is “kyrios.” Would you believe that calling Jesus “kyrios” could have cost James his life!? The political rulers of his time preferred to be called by this title. Should anyone proclaim allegiance to any competing ‘lords,’ it could lead to execution. There were many Christians who proclaimed Jesus as their “Lord” who were consequently fed to the lions in the arenas of the Greeks!

Yet in this letter, James is not secretly declaring his allegiance to Jesus. He is publicly proclaiming, in writing, that Jesus is LORD! And then he is sending it to who-knows-where in the world! Apparently, he wasn’t concerned with who saw it! He was willing to risk his very life for his God, Messiah, and Lord who had willingly laid down His own life for James…even while James was still a supplanter.

I think this gives us the answer to the question…was James truly a bond slave and servant of Jesus? Oh, yes! He is writing his letter to many who are suffering for the Name of Christ. And James is willing to suffer for the Name of Jesus as well. The very first sentence of the letter is proof that he is leading them by example! He’s humbly laid aside any secret, treacherous interests of his own to openly live out his steadfast faith in His Lord, Jesus Christ. It surely inspired those who received his letter. May it inspire us today as well!

Looking to the Lord Jesus,

Tina

P.S. As members of God’s family, Jesus is our big Brother. Just like James! Therefore, I encourage you to reflect on ways you are living as a servant of Jesus. How are you serving His purposes? Have you willingly forsaken your own interests in favor of His desires? Are there any secret places in your heart where you have not been trusting Jesus’ goodness? Or His greatness? Join Ol’ Camel Knees, and pray about these things. And enjoy the opportunity to declare your allegiance to Jesus as your Lord!

STEADFAST FAITH: The Bossiest Book of the Bible

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 04:42:28 GMT

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

James 1:1

Dear Radiant Friends,

We are still in the beginning stages of our journey through the book of James. There’s so much to learn and so much to apply to our modern lives! I am so excited to keep exploring this book with you one little step at a time.

The book of James is an epistle, which simply means it is a letter. As expected, the very first sentence of the letter contains the greeting. In this greeting, James reveals not only his own identity and also the identity of the people to whom he is writing. Today we will learn a little bit about James’ intended audience and even more about his message to them. In two weeks, we will learn what James has revealed about himself in the opening verse of his letter. And let me tell you, he has revealed far more than just his name.

James states that his letter is written to the “twelve tribes in the Dispersion.” These were Christian Jews whose families had been living in foreign countries since a prior era in Israel’s distant history. These Jewish Christians were living in harsh conditions including poverty, social injustice, and spiritual conflicts. James’ letter also hints at the fact that some of these believers may have been living worldly lives.

If I, Tina the counselor, were to sit down today and write a letter to such a group of impoverished and oppressed brothers and sisters in Christ living in a foreign land - I can imagine myself offering words of encouragement and trying to inspire hope. However, James’ agenda was something quite different! His primary goal was to instruct. His letter is full of words meant to correct and challenge the scattered followers of Christ.

Specifically, James set out to instruct the believers in how to walk in God’s wisdom while addressing the many trials they were facing. He offers them much practical guidance, which he accomplishes by issuing many commands. In fact, proportionately, his letter contains a greater number of commands than any other book of the Bible! That’s why some have called it the

Bossiest Book of the Bible!

He penned just over 100 verses in five chapters, and they contain 54 commands ! That means roughly every other verse is a command!

Are you wondering what kinds of commands James focused on? He focused on how to walk in wisdom during tests, trials, and temptations. This included the wise use of one’s words, the power of prayer, how to handle conflict, and even social injustices.

His overarching message seems to be that genuine faith in Christ

is what produces these good works in one’s life.

Therefore James challenges his readers to be hearers and doers of God’s Word

even in their most difficult seasons!

If you have read my last blog post , you can see how James’ instructions were consistent with his own steadfast faith. He was a man who practiced what he preached. Actually, James was a man who practiced what Jesus preached! James’ letter indicates that he became very familiar with Jesus’ teachings, especially the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I can’t help but wonder when he learned about Jesus’ teachings - and from whom. We don’t know. But we can clearly see that James came to know the Truth, and the Truth set him free indeed (John 8:31-32).

I don’t know whether you find yourself in a position of being mistreated for your faith. I also don’t know the status of your financial security. But as a follower of Jesus, it is certain that you and I are foreigners and aliens in this world. And it is also certain that you and I will face conflicts, tests, trials, and temptations. My prayer is that by studying James together we will be strengthened with a steadfast faith that helps us persevere as hearers and doers of God’s Word - no matter what we face.

Until next time, be wise! And live out your faith! Oh, and I’m sorry for being so bossy!

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. For some thought-provoking discussion on the book of James, please join The Radiant Women Group . We’d love for you to join us!

Steadfast Faith

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 00:24:36 GMT

Happy New Year, friends!

