"On every page of the God-breathed writings are many thoughts that stretch out like long, clear arms of light across the darkness, discovering things otherwise hidden and illuminating wider areas than those of the immediate context. They are searchlights. I have selected one in each chapter of Scripture, for at least one central thought in every chapter should arrest the mind and affect the life," wrote G. Campbell Morgan, a skilled, wise, warm-hearted Bible teacher who conducted a classic 3-year study called Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible. Here is the fruit of that research—summarized, illustrated, and amplified with useful details—on all 66 books of the Bible.
DEUTERONOMY, JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH,
1 JOHN, 2 JOHN, 3 JOHN, JUDE, REVELATION
James 1:22 "Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only." Sometimes called the Proverbs of the New Testament, this Letter written by James, the half brother of our Lord Jesus Christ, speaks as by one who grew up with Him. James witnessed His practical holiness day in and day out, was personally visited by the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 15:7), and was with his mother and brothers in the upper room praying with other faithful disciples as they waited for the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). James became one of the main leaders of the Jerusalem church. He knew by long experience the harmony between the Lord's teaching and His life. Therefore James emphasizes here and in the next chapter that a faith not expressed by deeds is of no value at all. He had just spoken of "the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). That is one of the reasons two classic Christian Confessions define saving faith as "receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, the alone instrument of justification; yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love" (WCF and LBCF 11.2). There is no profit, but rather the reverse, in hearing if there is no doing: as useless as looking in a mirror but not acting on what you see or merely knowing Jesus is Lord, like a demon does, but not submitting willingly to His lordship.
James 2:12 "Speak and act as those who are to be judged under the Law of liberty." James introduces this Law in the previous chapter: "The one who looks into the Perfect Law, the Law of Liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing" (James 1:25). He goes on to say, "If you really fulfill the Royal Law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well" (James 2:8). That great Law from Leviticus 19 Jesus described as the second greatest commandment, the first being, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." The Law of Liberty defines our relationship to God and man as love-mastered. To speak and act under that impulse by the saving work of God in us through Christ is to be free indeed. James concludes, "Judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). If the Law of Liberty is disobeyed, if no mercy is shown, then judgment based on that Law will show no mercy. Love is the most vigilant guard over one's own words and works. If it is obeyed, then is life a life of liberty. If it is disobeyed, we will be in bondage until we show mercy. We are to treat others with the mercy Jesus shows toward us, with love from the inside of us spilling out onto those around us.
James 3:18 "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James has been contrasting the fruit or actions of the unrighteous with the righteous. What he calls wisdom from below is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic, characterized by jealousy, selfish ambition, disorder, and every vile practice. "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere." Righteousness bears fruit after its own kind, which is peace, which begets more of the same. Our Lord said in His Beatitudes, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Here that blessedness is shown in its effect. The peacemakers are those who live by heavenly wisdom, which is first pure and then peaceable. Those who make lasting peace do not compromise with wrong. They do not seek for peace at the expense of righteousness. Such compromises never secure peace, but make it impossible. However, to stand for righteousness, even though there must be conflict and suffering, is to sow the only kind of fruit that will bring true peace. The ways of God are the ways of goodness. To do right at the cost of ease is to make peace. To seek ease at the cost of righteousness is to drive away peace.
James 4:11-12 "If you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge. There is one one Lawgiver and Judge: He who is able to save and destroy!" James writes this in connection with judging or speaking evil of a brother or sister in Christ. His words are clear, sharp, and incisive in showing the wrong of all such action. As we have seen, the Royal Law of love says we should love our neighbor as ourselves. To speak evil against a brother or to judge his motives is the same as speaking against this Law and condemning it as worthless! In addition, it is impossible for anyone to find a final verdict against his brother or sister. One only is able to do that: the same One who makes the laws for the government of human lives. He alone knows whom He governs, and His laws are the result of that perfect knowledge. Therefore His laws are just, as are His judgments. He only, therefore, can pass sentence of salvation or destruction. Since our judgment is to come from the Lord, then with what care we should live! His judgment is perfectly righteous. If that fact fills the soul with a perpetual sense of awe, it also gives comfort and courage because righteous judgment passes beyond all actions to the underlying motives and aspirations. The apostle Paul, writing later about this matter, explains, "I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God" (1 Corinthians 4:4-5).
James 5:7 "Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord." These words follow a stern denunciation of prosperous men who gained their prosperity by wronging their countrymen. Their worst offense? "You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you" (verse 6). The most notorious example of that, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ, described as "the Holy and Righteous One" by Peter in a powerful sermon James probably heard preached. Thinking of the sufferings of many to whom he is writing—sufferings resulting from the oppression of such men as he just denounced—James appears to remember that Jesus Himself did not resist His persecutors. Therefore, he calls his brothers and sisters in the Faith, which include us, to be patient or longsuffering until our Lord returns. That is the day when all wrongs will be righted. For that day His suffering ones are to wait, and in their waiting, to be longsuffering even towards those who oppress them. That is the attitude of God Himself, whom James likens to a farmer: "See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand" (verses 7-8). Too often we are inclined to become impatient as we wait. To the true child of God, however, the coming of the Lord is always at hand and in mind. The glory of it sheds unceasing light on our way. We walk in that light when we thank God at every morning's dawn and evening's shadows. Our Lord Jesus has not returned yet only because God is still waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, which is the saving of precious souls. Thank God He waited for us! Let us be patient in fellowship with Him.
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