Robert M. Hiller - Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James

Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James

2020 Robert M. Hiller

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Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Published by:

1517 Publishing

PO Box 54032

Irvine, CA 92619-4032

Publishers Cataloging-In-Publication Data

(Prepared by The Donohue Group, Inc.)

Names: Hiller, Robert M., author.

Title: Finding Christ in the straw : a forty-day devotion on the Epistle of James / by Robert M. Hiller.

Description: Irvine, CA : 1517 Publishing, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: ISBN 9781948969154 (softcover) | ISBN 9781948969161 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Bible. JamesDevotional use. | Jesus ChristPrayers and devotions. | Devotional exercises. | LCGFT: Devotional literature.

Classification: LCC BS2785.4 .H55 2019 (print) | LCC BS2785.4 (ebook) | DDC 242/.5dc23

Cover art by Brenton Clarke Little

Dedicated to

Stephanie, Sophie, Mark, and Tim.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (Jas. 1:17).

You are gifts God has given me. I praise Him for you.

And

the saints at Faith Lutheran Church in Moorpark, California, and Community Lutheran Church in Escondido/San Marcos, California.

Thank you for showing me Gods grace and teaching me to preach.

A number of years ago, a friend of mine suggested we do a sermon series where we gave a daily challenge to our congregation. At first, I was worried such a practice might border on legalism. But then the idea began to grow on me. Yet where in the world would we draw such inspiration for such an endeavor? Then it struck methe Epistle of James! After all, James is all about good works as the fruit of faith, right? So, if we are going to challenge our congregations to work, we might as well use the book that has the most law. Right?

I am a Lutheran pastor. We Lutherans have a bit of a funny relationship to old James. Martin Luther, you may recall, once referred to this New Testament letterwritten by the brother of our Lordas an epistle of straw. Luther felt that this letter lacked the focus on the person and work of Jesus Christ to warrant much of his energy. Straw has its benefits but is not all that useful in the long run. Traditionally, the Lutheran canon within the canon focuses on the works of St. Paul, especially Romans and Galatians, where Paul destroys any hope of life or salvation in our own works. Paul is clear: For we hold that one is justified (declared righteous before God) by faith apart from works of the law (Rom. 3:28). In a time when the church was exalting the glorious works of man and demanding faith in such works for salvation, Luther found it necessary to recover these particular words of the Holy Spirit. Justification by grace alone, through faith alone, and on account of Christ alone was the battle cry!

But then along comes the brother of Jesus, James himself, saying, You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (Jas. 2:24). Further study of the text will show that Paul and James both hold to salvation apart from works for Christs sake alone. But the way James speaks here, on the surface, seems to run counter to Luthers Christocentric, grace-focused theology. Luthers opponents were quick to pit James against the Lutheran emphasis on grace. So, Luther said that this epistle is of straw. It lacked Christ, as far as he was concerned. It was not as valuable to his cause as Romans or Galatians.

I have often struggled with this part of Luther. After all, I have been convinced that the entire Scripture comes to us from the Holy Spirit (and I am sure Luther would agree). What this means for me as a pastor is that I am bound to and subject to what the text says in my preaching. All of it. So, if my theology doesnt find James useful, the problem doesnt lie with James but with my system. I decided to put my theology up against James. What I have found is truly wonderful! I believe Luther was wrong (a phrase I will rarely utter!) about James. If we are going to call James an epistle of straw, then we ought to do so with joy! For in this book, we dont merely have straw but Christ Himself in the straw! I am convinced that we can read James as Luther himself read the Old Testament: Here you will find the swaddling-clothes and the mangers in which Christ lies, and to which the angel points the shepherds. If James is an epistle of straw, it is the straw in which we find the dear Jesus, wrapped in swaddling-clothes, laying down for our good!

So, I decided my congregation needed to find Christ in the straw. Though I believe we find Christ all over this book, we also see in James a master preacher of the Law. All around, James sees sins that would prevent Christ from being proclaimed and heard. So, James does what any prophet would do when Gods gifts are hinderedhe attacks with the Law. Gods LawHis created will for our lives, which exposes and attacks our sinfulnessis as deadly as it gets in James letter. But he must attack sin in such a way; otherwise, his hearers would not know their constant need of forgiveness. This book is written to kill the sinner in repentance so that Christ may come in mercy to forgive and raise him or her to a new liferepentance driving us to Christ.

James, it ought to be noted, is also writing to a church that is facing hardship and persecution. This accounts for why his preaching comes across as so harsh. He knows the situation his hearers face does not allow for sweet talk and soft words. The time to repent is now! The time to fight against sin, death, and the devil is now! James knows that the only hope this suffering church has is their Suffering Savior. The church baptized into Christs death will expect to receive the same reception from the world as their Lord. Yet being united to Christ, we know that no matter what we face, we will be raised in a resurrection like His (Rom. 6:5).

But there are many forces in this world that seek to remove this from us. We need brothers and sisters to call out our sin, to fight alongside us in this world, and to put Christ in our ears. This is the mission of James. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins (Jas. 15:1920). That, I pray, is what these forty days will do for you.

Each devotion will consist of a short reading from the epistle and a devotional thought. At the end of each day, I have given a prayer for repentance as Gods Word in James will convict and kill. This is followed by a daily challenge. The aim here is not to be legalistic but to acknowledge that Gods Law both kills and guides. But it can only guide if the person hearing it is born anew in Christ. The Law cannot produce good works; it can only describe them. So, we conclude each devotion with the power of God, the forgiveness of sins. The Word of absolution both forgives the sinner and raises them to a new life in Christ. We end each day with the Word of mercy, as I believe Gods Word of grace is His ultimate Word.