The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2015Mfano

Five T's of the Christian Life

The Christian life is multi-faceted. At any given moment I find there are a number of different things going on at the same time. In the passages for today we see five of these aspects, which all begin with the letter T.

Psalm 127:1-5

Trust

The Christian life is not meant to be one of self-dependent toil, but of dependent trust. With trust comes peace and sleep.

‘Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves’ (vv.1–2). As Victor Hugo wrote, ‘When you have ... accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace; God is awake.’

It is easy for us to get caught up with our own plans for our lives, families and ministries. This psalm is a wonderful reminder that ultimately we are totally dependent on the Lord.

This is a message of great comfort, but it is also a challenge. Is God part of everything you do? Are there any areas of your life where you are going it alone, and therefore ‘labouring in vain’?

God wants to be involved in every area of your life. If you want your work to have lasting value you need to make sure you are partnering with the Lord and not going it alone.

We need to trust God for our children as well. Children are a blessing (vv.3–5) and we have to trust God for them and for their future.

Lord, thank you that I am utterly dependent on you for my next breath. I commit my life, my family, my church, and everything I am involved in into your hands. I trust in you.

James 1:1-27

2. Trials

One of the things that you have in common with all Christians everywhere, is that we all face ‘trials of many kinds’ (v.2b). The letter of James is written to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations (that is, to all Christians everywhere).

In one of the strangest verses of the New Testament, James says, ‘consider it pure joy … whenever you face trials’ (v.2). We are to rejoice in difficult situations. This turns the world’s view upside-down. ‘Trials’ are the challenges of life that test our faith and develop perseverance (vv.3–4).

As Lance Watson wrote, ‘Every storm is a school. Every trial is a test. Every experience is an education. Every difficulty is for your development.’ 

Joyce Meyer writes, ‘I finally realised that God was not going to do things my way. He placed people and situations in my life that caused me to want to quit this whole process, and he did not want an argument from me. He only wanted to hear, “Yes, Lord. Your will be done.” ’

In the midst of our trials we desperately need wisdom. As Eugene Peterson says: ‘Wisdom is not primarily about knowing the truth, although it certainly includes that; it is skill in living.’ James says, ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’ (v.5).

There are two ways to handle a problem. One is to go it alone – that is the natural way. The other is to ask God for divine wisdom to help you to know what to do.

James speaks of ‘the testing of your faith’ (v.3). He goes on, ‘blessed are those who persevere under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him’ (v.12). It is almost as if James is saying that the whole of life is a test. After you have stood the test, you will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Lord, help me to consider it pure joy when I face trials in life. I desperately need wisdom. Please give me wisdom for all the decisions I have to take and all the trials that I face. Help me to persevere under trial and stand the test.

3. Temptation

Somebody once said: ‘Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.’ ‘Temptation’, wrote William Shakespeare, is ‘the fiend at mine elbow.’ Temptation is when we feel like doing the wrong thing. Temptation itself is not a sin. Rather it is a call to battle.

Where does temptation come from? Certainly not from God. James says, ‘when tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone’ (v.13).

Often, in the Bible, temptation is seen as coming from the Devil. Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent. Job was attacked by Satan. Jesus was tempted by the Devil.

However, the devil works on our own evil desires: ‘Each of you is tempted when, by your own evil desire, you are dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death’ (vv.14–15). As John Dryden put it, ‘Better shun the bait than struggle in the snare.’

Sin is always a deception. James writes, ‘Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters’ (v.16). Good things come from God: ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows’ (v.17).

We are deceived when we think that we need things that are not good. The deception in the Garden of Eden was that Adam and Eve thought that they needed to experience evil as well as good. God only wants you to experience good. Every time you feel like doing the wrong thing and choose to do the right thing, you grow in maturity, strength and wisdom.

Lord, forgive my sin. Help me to see that every good and perfect gift is from you. May I not be deceived into wanting to experience things that are not good.

4. Tongue

One of the tests of your character is your tongue. James will have a great deal to say on the subject of the tongue. He begins here with the importance of keeping a tight reign on the tongue. We need to get our mouths under control (v.26).

He writes, ‘Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for human anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you’ (vv.19–21).

The word of God has the power to transform you. You need to allow time for God’s word to be planted firmly in you, to hear it and then do what it says. Rather than speaking too much, listen to God’s word and get rid of all the bad stuff in your life.

Listening in itself, though, is not enough. ‘Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says’ (v.22). If you do what it says, you will ‘be blessed’ (v.25). This includes looking after orphans and widows and keeping yourself from being polluted by the world (v.27).

Lord, help me today to keep a tight rein on my tongue. Help me to listen, especially to the word of God.

Ezekiel 32:1-33:20

5. Turn

God’s will is for ‘all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth’ (1 Timothy 2:4).

The word ‘turn’ or ‘turns’ appears seven times in Ezekiel chapter 33. God appointed Ezekiel as a watchman. He was to be held accountable. God told him to ‘warn the wicked to turn from their ways’ (Ezekiel 33:9).

Provided he spoke the message God gave him, Ezekiel was not responsible for the results. He was only responsible if he failed to give the warning (vv.8–9).

This is an important reminder about family, friends and all those you know who are not followers of Jesus. Your responsibility is to love them, encourage them and give them the opportunity to hear the gospel. It is hugely disappointing when they do not respond positively. However, do not take the burden of their decisions on your own shoulders.

The message Ezekiel was told to give was this: if a righteous person leaves the path and turns to wickedness, their former righteousness will not help them. Yet, however ‘wicked’ a person has been, if they turn to the Lord, they will be forgiven (v.12).

God says, ‘I take no pleasure from the death of the wicked. I want the wicked to change their ways and live. Turn your life around! Reverse your evil ways!’ (v.11, MSG).

God wants everyone to repent of their sins and start ‘living a righteous and just life – being generous to the down-and-out, restoring what [was] stolen, cultivating life-nourishing ways that don’t hurt others … living a just and righteous life’ (vv.15–19, MSG).

Lord, help me to turn from evil and find life – first in my own life, and then to see others doing that in their lives. I pray for all those on Alpha this term, in my own church and in churches all around the world, that many, many people may turn to you and find life.

Pippa Adds

James 1:27

‘... keep oneself from being polluted by the world.’

Someone once told me it takes two weeks to get pollution out of our lungs.

It is even more important to keep our spiritual lungs clean. It doesn’t mean you can’t work in a polluted area, but you have to be more careful not to get contaminated. We need lots of spiritual fresh air.

Notes:

Joyce Meyer, The Everyday Life Bible, (Faithwords, 2014).

Eugene Peterson, The Message, 'Introduction to James', (NavPress, 1993) p.1669.

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised, Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.