thlipsis – Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: thlipsis

Romans 12:12 – Guided Journey

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Will

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Truth to Learn

Hope, patience, and steadfastness can be ours in Christ.

Behind the Words

“Rejoicing” is translated from chairontes, meaning “to be full of cheer,” or “to be calmly happy.”

The word “hope” is from elpis, which means, “an earnest desire, and the expectation of obtaining the object of that desire.” It is not an uncertainty that we hope will come to pass; it implies a clear expectation that it will happen.

The word translated “affliction” is a form of the Greek word thlipsis, meaning “to press, squeeze, or crush.” It refers to those times when we are under pressure or affliction.

“Patient” is from a form of hupomonē, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under or beneath” and a form of menō, which means “to remain.” So literally it means “to remain under.”

The word translated “continuing steadfastly” is proskartereō. This is made up of pros, meaning “to or towards” and kartereō, meaning “to endure.” It literally means “to stay where you are.” As Paul uses it here, it means “to stay in an attitude and practice of prayer.”

Meaning Explained

Like the previous verse, Christians are told how to behave in life. Paul starts off with “rejoicing in hope.” We have a hope of eternal glory that the unsaved don’t have. We know that there is a future state in which we will live with our Savior, where there will be no more tears, pain, or suffering. It is this future hope of glory that Paul reminds us of, telling us to rejoice in hope.

Paul’s next admonition is to be “patient in tribulation.” When we are under pressure or affliction, we want to take matters into our own hands, causing us to respond inappropriately. Instead, we need to “remain under control” or “remain under the authority and leadership of our Lord.” We need to remain submitted to Him and committed to doing His will, not our own.

Finally, Paul tells us we need to be “continuing steadfastly in prayer.” No matter what happens, whether in good times or bad, whether in sickness or health, whether in joy or in sorrow, we need to consistently be in the attitude and practice of prayer with our God.

God does not intend for our Christian lives to be ones in which we are on a journey by ourselves calling upon our Father whenever we have troubles. Instead, He wants us to be on a journey with Him as our constant companion and guide, talking (praying) about everything with Him as we experience it; asking questions as we go, sharing our joys with Him, and seeking comfort in our sorrows. This is the kind of personal relationship God wants with each one of us, and it involves a LOT of prayer.

Application

How is your journey in life going? Perhaps your path is rocky and difficult right now. Are you patiently enduring it? Are you going it alone, or do you have your guide walking with you and leading the way? And, are you carrying on a constant conversation with your guide?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:35 – Faithful Loving God

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Will

What will separate us from the love of Christ, tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Truth to Learn

No matter what happens to you, remember that God loves you!

Behind the Words

“What” is from the Greek interrogative pronoun tis, meaning “who, which, or what.” In light of the remainder of this verse, I think the best translation here is “what.”

The verb “separate” is translated from the Greek word chōridzō, which is based on the adverb chōris, which means “separately, by itself, apart from.” Hence, chōridzō means “to put distance between” or “to make things separate from one another.”

“Love” is from the Greek word agapē, which refers to a self-sacrificing love in which the lover is focused on the ultimate goodness and benefit of the loved one.

Paul now gives us a number of descriptions of things that can’t separate us from the love of Christ. They are:

thlipsis, meaning “pressure, anguish, tribulation, trouble, or affliction.” It refers to troubles pressing from the outside.
stenochōria, literally meaning “narrow space.” It is different from thlipsis in that it refers to internal distress or “anguish.”
diōgmos, which is derived from the verb diōkō, meaning “to relentlessly pursue or persecute.”
limos refers to “a scarcity of food.” It is most often translated as “hunger or famine.”
gumnotēs, meaning “nudity or nakedness.”
kindunos, meaning “peril or danger.” It refers to someone who is constantly moving because of imminent danger.
machaira, meaning “a sword used for warfare and slaughter.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has already made several declarations about those of us who are the chosen ones of God including:

If God is for us, who can possibly be against us.
He who gave His Son for our salvation will freely give us all things that we need for life and peace.
No one can get away with charging us with any wrong, and if they do (that is, when Satan does) we have Christ as our defense attorney interceding for us.

