by Don Hatfield
thou here in a good place and say to the poor stand thou there or sit here under my footstool. Are ye not then partial in yourselves and are become judges of evil thoughts?” Adam,one of those who had just accepted Jesus as Savior spoke up and said, “I have often been guilty of that in my work as a blacksmith. When the well to do come in for my services I have often left or hurried up with the one I was dealing with to help them. I am not going to do that anymore. I am going to treat all with equal respect though they be a beggar or a judge.” All of us said Amen and then James said, “Many of us would have ignored Jesus if a rich man came at the same time as He did for our services.” There was silence for we all knew that he was right. James then continued, “Harken my beloved brethren. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love Him.” As I listen to James I felt ashamed not because I was poor but because so much of the time I fail to live as an heir. I did not live as one who was going to inherit royal power and dignity which would be conferred on us in Jesus’s kingdom. Most of the time I lived as beggar grumbling and complaining about how bad life was treating me. While in truth I lived like a king compared too many I knew. I had food to eat, a warm place to lay my head at night and clothes which fit my body. I ask my Father to forgive me for my lack of thankfulness. James was not through with us as he continued, “But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you and draw you before the judgement seats? Do not they blaspheme the worthy name by which ye are called?” James then stopped and looked at all of us. I finally spoke up and said, “I know that you are right James and yet it seems that we do the opposite of what you say. What should we do?” James voice then grew very soft as he said, “Remember what they are doing when they do these things and remember what you are doing when you allow these things in your life. You are blaspheming the very name of Jesus of which you are called to be like. I will tell you of a better way. It is a simple way but a profound way and here it is. If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture. Thou shall love thy neighbor as thy self ye do well. But if ye have respect of persons ye commit sin and are convinced of the law as transgressors. It is a simple law but one that cannot be fulfilled without leaning on your Savior to do it.” At that Adam said you are so right James. Could we just pray together for our Savior’s guidance and power? James bowed his head and we all went before the throne of grace to ask for his grace that we might do that which in our own power we could not do.
James then said something that astounded all of us. He said, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all.” Judith, who was Adam’s wife let out an audible gasp and said, “James are you telling us that we have broken all of Gods commandments?” James then said, “You do not have to break all of Gods commandments to be guilty. For He that said do not commit adultery said also, do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery yet if thou kill thou art become a transgressor of the law.” I said to James, “Without Jesus it is hopeless for no one can keep the whole law. What a wonderful Savior He is.” All of us thanked Jesus again for saving us from the judgement that was to come. James just sat there looking at us for the longest time. He finally said, “So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” Adam asked, “What do you mean judged by the law of liberty?” James answered, “First let me again give a meaning to that little word law. The law we are talking about is the law that we observe that allows us to live a life that is approved of by God. So the law of liberty is living as we should not as we please.” A hush fell over all of us as each one of us examined our lives. We all knew that we came up very short when it came to living as we should and not as we pleased. Adam and Judith has just come to know Christ but I had been redeemed for quite some time. I ask all that were there to pray with me and for me that I would live up to the law that I was going to be judged by. James again spoke, “Let me say one more thing about this judgement. For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment. What I am saying to you is this that if you do not have mercy on those around you then when you come before the throne of Jesus how can you expect mercy. Remember what mercy means first from Gods point of view it His kindness and goodness toward us the miserable and afflicted with a desire to help us. It results in God offering pardon and mercy to us through Jesus our Savior. For us that means foremost telling others about this offer of kindness from God and Christ. As we tell them we should be willing to help those who are in need. What does it profit my brethren though a man say he has faith and has not works? Can faith save faith him?” I spoke up and said, “James I thought we were save by faith in Jesus as Savior and that alone was what saved us?” Then a voice from behind Adam spoke up. It was his daughter Amy. “I see it James. It is faith alone in Jesus that saves us but faith always comes to the top by action. If we say that we believe and yet continue to live our lives in the same manner as we did before we met Jesus then we are only fooling ourselves.” That is exactly right Amy replied James. Then he continued, “If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say depart in peace be warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body what does it profit.” I spoke up and said, “James do you really think that someone would do that? Would that not be hypocritical? Would you not be using your religion to hide behind instead of using it to further the gospel?” James answered, “You are right Mark. Even so faith if it has not works is dead being alone. Yea a man may say, thou has faith and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works and I will show thee my faith by my works.” Again we all thought that we should pray and ask our Father to help us not be hypocrites but to be true servants of the life that He had placed in us.
James then said something that made all of us stop and think about the faith that we proclaimed. This is what he said, “Thou believes that there is one God thou does well: the devils also believe and tremble. But will thou know Oh vain man that faith without works is dead. Children the reason that I bring this up is to give you wisdom. You are going to run into many who say they believe but remember that believing is not possessing. Satan and his followers believe and know that God exists but none of them possess the Spirit of the Savior. Many you will meet will say oh yes we believe but if they possessed His Spirit they would not live the way that they do. Believing is nothing more than head knowledge while possessing results in a changed life. I will give you some examples of those who not only believed but also possessed. Was not Abraham our father justified by his works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? See thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect? Mark, tell me why his faith was proved when he offered Isaac.” I answered, “Was it because his faith resulted in an action?” James smiled and said, “And the scripture was fulfilled which says Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the Friend of God.” Adam spoke up and said, “I am not sure that I would have been as faithful as Abraham if God asked the same of me.” James said, “If you are faithful where you are then if and when the time comes for a greater sacrifice God will supply the grace and courage to do it. The problem with many is that they are not faithful in the circumstances they are in right now.”
James then said, ‘’Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only. Abraham believed God even when he had to go against his own self. Here is another example of faith in action. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she had received the messengers and had them sent out another way. Rahab went against her own country and believed God. We also as believers may have to face the choice between God and those we love. For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead also. I know these are hard sayings but following Jesus is not easy. Everyone wants to make it easy so they compromise but it does and cannot work that way for the world is made up of unbelievers. Unbel
ievers as we once were want to make their own rules to live by instead of following the truth as proclaimed by our Savior.” James stopped and Adam said, “James and Mark I could stay here all day but I must reach my brother’s house before nightfall as I do not want to have my family on the road at night. I want to thank you again James and praise Jesus for letting me come to know Him on this day.” We all then joined in with praise to Jesus. Then we prayed together and James and I watched Adam and his family depart down the Jericho road. Then we turned and began again our journey to Jericho.
As we walked I said to James, “I hope to become like you James. I would like to be able to instruct others in the way of the Lord.” James answered, “That is a noble thought Mark. I will tell you as I tell all who say the same thing. My brethren be not many masters knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” I said to James, “What do you mean the greater condemnation?” He replied, “If you want to