James 5:7-10 (NRSV)
Read James 5:7-10 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. Verse 8You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Verse 9Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! Verse 10As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Devotion
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
James always reminds us, in no uncertain terms, that our faith and hope are nothing unless they are active in love. Faith will always bear good fruits. Martin Luther describes this connection as unrestrained. Good fruits flow from faith without us even realizing it! James describes our waiting for the coming of the Lord in very simple terms: vigilance is non-judgmental! Our life on earth is characterized by generosity as we wait. We do not judge our neighbor. We do not hold a grudge against our neighbor. We do not gossip about our neighbor behind their back. Rather, in all things, we seek the best for our neighbor. This does not mean being silent about deceit, about evil and injustice: the prophets are to be our example, James writes. But living out justice is always lived in mercy. This means finding new words, new language as we wait for the one who comes.
Prayer
O God, come and water the earth of our hearts that it yields new crop, a new language that speaks of our mercy. Amen.