I pray your year is off to a wonderful start! I had the blessed opportunity to spend time with family and friends over the holidays. And now I am ready to get this new year started!

In my last blog post, we discussed what it means to “look to Him,” as it says in Psalm 34:5. We focused on the fact that ‘looking to’ the Lord means trusting Him. Today we will begin a series of blog posts based on the book of James. And as we begin our trek through James, we will definitely continue to explore the idea of trusting God.

Specifically, we will learn to walk through any season of life with a Steadfast Faith.

Before we can even begin to glean from the book of James, we really need to take time to understand the author, context, purpose and themes of the book. Today, we will focus on the author - James.

James was the half-brother of Jesus. He was one of several children born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus’ birth. That means, he was also the brother of Jude. He was a Jew, in the line of David and of the tribe of Judah. He was raised in Nazareth and grew up alongside Jesus, his big brother. But he was not a believer while Jesus was carrying out His earthly ministry (see John 7:5 and Matthew 12:46-50). He may not have spent much time listening to Jesus’ teachings but if he did, he may have been a skeptic.

It has always warmed my heart that James received his very own, individual visit from Jesus after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). We know from Luke 19:10 that Jesus came to earth “to seek and to save the lost,” but in this case it just seems so personal! He was concerned about his little brother’s faith - or lack thereof. The details of that visit have not been made known to us in Scripture, but we can certainly conclude that something special happened during their time together! James not only became a follower of Jesus, He quickly became a leader in the early church!

While other well-known apostles were traveling to other countries to share the Gospel, James remained in Jerusalem. James’ local ministry included pastoring the church in Jerusalem and caring for the impoverished believers of the city. He also developed a reputation for being very devoted to prayer. James actually acquired a couple of nicknames that may help us understand his character more fully. He was called “Old Camel Knees” because he spent so much time on his knees in prayer. And he was also called “James the Just,” not only as an advocate for the poor but also as a man of virtue and piety.

This man of prayer and justice was not only a leader amongst the impoverished church in Jerusalem, but also amongst the apostles themselves. James was a leader of leaders! In Acts 15, a conflict arose amongst the apostles, and James served as a wise elder and peacemaker to guide the leaders into a biblical solution in the matter.

While he may have gotten a late start in his walk of faith, once he got started - his was a steadfast faith. It is believed that James was martyred for his faith. The story that has been told is that because of his witness for Jesus, James was thrown down from the high point of the temple in 62 AD - but he did not die! His persecutors then chose to beat him. While dying, James prayed for the very enemies who were killing him - just like Jesus and Stephen.

So this is James. Don’t you just love him already!? I can hardly think about his testimony without crying. It’s such a beautiful story! I can’t wait to tell you more…there really is so much more! But I think it’s important for us to take time to understand James’ heart as much as possible before we delve into the details of his letter, aka the book of James. It will definitely help us understand what James - and more importantly, the Holy Spirit - wished to say through the words of this eternal text. For now, may we align our lives so fully around Jesus, that we become as committed to prayer, justice, peacemaking, wisdom, and piety as James. May we too have a steadfast faith!

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. If you aren’t already a member of my Facebook group, please join us! We will be exploring and discussing some thought-provoking questions as we journey through the book of James! You will find a link at the bottom of the homepage on this website that will connect you with the group!

Looking to Him

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 20:47:45 GMT

Hello again, ladies!

Thanks for coming back to the Radiant Blog! I hope you’re doing well this Marvelous Monday…the day after Christmas! I also pray that you experienced Jesus in the middle of it all!

Today I would like to take just a few minutes to explain the name of this blog to you. It’s really a story that goes back several years. I was beginning a new small group ministry that was to include two separate groups of women. One group was based out of my church but open to women throughout Birmingham. The other group was part of my work in prison ministry. I had been working with a group of incarcerated females here in Birmingham who were already believers and loved studying Scripture. As I prayed about a name for the ministry, I felt strongly burdened for women - both in the church and in prison - who struggle with a sense of shame. I was overwhelmed with a desire to help those women learn more about who they are in Christ and help them get rid of any shame that was holding them back.

As I continued to pray, the Lord led me to Psalm 34:5 as the basis for the ministry He was giving me a heart for. That verse says, “ Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. ” We spent a few months studying the Bible together to learn more about what it means to “look to Him,” and how to become the radiant, unashamed women we were created to be. We named the two groups “Radiant Inside” (our incarcerated sisters) and “Radiant Outside” (us church ladies).

So what does it mean to “look to Him?” The main Truth embedded in this phrase is simply that those who are radiant are those who are trusting God in some way. Looking to Him could involve relying on Him for provision. Or it could involve depending on Him for protection. Looking to Him can even mean trusting Him to work in the lives of your loved ones. By looking to Him we entrust every single part of our lives to God. It is trusting that nothing is too difficult for Him. The more we trust Him, the more we will obey Him. The more we trust and obey, the more we will become more like Him. We can literally mirror His godliness to the world around us! Ladies, that’s actually our purpose on this earth! No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done; no matter what has happened or what has been done to you…you can reflect the image of God to the world around you. You can be radiant!

