A Line in the Sand

A Series on the book of James
Faith and Deeds
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
James 2:14-26 

[James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In some ways, it’s similar to Old Testament wisdom literature like Proverbs. It includes many practical applications to help a believer grow in their faith. In this series, we will look at the wisdom of James’ letter and how it applies to our lives.]

  

When you move to a new state where you know very few people, you want to fit in and be accepted. That was the case 40 years ago when we moved from Lansing, Michigan, where Michigan State is located, to Columbus, Ohio, where Ohio State is located. You can probably guess where this is going.

 

Early on, we decided to draw a line in the sand as far as trying to fit in and be accepted. That line meant staying loyal to Michigan State in the rabid environment of Ohio State. Even after 40 years, we still bleed green and white.

 

No doubt, the Jewish Christians to whom James wrote his letter, experienced this same desire to be accepted by their new neighbors. They’d already been scattered throughout the Mediterranean world due to persecution for their faith. But now they would experience a new type of adversity.

 

During the first century, the primary religion in the Roman Empire governed virtually every aspect of life. In fact, according to Ray Vander Laan, a noted expert on the history and culture of Israel, the state religion was so invasive that economic and social pressures could be quite severe.

 

It was to the degree that if you didn’t comply with the religious rituals, you could lose your income, become a social outcast, or be denied your voice in the community. You could even lose something as basic as access to fire, which was controlled by the religious and civil leaders.

 

The combination of these circumstances brought tremendous pressure on the Jewish Christians. With it, came a very real temptation to intellectually say that you believed in Jesus, but practically speaking, follow the local religious practices. However, James would have none of this.

 

¹⁹ You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. ²⁰ How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?     NLT

 

On the first day of kindergarten in Columbus, our daughter came home and announced that she had learned the Ohio State fight song. Not in our house! We drew a line in the sand.

 

James also drew a line in the sand.

 

¹⁸ Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” NLT

 

We need to draw a line in the sand of life. Whether it’s for our faith to match our deeds; or our belief to match our behavior; or what we say to match what we do. Faith without action is useless. Faith and action work together. Our faith is made complete by our actions.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

Grading on a Curve

A Series on the book of James
Favoritism forbidden
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
James 2:1-13 

[James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In some ways, it’s similar to Old Testament wisdom literature like Proverbs. It includes many practical applications to help a believer grow in their faith. In this series, we will look at the wisdom of James’ letter and how it applies to our lives.]

  

When I was in school, I was a decent student. I paid attention in class, did my homework and studied for exams. But if a teacher graded on a curve, it was common knowledge that you didn’t have to work as hard. Just harder than the other guy.

 

Grading on a curve encourages us to compare ourselves to others. It doesn’t push us to excellence; it doesn’t push us to perfection. Instead, it allows us to accept mediocrity. This is true, not just in the classroom, but also in life.

 

The Jewish Christians to whom James wrote his letter, had a problem with showing favoritism to rich people. What he wrote regarding this was a scathing indictment.

 

¹ My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?    NLT

 

In their defense, you can understand why it might have been a temptation. During the first century, the vast majority of people were extremely poor. Plus, keep in mind that these believers had scattered across the Mediterranean world to flee from persecution. As a result, they were living on the edge – barely surviving at times.

 

So, if they crossed paths with someone of means; someone who dressed well; someone who was wealthy – it would have been easy to rationalize why it was okay for them to manipulate that person for their own personal financial benefit. While at the same time, ignoring the needs of poor people.

 

But not for James. Sounding similar to one of the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he reminded them about how God views poor people.

 

⁵ Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?          NLT

 

Then he quoted the “royal law” from Leviticus – “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Following this he explained that by showing favoritism, the believers were sinning. They were breaking the “royal law”. And if you break one of God’s laws, you break all of them.

 

Grading on a curve in life makes it much easier. All we have to do is find someone who we’re just a little bit better than. For example, we can say, “I may have showed favoritism, but at least I didn’t murder anyone”.

 

In America, we live in a secular culture where there are no absolute truths. But God doesn’t grade on a curve. His Word is unchanging. It’s immutable. This would be bad news for us except for the fact that we have a loving and merciful God.

 

Paul, who before he was converted, was systematically persecuting the church with murder in his heart. After his conversion, he had this to say about the mercy of God.

 

¹⁶ But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.              NLT   1 Timothy 1

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

Pickleball

A Series on the book of James
Trials and Rewards
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
James 1:1-18 

[James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In some ways, it’s similar to Old Testament wisdom literature like Proverbs. It includes many practical applications to help a believer grow in their faith. In this series, we will look at the wisdom of James’ letter and how it applies to our lives.]

When you play sports, your goal is to win. And if you win often enough, you might earn an award.

 

During high school and college, I loved to play sports. Even until I was in my forties, I played tennis. But I was only an average athlete, and certainly never won any awards. That is… until I started playing pickleball at the age of 74. I finally won an award! Such as it is.

 

James wrote his letter to Jewish Christians who were scattered across the Mediterranean world due to being persecuted for their faith. You can imagine how difficult their lives must have been. Essentially, they were turned upside down.

 

Not only were they persecuted for their faith, but they went to countries where there were different cultures, languages and religions. Most likely, they were poor, had no job or place to live, and only knew the people who had fled with them.

 

They were refugees who faced many challenging trials. Trials that would present them with very difficult choices. Sometimes, it could even be a matter of choosing between following their faith or rejecting it. Therefore, James wrote to them about trials.

 

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.      NIV

 

The Message puts it like this.

 

^2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.          MSG

 

In sports, the goal is to win. The more you practice and play, the better your skills are. Through repetition, you challenge yourself and push yourself to improve. In our faith-life, the goal is to become “mature and complete”. Our faith is challenged and strengthened by trials. That’s how we learn and grow.

 

Besides the benefit of becoming “mature and complete”, James held out another carrot for them. He told them that if they persevered through their trials, they could win an award – the “crown of life”.

 

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.            NIV

 

It’s fun to win an award – even if it’s a meaningless pickleball award. But winning the “crown of life” – that’s incomparably superior!

 

It’s time to compete for what truly matters. It’s time to go into spiritual training; to strengthen our faith through trials; to become mature and complete; to receive the crown of life.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com