Now Paul begins the final declaration of this chapter (although it will take several verses to finish the idea). He starts this verse off with, “What will separate us from the love of Christ?”

The answer to this question doesn’t appear until verses thirty-eight and thirty-nine, but a number of candidates are offered by Paul in this verse. Though he never does directly answer this question, the ultimate answer is, “None of these things can separate us from the love of Christ.”

He will go on to provide an ever greater example of how strong Christ’s love for us is in a few verses.

Application

No matter what happens to us, God will always love us as His children (those whom He has chosen, redeemed, and justified).

Always!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 5:3 – Joyful Tribulation

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Will

And not only that, but we also rejoice in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

Truth to Learn

We also rejoice in difficult times because these are the times when we learn to endure hardship.

Behind the Words

The Greek word that is translated “rejoice” in the current verse is the word kauchomai, which means “to boast (either in a good or a bad sense)” or “to rejoice.” In some translations it is written as “glory.” However, in the previous verse the word translated “glory” is a different Greek word. It is the word doxes, which primarily means “thought or opinion, especially favorable human opinion,” and thus in a secondary sense “reputation, praise or honor.” But the word in the previous verse that is translated “rejoice” is kauchomai, as it is here. Therefore, to be consistent in our translation, we see that the word which some translations have as “glory” in the current verse should be translated “rejoice.”

“Tribulations” is translated from thlipsis, which is derived from the verb thlibō, meaning “to crush, compress, or squeeze.” Hence, we can see that thlipsis refers to “pressure, affliction, distress, or tribulation.”

The word translated “perseverance” is hupomonē, which is made up of hupo (or hypo), meaning “under or beneath” and a form of menō, which means “to stay or to remain.” It is a picture of a beast of burden who, when loaded with a heavy burden, remains under the load. That is, he perseveres under the load with patience.

Meaning Explained

Paul now tells us that not only do we rejoice in our confident expectation of standing in the glory of God one day, but we also rejoice in afflictions.

But that doesn’t make sense, does it? When we are in the midst of tribulation, do we feel like rejoicing? No! But Paul says that we should. Why? Because when we are undergoing trials and tribulations and we realize that Jesus went through even greater trials and tribulation (leading up to and while on the cross), we can identify with Him and gain some comfort in the fact that He knows what we are going through. This, then, helps us endure the tribulation, and by enduring it we learn patience.

Patience is one of those things that everyone wants to have without having to earn it. Unfortunately, though, patience can only be learned and fully developed under trying circumstances, and even then only by trusting in God to carry us through. James teaches us a very similar thing regarding trials which test our faith:

My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the proving of your faith brings about patience. (James 1:2-3)

The word translated “patience” in James’ letter is the same word as the one translated “perseverance” in today’s verse.

Application

Beware of asking God for patience unless you’re really serious. God may very well give it to you by giving you trying or distressing situations through which you will develop patience, if you remain under the load.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:9 – Payment for Worthless Deeds

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Will

tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who accomplishes evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

Truth to Learn

Tribulation and anguish are coming to those who reject God.

Behind the Words

The words “tribulation and anguish” are interesting in that, for three of the four times they are mentioned in the Bible they are mentioned together. The word “tribulation” is from the Greek word thlipsis, which literally means “pressure.” However, by application it means “that malevolent external force that is applied to a man.” In other words, those bad things that happen to us that cause us extreme stress.

“Anguish” is translated from stenochōria, which literally means “a narrow place,” but symbolically it means “great distress.” Though tribulation and anguish may seem to be the same, thlipsis is the external force and stenochōria is the resultant internalization of the stress.

The word, “accomplishes” is from the Greek katergodzomai, which means “to continually carry out a task until it is complete.”

“Evil” is from kakos, which means “bad” or “worthless.” It refers to those deeds which God considers of no value.

