The "Why" Behind the Obedience

Day 321: James 1:1-18

“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” - James 1:18 ESV

We've all done things out of mere obligation. When we do, there isn't much passion behind our actions. Our bodies are going through the actions, but our hearts aren't quite activated. So we lumber forward, putting one dutiful foot in front of the other.

This may be how you think about God's disposition toward you, but it isn't in the least bit true. This verse in James shuts down that thought. The Greek word used for will here is boulomai, and it means to desire to have or experience something, with the implication of some reasoned planning. (Louw/Nida)

Listen, God has eternally thought it through. He's made His decision. He wants you to be the part of his crop that He brags most about (the firstfruits). Jesus hasn't made a haphazard mistake by choosing you. Instead, He has placed your life upon His bedrock of truth. His love for you cannot be shaken from its place.

May this grace fall afresh on you today.

Now we have the perfect place to stand in order to take on all 90 of James' imperatives he lays down in this little book. Our only chance of acting like we should (longterm) is to be fully confident in who Jesus says that we are.