Friends, try to take time to meditate on this today. Imagine yourself looking to Him and the Light of His Glory reflecting off of your own face. While meditating, maybe you could ask Him to show you new ways to “look to Him” in your everyday life. Perhaps you can surrender a need or desire to Him. Or perhaps as you look to Him, you will be challenged to trust Him even if you don’t receive the thing you desire. The more we look to Him the more we find that He is enough.

As you look to Him, you will be aligning your life around Jesus, who is the Center. He is in the middle of it all…with you!

Looking to Him,

Tina

P.S. Next time, I will introduce you to the focus of our blogging adventures together for the next leg of the journey…

It's Beyond Me

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 20:47:55 GMT

Dear sister in the faith,

Welcome to the Radiant Blog! Whatever led you led to this page at this moment, I am so glad you are here! And while you’re here, I’d love to share with you a few things that are on my heart today.

But let me introduce myself first! I’m Tina Sumpter. I’m a Christian counselor, Bible teacher, author, wife, and mom in Birmingham, Alabama. Let me tell you, this is very new to me! Having a website is new to me. Writing and publishing a Bible study is new to me. And now I am writing my very first Radiant Blog post too!? It feels like I’m literally SWIMMING in grace! As I shared with a dear friend this morning, this process has been such an adventure! This whole writing adventure was His idea. I have felt the Lord leading me, and I have experienced His provision every step of the way! It’s as if He asked me to start writing, then when I said, “yes,” He picked me up and put me on His shoulders and has been carrying me ever since. The things I’ve experienced along the way are only explained by His presence, His providence, and His power. It’s all been 100% BEYOND ME ! In fact, just today I realized that it’s beyond me in at least three ways.

This writing adventure is Beyond Me because, it’s far more than I had been asking or imagining (Ephesians 3:20-21). I jokingly told someone the other day that I tend to “dream small.” God’s thoughts are so much greater than mine! For example, during the pandemic, I did a lot of prayer walking. During that time my desire was just to cover as many people in prayer as I could. And as I was walking, on more than one occasion, I felt compelled to read the book of Ecclesiastes. As I read it for the second time, I realized the Lord was leading me to write a devotional Bible study based on the seasons of Ecclesiastes 3. I never would have imagined doing that! (Especially Ecclesiastes!? Lol) So I began writing. And as I wrote the Lord gave me direction and encouragement. I enjoyed that time with Him so much. As a result of that part of the adventure, Through Seasons of Beauty is now available to women throughout the country.

When I finished, I thought it would be wise for me to have a group of women to go through the study with me just to make sure there weren’t any big problems with the study. So I created a Facebook post inviting local friends to go through the Bible study with me at my local church. I was blown away by the response. I ended up with about 50 women in 6 different states who wanted to join me for the adventure! So we did a hybrid group together! That was a new experience for me too! :-) I’m still overwhelmed by how the Lord didn’t just show us things that needed changed in the book; He changed us! Our lives were literally being changed each week! He worked out so many details that only He could have worked out (Ephesians 1:11). It was all Beyond Me!

This adventure is also Beyond Me, because I don’t even know where I’m headed! Quite honestly, I feel like I can relate to Abram and Sarai in some small way in this moment! As I already shared, I felt the Lord nudging me to write a Bible study, I’ve moved forward under His direction, and He has faithfully provided every step of the way. But along this journey, I have never really known where we are headed! All I’ve really known is the same thing the Lord told Abram. I know these steps of obedience are leading me to the place that He will show me (Genesis 12:1). He’s been leading me through this adventure just one step at a time. This blog is certainly one of those steps! I am trusting Him completely to show me what’s next, and I hope you’ll join me by continuing to visit this blog or even by reading Through Seasons of Beauty .

This adventure has also been Beyond Me, because it's not even about me . I once wrestled with thoughts like, “Who am I to get to ride around on His shoulders like this and watch Him do amazing things in other people’s lives?” “What qualifies me to write a Bible study?” Well, it’s not about any of that! This is just how it works to be part of the Body of Christ. He puts gifts in each one of us that He uses to bless other parts of the Body. This adventure I get to be part of is primarily about HIM. And overall, it’s about YOU and Him! I’m just tagging along for the ride…on His shoulders! None of this has ever rested on my shoulders - I am resting on His! I’m leaning into Him and enjoying the journey with a heart full of awe and wonder!

That’s all for today. Please enjoy this Christmas holiday! Please, please remember Jesus. Jesus is in the middle of it all!

Living Beyond Myself - with Jesus in the Middle of it all,

Tina