Meaning Explained

Paul has just told us that those who have been declared righteous and who are seeking God’s glory and honor will receive eternal life. Meanwhile, those who reject the truth of Christ, those who are more concerned with self than doing what is right, will receive the anger and wrath of God. He now reiterates these points, as if to make a clear statement that there is a distinct difference between what will happen to the unrighteous and what will happen to the righteous.

Tribulation and anguish, according to Paul, are what comes to him who, “accomplishes evil” during his life here on earth. The implication is that the worthless actions of the unrighteous were not just occasional during their lives; rather the selfish acts of unrighteousness were continual until their lives were ended. It may seem harshly judgmental to think of the unsaved as never doing anything good. However, from God’s perspective “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” That is to say, the deeds of the unsaved are worthless.

Paul now makes a very clear point to the Roman Christians, who were mostly converted Jews. They had a tendency to be proud of their Jewish heritage and of their faith. He tells them that this condemnation will come on (the unsaved) Jews and Gentiles alike. In fact the judgment will come on the Jews first (or primarily) then on the Gentiles as well. This is a strong condemnation regarding their pride, which is not a godly trait.

Application

We Christians need to be very careful that we don’t get prideful in our salvation. After all, we’re not saved because of anything that we did. Our salvation is because of what God has done for us and to us. After all, without His gift of grace, none of us would be saved. When we become prideful in our salvation we are taking the credit away from Him, and it is credit that only He deserves!

Let’s humble ourselves and praise Him for what He has done!

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Thessalonians 1:4 – Faithful Endurance

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Will

so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,

Truth to Learn

Our growth comes from enduring difficult circumstances.

Behind the Words

Kauchomai is the Greek verb translated “boast.” This word may be derived from auchen, meaning “the neck,” which a boastful person holds up in a proud manner. The word kauchomai means “to boast” in either a good or bad sense.

“Patience” is from the word hupomonē, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” or “beneath” and a form of the verb menō, meaning “to remain” or “to stay in place.” It is a picture of a beast of burden remaining under a heavy load instead of shaking it off. Therefore, it carries the meaning of being steadfast or patient, particularly in a difficult situation.

The word “persecutions” is translated from the Greek word diōgmos, which is derived from the verb diokō, meaning “to follow, pursue, or persecute.” Diōgmos, therefore, refers to “pursuing someone or something.” Regarding people, this word almost always refers to hostile persecution.

The word “tribulation” is from thlipsis, which is derived from the verb thilbō, meaning “to press, crush, or squeeze.” Thus, thlipsis refers to “pressure or affliction.”

“Endure” is translated from the verb anechomai, made up of ana, meaning “up” and echo, meaning “to have or to hold.” So anechomai means “to hold oneself up” or “to endure.”

Meaning Explained

Anytime a verse starts out with a connective like “therefore” or “so that” we need to back-up and see what it is that is being referenced. If we look at the previous verse, we see that Paul had just thanked God for the growth in faith and love within the church at Thessalonica. Paul says that the growth of these attributes of the church there resulted in his boasting about the Thessalonians wherever he went.

He tells us that they were continuing to experience persecution and tribulation. But, they were not just experiencing these things, they were “hanging in there.” All Christians will experience both persecution and tribulation, but the maturing Christians will endure such things. Such endurance will produce both patience and love. It doesn’t come as a result of hanging your head or hiding in a corner. It comes from looking up to our commander-in-chief, seeking His guidance and assistance.

Let us not forget where this persecution was coming from. It was coming from their fellow countrymen. It was from their neighbors and co-workers. It was from people at the local market and government officials. It was as if the deck was stacked against them everywhere they turned. But, like a heavily laden beast of burden, the Christians in Thessalonica didn’t just give up, nor did they give in; they remained faithful in their Christian walk and in their witness to everyone around them.

Application

In the midst of life’s problems and persecution, let us stand boldly before our foes and proclaim the message of love and forgiveness. Hang-in there, my friend, and let your faith grow. This world needs to see faith in action, not faith in retreat.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 3:7 – Focusing On Others

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Will

because of this, brothers, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.

