Can Christians have filth and evil in their lives? How long have you been a Christian? James is writing to Jewish believers, Jews who have accepted Christ and have His word planted in their hearts. In other words, he is writing to Christians. God said, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray, and turn from their wicked ways…” Wait a minute God! Did you say people who are called by Your name? Yes! Christians can be wicked! But Brother Sumner, don’t you mean ‘so-called’ Christians? Did God say, “My ‘so-called’ people?” No! He said, “My people.”

So, James admonishes believers (Jas. 1:1 NLT) to clean up their lives. Later in his letter to those believers, he warns them (and us) about being jealous and selfishly ambitious, because those things are “earthly, unspiritual, demonic and lead to disorder and evil of every kind” (Jas. 3:14-16 NLT).

Why are we so enamored with titles? When we have to be so careful to get your title right—Doctor, Elder, Reverend, Evangelist, (Shall I go on?), to keep from bruising your ego, something is wrong! When you can only see, acknowledge, or even speak to those who are a part of your “approved” circle or clique, something is out of order! Do Christians do that? Again, how long have you been a Christian?

James is a straight shooter! He lays it squarely on the line. (Is that still called ‘keeping it 100’?) We have filth and evil in our lives and we must get rid of it and live by the word God has planted in our hearts. It’s good to aspire to accomplish great things, so long as we do it to bring glory to God and not to ourselves. As Christians, God has planted His word in our hearts. And His word (Jesus) has the power to save our souls, to fulfill our hope of salvation (Rom. 8:24 NLT).

I love the book of James! So, I guess you could say, a James spirit was working in me this time. I’m just keepin’ it 100!

Focus Quote: “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).