James 1
Jeremiah 21-22
Psalm 129
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Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading
In James 1 we find great encouragement to understand and live by the Truth found in Yahweh's Word. Truth is symbolized by Light. And the Light of Truth is the single greatest Gift which Heaven bestows upon mankind. Without the Light of Truth, we are doomed to stumble in darkness and to ultimately be lost.Christ Himself is the embodiment of the Light of Truth. He was the Word which was made Flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-14).
Matthew 4:12-16 "Now when Yahshua had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."
John 8:12 "Then spake Yahshua again unto them, saying, I Am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life."The Word is also the Scriptures, which shine the Light of Truth to all who study and receive it:
Psalm 119:105 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."When we read, receive and live by the Word, we have the Light of Truth in our lives and homes. To fail to obey God's Word, or to twist it in our understanding, is to lose the "good" and "perfect" gift of Truth given from the Father of Light:
James 1:16-17 "Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."A deeper insight into what it means to "err" versus walking in the Light of Truth is found in the linen robes of the priests.
Yahweh's ordained priests were instructed to wear robes made of white linen as they carried out their priestly duties in the Sanctuary. The white linen represented the righteousness of Christ, which clothes the people of God and is the "righteousness of saints" (Revelation 19:8).
When the priestly, linen robe could no longer be worn by the priest, it had one final use. The white linen was twisted into wicks, which were used in the Sanctuary menorah (7-branched candlestick). Naturally, as the twisted linen was used as a wick, it was ultimately burned up.It is from this process that we get the Hebrew word for "wicked"! In the connection of the word "wicked" with the twisting of the linen we find a powerful explanation of wickedness. To be "wicked" literally means to take something which was righteous (the white linen of the priest's garments) and to twist it!
One powerful example of this twisting - doctrinally - has been repeatedly demonstrated by the papal power. Powerful spiritual warfare principles have been twisted by the papacy to support the confessional and to support the idea that the Mother Church has the authority to change the Law of God.
There are several principles of spiritual warfare that the papal power has twisted. One of them is the principle of the Keys - which gives us authority (in Christ's Name and Blood) to bind the powers of darkness.
Matthew 16:19 "And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven."According to papal Rome, since the Body of Christ has been given the "Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven", our authority to "bind" and "loose" includes determining which Laws are "binding" - or which parts of Yahweh's Law we wish to loose - or dispense with. But this is a twisting of Truth.
The principle of the "Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven" is a righteous principle, instigated by Yahshua Himself. Like the white linen, it was originally right and righteous. But possessing the spiritual warfare "Keys" to bind demonic powers in our Saviour's Name and Blood (Jude 1:9, Matthew 18:18-20, Matthew 10:1) does not give us authority to change the Law of Yahweh or alter His Word! Twisting this principle to sanction altering the Law of God is a grievous err!
Deuteronomy 4:2 "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you."
Deuteronomy 12:32 "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."It's strange how slight twists can totally change a doctrine from pure to tainted! But a "little" change sure does make a big difference! Thus, James' warning is especially timely:
James 1:16-17 "Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