Truth to Learn

Paul was concerned about how his own persecution was affecting the faith of others.

Behind the Words

“Because of this” is from the Greek words dia touto. The word dia denotes the channel of action, that is, “on account of” or “by means of.” Touto means “this.” Therefore, dia touto literally translates as “on account of this” or “because of this.”

“Brothers” is the translation of adelphos, which is made up of a, indicating unity and delphus, which refers to the womb. Therefore, literally this word means “someone having the same birth origin.” Since all Christians are “born of the Spirit,” we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord.

The word “affliction” is translated from thlipsis, which we saw back in verse three. It means “pressure, stress, trouble, or affliction.”

The word translated “distress” is anagkē, which can refer to “necessity” or to “an oppositional compelling force.”

“We were comforted” is from the Greek verb parakaleō, which we saw back in verse two where it was translated as “encourage.” It is a picture of someone being called alongside to challenge and encourage. In this verse it could be translated as “comforted” or “encouraged.”

Pistis is the Greek word translated “faith.” It is based on the verb peithō, meaning “to persuade” or “to win over by persuasive discussion.” Pistis refers to the state of having been firmly convinced of a truth.

Meaning Explained

As we have mentioned before, word order is very important in Greek. The thought or idea expressed first is the most important. In today’s verse, the Greek word order says, “because of this, we were comforted, brothers, concerning you …” You may recall from verses one and five that Paul wanted to know about how the Thessalonians were doing, but he had not heard any word from them. He knew that he and his co-workers had only spent a brief time with these young Christians and he was concerned that the persecution that they were facing might have weakened their faith. So, Paul had sent Timothy to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage them and to see how strong their faith was.

But it was not just the persecution of the Thessalonians that Paul was uncomfortable about. Paul was concerned that the persecution and affliction that he and his companions were suffering might be affecting the faith of his brothers and sisters in Thessalonica. This may be only a subtle distinction, but it demonstrates something significant about the Apostle. He was not focusing on himself and his own circumstances, but on how his circumstances might be affecting others.

Application

Part of human nature is to look-out for ourselves, to do all we can to ensure that we are safe and comfortable. Pure and undefiled faith in God, however, means trusting God and being concerned about the safety and wellbeing of others. What are you putting your trust in and whose wellbeing are you most concerned about?

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 3:3 – Suffering From God

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Will

that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed unto this.

Truth to Learn

Some of our suffering is because God has determined it.

Behind the Words

“No one” is translated from mēdeis. This word is made up of mē, which is a conditional negative particle meaning “not,” de, meaning “but” or “and,” and heis, the numeral “one.” Thus, this word literally means “and not one” or “no one.”

The words “should be shaken” are from the verb sainō, meaning “to move back and forth as a dog wags its tail.” Figuratively, this word means “to move back and forth in the mind,” that is, “to be mentally agitated.”

“Afflictions” is from the Greek word thlipsis, which is based on the verb thilbō, meaning “to squeeze” or “to crush.” Thus, thlipsis refers to “pressure, stress, trouble, or affliction.”

The word translated “appointed” is keimai, which literally means “to lie down” or “to set in place.” So, we could paraphrase this as, “that we were put in place for this purpose.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told the Thessalonians that he had sent Timothy to them, since he was hindered from going there himself. And, he says that he sent Timothy with the expressed purpose of helping them to become firmly established and grounded in their faith. Since Paul had spent such a short time in Thessalonica, he had not been able to instruct them completely in the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. Knowing how critical good doctrine is to a sound Christian faith and a victorious Christian life, Paul wanted to ensure that the Thessalonians began their faith walk on firm footing.

The other reason that Paul had sent Timothy was to comfort and encourage them. In today’s verse we get a hint of why Paul wanted the Thessalonians to be grounded and comforted. It was because of “these afflictions.” Now the question we have to ask ourselves is, “What afflictions is Paul talking about?” Some people may mistakenly think he’s talking about the persecution the Thessalonian Christians are going through at the hands of their countrymen. However, based on the rules of grammar and the context of surrounding verses, it is apparent that Paul is talking about the affliction that he and his companions were suffering in being hindered from returning themselves.

