John 16:1-15
16: “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
0 “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Reflection
As his departure nears, Jesus encourages the disciples with the promise of the future ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7–15). Together with the disciples, we share the blessing of God’s permanent presence through the indwelling of the Spirit, whom we received the moment we first believed in Jesus (Rom. 8:9; Gal. 3:2).
The Spirit is our great Helper (John 16:7), freeing us from trying to live the Christian life in our own power. He helped the apostles of Jesus by reminding them of his words and teachings (14:26). The Spirit also helps us to have confidence that the writings of the New Testament are inspired and trustworthy as he bears witness to the truth and comfort of God’s Word (16:13–15). He constantly draws attention to Jesus (v. 14) and transforms us as he opens our hearts to see and love the glory of Christ revealed in the gospel (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:4, 6).
James 1:26-2:7
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
2: My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
Reflection
The Word, received with genuine faith, brings obedience and true religion. James knows, however, that even in the church true religion is sometimes rare, and so he proposes a test case. Two men, one poor and one rich, enter a gathering where just one seat remains. If the rich man gets the seat and the poor man gets the floor simply because of his social status, that violates “pure” religion as defined in James 1:27. If the world invades the church, then those who hope for equality from God’s people are put down once more.
The gospel tells us that Jesus, the wealthiest and most worthy being in the universe, laid aside the privileges of his status in order to serve those who least deserved it. May our lives and churches reflect this same posture of generous mercy to those who are desperately in need of Christ’s love and salvation.
Psalm 119:15
15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
We must not allow the values of this world to drive the practices of the church and its people. Pray for your church leaders and ask God to keep the values of his kingdom at the center of their lives. Pray for your own heart as well, knowing that it is easy to allow your perspective to quietly wander.