Mark R. Spencer

26  If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27  Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt  (James 1:26-27)

We’ve been touring the book of James and just wrapped up chapter one.  Wow…the guy doesn’t let up!  This past Sunday we thought about evidences of real, genuine faith.  If we are walking the talk what should it look like?  Everyone graded themselves (in the privacy of their own mind!)

Take a moment and give yourself a grade on each of these (you can give smiley faces/ F thru A/ 1-10…whatever works for you…just take a look in the mirror!)

Mirror #1: Your tongue!  Pure and simple question, “does what comes out of you mouth sound like Jesus?”

Mirror #2: Your compassion.  “Does your compassion move you into action for those who are displaced and misplaced?”

Mirror #3: Your secret life.  As James puts it has the world, “corrupted you”?  In other words “is there something corroding your faith from the inside out?”

If your answers distress you refer quickly to James 1:25.  A long look into the Perfect Law can liberate you by setting back on the path of life.  James doesn’t expect us to be perfect…just brutally honest in our pursuit of Jesus.

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. (Romans 6:12)

You know the feeling?  You shouldn’t eat that stuff, but you do.  Either you are so hungry it sounds reasonable, or you just have some kind of craving that must be satisfied.  You “drive through”, wolf it down and 5 minutes later your whole system wants to repent! I think you know I’m not talking just McDonald’s cheeseburgers.  It’s that temptation to satisfy a deep soul craving with a hollow, empty, deceitful whatever.  What can you do about it?

1. Be still.  (Ps 46:10).  It is so easy to overlook this primary help.  Sin entices us to make a move.  It stirs desire.  The passion cranks up our body and we think the only way to spell relief is to just go ahead and do it.  Be still…get your body calm…quiet prayer helps slow you down.

2. Look for that way out.  Paul reminds us in 1 Cor. 10:13 to look for the way out of temptation.  As we devote ourselves to being still, we will also notice a “grace space” emerging.  This is that place where we actually can make a decision.  It’s there…now choose wisely.

3. Run.  That sounds weird doesn’t it?  First I’m telling you to be still…now I’m exhorting you to run!  Here’s the deal…if you are still being tempted at stage three…run away like a man on fire!  2 Tim. 2:22 shouts, “flee evil desires…”.  Joseph didn’t hang around to chat with Potiphor’s wife…although he was resisting he knew it was time to get out.  Sometimes we just need to move.  Push away the computer, turn the eyes, close our mouth, and run!

4. Get some exercise.  When our desires flare up there are numerous chemicals dumped in our blood stream.  They stir and stimulate us.  The only way they are quieted is through physical exertion.  I know it sounds weird, but it is physiologically true.  One reason temptation lasts is that we don’t get some physical exercise.  A brisk walk.  Cut some wood.  Mow the lawn quickly.  Do something for about 20-30 minutes.This is why the monks of old (and perhaps still those today) used to do hard physical labor when tempted.

5. Practice…grace.  We are being transformed day by day.  If you perhaps you slide into junk-ville…pick yourself up…dust off…ask God for forgiveness and restart.  The mercy of the Lord is new every morning.  It means if you wake up it is a sure sign you’ve got another chance.  Practice.  One key ally to sin is shame.  It keeps you feeling guilty and starved…a vulnerable target to the junk dealer.  Be free…walk in grace.

As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer. (Luke 5:16-Message)

Thinking about feeding my soul set off the alarms for a trip to one of my favorite retreat spots in all the world…and yes…it’s right here in Minnesota!  What is strange is that I know it’s one of my happy places and yet I don’t frequent it.  Weird…but isn’t that the case for most of us?  Jesus made it a priority and regular practice to get to his happy place.  I remember reading that George Mueller made it his chief goal to “get his soul happy in the Lord” every day…first thing in the morning!  Do a quick check in with your soul right now:

1. are there places you can retreat to that minister rest to your soul?

2. when was the last time you did that?

3. look at your calendar for the next two weeks…how many happy spots are scheduled?