Paul now makes an interesting statement. He says that the Thessalonians were fully aware that these afflictions had been laid out for them. What does he mean by that? From the book of Acts we learn that at the time of Paul’s (Saul’s) conversion, the Lord told Ananias this about Paul:

For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake. (Acts 9:16)

The obvious conclusion, therefore, is that Jesus Himself determined ahead of time that Paul was going to suffer in his ministry for God.

Application

I’ve heard a number of Christians say, “Why is God allowing this to happen to me? I’m being faithful. I’m following His leading. I’m being obedient.” The reason for these afflictions (some of them at least) is not because of rebellious sinfulness, but because God determined ahead of time that they would happen. Why? So that we will get stronger and so He will get all the glory for everything we do in His name.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 1:6 – Affliction and Joy

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Will

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

Truth to Learn

Committed Christian living will result in affliction – and joy.

Behind the Words

“Imitators” is translated from mimētēs, from which we get our English word “mimic.” It means “someone who mimics, imitates, or follows the example of someone else.”

The words “having received” are from dechomai, meaning “to receive.” It is very similar in meaning to the verb lambanō except that lambanō implies more of an active participation (to take to oneself) while dechomai implies more of a subjective or passive participation (to receive for oneself).

Thlipsis is the Greek word translated “affliction.” It is derived from the verb thlibō, meaning “to crush” or “to squeeze.” Thlipsis refers to “pressure, trouble, affliction, tribulation, or distress.”

“Joy” is translated from chara, which is derived from the verb chairō, meaning “to rejoice.” Therefore, chara refers to “joy, rejoicing, or gladness.”

Meaning Explained

As we mentioned yesterday, belief in the good news about Jesus Christ is the substance of our salvation. The whole discussion of election versus “free will” becomes a moot point at the moment of conversion. It doesn’t matter whether you believe that God chose or man chooses; what matters is that a lost sinner becomes a child of God and is credited with the righteousness of Christ at the moment of belief in the gospel message.

Then, at the end of yesterday’s verse Paul said, “as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.” Paul did not expect the people to whom he preached to pay him for what he did. Instead, he worked as a tent maker to pay for his own expenses. He, along with Silvanus and Timothy, lived exemplary lives in spite of the persecution they faced from the local Jews, who even traveled to Berea to harass Paul after he began preaching there. It is important to note that Paul’s ministry didn’t stop when people got saved. He simply switched from evangelist mode to teacher mode. He taught them the fundamental truths of how to live a life committed to God, and as an example to be followed he lived the kind of life that he taught about.

As a result, we learn in today’s verse that the Thessalonians became imitators of Paul and his companions. They didn’t just listen to their teaching, smile politely, say a few amens, and then continue living as they always had. They changed. They put into practice what they were taught, using as their living examples Paul and his companions. And what did they get for it? They received the same persecution that Paul continually endured. We are told here that it wasn’t just a little teasing that they received, they suffered “much affliction.”

Those who afflicted them did so intentionally to make them suffer, but they didn’t complain; instead, they endured it with joy in their hearts. That’s committed Christian living.

Application

Christ told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer …” (John 16:33b) Rather than causing us sadness, persecution and hardship should cause us to be as joyous as the Thessalonians, particularly if it has come upon us as a result of our living our Christian faith. Are you willing to suffer for Christ? Think about how much He gave for you!

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 3:13 – Christian Tribulation

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Will

Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Truth to Learn

It is not uncommon for Christians to suffer.

Behind the Words

“I ask” is translated from the Greek verb aiteō, meaning “to request, ask, or beg.” In the New Testament it is always used of an inferior person asking for something from someone who is superior to him or her.

