James 5:7-20
Be Still: Jesus, open my eyes to see you rightly today. As I spend time with you, would you transform my heart and mind. Come and have your way. Amen
Read: James 5:7-20
‘Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’ (v13-16)
Encounter: Throughout his letter, James poses some pointed, but necessary challenges to each of us, in the hope that we would not just read his words but allow them to transform the way we live. He closes with one final challenge – to be patient and stand firm. To no longer be tossed about by the waves of hardship and suffering, but to remain rooted and planted in the truth offered to us in Jesus Christ.
That's not the easiest thing to do, but thankfully we don’t do it alone. As James so brilliantly explains, we are given a wonderful gift to help us - the church. And what a beautiful picture he paints.
A body unified in faith, prayer, and praise, fixing our eyes on the coming King. Here we find space to share our troubles and worries, our joy and thanksgiving. Where sickness is met with prayers for healing, and confession is met with forgiveness. A community designed to support one another and urge each other towards Christ.
We can minimise or dismiss the importance of the church, to lose sight of all Jesus intends for it. It can feel easier to do faith on our own, never fully investing. But James makes it clear that the church is vital in our walk with Jesus; only within the community of believers are we able to stand firm. But each one of us needs to play our part, to step fully in and be a people who love, pray, and stand alongside.
Apply: Consider the way James speaks about the church – how does this line up with your experience of church? What do you see missing in your community? How could that be rectified?
Allow Jesus to remind you afresh how much he loves the church, ask him to give you fresh vision and excitement for all that he wants to do in and through it.
Devote: Jesus, thank you for the gift of your church, that you have given me brothers and sisters to journey faith alongside. Fill your church afresh with your Holy Spirit, that 'your kingdom will come' through the way we love one another.
