How’s the New Year going so far? I thought we might take a look at living by
faith. Specifically we will explore the meaning of faith and what faith
looks like when we live it out. Join us for the next few weeks and I promise
you will come away with a better understanding of God and the life He has
for us. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
It is common in racing circles to have nicknames for people, some
are complimentary, and some are not. Most times nicknames are descriptive, a
physical trait. Sometimes the way we behave may earn us a nickname. What’s
in a name?
Do you have a nickname? Is it one you don’t mind being called?
Jesus had a brother names James and he had a nickname. It was one he earned
based on his behavior. His nickname was Camel knees.
Most of us have never seen a camel’s knees. But if you get a chance
take a close look. They are not very pretty. They are kind of callused and
worn because they are used often and much time is spent on them.
Take a look at your knees. Do they resemble a camel’s? They would
if we spent as much time on our knees as James did. James sought out God for
the understanding of who Jesus was. His life changed the day that was
revealed to him.
Let me step back a little and fill in some of the details. James
was the brother of Jesus. James’ father was Joseph and his mother was Mary.
He grew up in the same household as Jesus and watched his brother grow up
and assume the mantle of Savior. None of this made much of an impression on
James. In fact it probably built more animosity than anything else. I can
understand that.
How would it be if you grew up with your brother being the “chosen
one”? I know some of our siblings think they are the second coming and the
world should revolve around them, but the fact remains it doesn’t. That was
not the case with James; his brother was actually the Messiah.
One of the things that I think about when I think about the
household James grew up in is the fact that his brother never did anything
wrong. James could never blame his brother when something went wrong or when
the chores were not done. I don’t know about you but that would be enough
for me to resent my brother.
What if Jesus was on your race team? How would you deal with the
fact that he was always right; the fact that he did nothing wrong? I think
it is a little hard for us to grasp but James had to live with it day in and
day out. He didn’t have a choice.
As James grew older he didn’t embrace his brother’s status. He
didn’t accept the prophecy that foretold of his sacrifice. He didn’t want it
to be true. In fact James didn’t come to accept Christ as his Lord and
Savior until after Jesus’ death and resurrection. It was then that he fell
to his knees and prayed for forgiveness. It was then that he accepted the
sacrifice made for him and turned to God through Jesus. He spent so much
time on his knees that they became calloused and ugly. They became Camel
knees.
What did he learn down on his knees? We will be talking about that
over the next few weeks. The book of James is a short book when compared to
the rest of the Bible, but I think it is one of the most practical. It will
instruct us in the way we should live. James wrote as someone who knew, he
had been there and knows that our life depends on what we do with the
sacrifice Jesus made for us.
James can be summed up in these passages;
James 1:19-22, My dear brothers, take note
of this: Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak and slow to
become angry, for man's 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. Do
not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 2:14-17, What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith
but has no deeds?
Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is
without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him,
"Go, I wish you
well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs,
what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied
by action, is dead.
James points out that it is not
what we say but what we do that determines our faith. James makes the point
that we should demonstrate a faith that can save us. We need to go above and
beyond what we think we can do. It means giving and doing things beyond our
means; trusting that God will provide everything we need. It means living in
a way that puts our own livelihood at the bottom of the list. James learned
that our life must have the right priorities, God must be first, others
second and ourselves third. He spent his life on his knees praying for the
courage and strength to live that out.
What does faith look like? James says it reaches out and provides
for others without regard for itself. Do we have faith? We will try to
unwrap that a little over the next few weeks. Join us for the next few weeks
as we study the book of James, as he shares with us what he has learned. We
will read what he was inspired by God to teach us. In the words of James,
don’t just know God’s word, do what it says.
God bless, Rev. Don.
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
MOTORSPORTS 2013 - The
next big event on our schedule. We are busy working on putting together our
display and hope to have some new and different things to join some of our
old standbys. We will have the Whelen Modified Tour Champion Doug Coby and
his car. We also hope to have a couple other open wheel cars for you. We
also are looking forward to leading Chapel Service on Sunday morning. Make
your plans to attend now.
NEW POSITION - As we ring in the New Year and all the
promise it holds I would like to invite you to join me as I begin leading a
new congregation. I am the new Pastor at Mount Carmel Christian Church in
North Haven, CT. I will continue to serve as president of Racing with Jesus
Ministries in addition to leading MCCC. I am excited about what God is doing
through this congregation and for His kingdom. I look forward to serving you
there, stop by and visit.
http://www.mountcarmelchristian.com.
It has been good to have some time off over the Holidays, I am grateful for
the time I was able to spend with family and friends. I hope you had some
time to do the same.
Until next time, be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals
and apparel. See them at the Show Your Faith Apparel Store at
http://www.rwjm.com/store. Send us your prayer and counseling needs no matter
what part of our racing family you are in, or give us a call. Remember that
God loves you, we love you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
 Mail reaches us at Racing with Jesus Ministries, PO Box 586,
Tolland, CT 06084.
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the East Coast’s largest weekly racing paper.
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Please remember, we can only do what we do because of your prayerful
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Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord
make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face
toward you and give you peace."
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY.
SEND THEM TO:
RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES
PO Box 586
Tolland, CT, 06084
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