The words “lose heart” are from ekkakeō, which is made up of ek, meaning “out” but used as an intensifier and kakos, meaning “externally worthless, bad, or cowardly.” So ekkakeō could mean “to completely lose one’s courage.”

“Tribulations” is translated from thlipsis, which is based on the verb thlibō, meaning “to crush, compress, or squeeze.” Thus, thlipsis refers to “being under pressure,” that is, “a stressful situation, trouble, or affliction.”

Meaning Explained

What are some of these tribulations that Paul is talking about here? We have already mentioned that Paul was a prisoner of the Roman government, either in Caesarea or (more likely) in Rome when he wrote this letter. And, in his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul gave a list of tribulations that he suffered as a minister of the Gospel.

Five times I received forty stripes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; I have spent a night and a day in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—(2 Corinthians 11:24-27)

But, the Apostle Paul had an incredibly strong constitution. He did not easily give in to pressure and persecution. It is believed by many Biblical scholars that Paul even suffered from an ongoing ailment of his eyes. He told the Galatians:

And my trial in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was your blessedness? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. (Galatians 4:14-15)

So, it is perfectly reasonable for Paul to tell his long-time friends in Ephesus not to lose courage because of his tribulations, which were suffered for his Ephesian brothers and sisters (as well as Gentiles throughout the world). In fact, he tells them that they should see the glory in such tribulation. After all, if Paul suffered so much, surely those under his ministry will be able to endure a small amount.

Application

Are you suffering tribulation because you boldly proclaim the gospel message? Are you suffering simply because you are a Christian? If so, take heart; you are in good company!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:27 – Unselfish Light

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Will

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to watch over orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Truth to Learn

The true outward expression of a Christian life is to care for the needs of others and not be caught-up in the world around us.

Behind the Words

The word translated “Pure” is katharos, meaning “clean, unsoiled, or pure.” It is the word from which we get our English word catharsis, which refers to “a cleansing.”

“Undefiled” is translated from amiantos, which is made up of the privative a and a form of miainō, meaning “to stain, pollute, or defile.” So, it means something that is unpolluted or undefiled. Since purity is the opposite of polluted or defiled, James is expressing a type of religious observance which is completely without sinfulness or selfishness.

The word translated “watch over” is a form of episkeptomai, which is made up of epi, meaning “upon” or “over” and skeptomai, meaning “to look around.” Hence, this word means “to watch over” or “to look out for.” The word episkopos, meaning “elder” or “overseer” is derived from this word.

“Trouble” is translated from thlipsis, which means “to crush, compress, or squeeze.” Hence, its root meaning is “stress” or “pressure.” Figuratively, it refers to distress or afflictions.

Finally, the word “world” is translated from kosmos, which refers to “an orderly arrangement.” It is the word used throughout the New Testament to refer to the world system.

Meaning Explained

There are many people all over the world who think they are religious – and many of them are! But there’s a big difference between being religious and being a Christian. Being religious, by itself does not gain you a thing. Since James is talking to Christians in this letter, we have to assume that he means Christians who are religious.

As was mentioned in the previous verse, religion refers to the ceremonial observance of a religious system (praying, making sacrifices, giving money, taking care of others, reading scripture, fasting, partaking of communion, etc). James is not condemning any of these things. Rather, he is focusing where God focuses – on the heart; that is to say, on our motives. We can do these things for selfish reasons and they have no effect, or we can watch over those who are undergoing difficult times and take care of them, unselfishly watching out for them.

But just doing things for others is not enough. James also tells us that we are to keep ourselves from becoming spotted by the world system around us. We are to be separate from the world and not be polluted by it. We are to be a light to the world, but our light cannot shine brightly if it has to shine through a life that is stained and polluted by the things of this world.

Application

Many people just want the right formula for religion (say the right prayers, perform the right observances, give the right amount of money, etc.) but, like the Pharisees of old, they become whitewashed tombs. James says, instead of this type of religiosity, we need to be more concerned about the needs of others and we need to keep ourselves holy before a Holy God.

In God's service, for His glory,