"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 14 December 2016 with Scripture James 5:7-10

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 14 December 2016 with Scripture James 5:7-10
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James 5:7 So, brothers, be patient until the Lord returns. See how the farmer waits for the precious “fruit of the earth” — he is patient over it until it receives the fall and spring rains.[James 5:7 Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24; Joel 2:23] 8 You too, be patient; keep up your courage; for the Lord’s return is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers, so that you won’t come under condemnation — look! the Judge is standing at the door! 10 As an example of suffering mistreatment and being patient, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of Adonai.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
James always reminds us, in no uncertain terms, that our faith and hope are nothing unless they are active in love. Faith will always bear good fruits. Martin Luther describes this connection as unrestrained. Good fruits flow from faith without us even realizing it! James describes our waiting for the coming of the Lord in very simple terms: vigilance is non-judgmental! Our life on earth is characterized by generosity as we wait. We do not judge our neighbor. We do not hold a grudge against our neighbor. We do not gossip about our neighbor behind their back. Rather, in all things, we seek the best for our neighbor. This does not mean being silent about deceit, about evil and injustice: the prophets are to be our example, James writes. But living out justice is always lived in mercy. This means finding new words, new language as we wait for the one who comes. 
O God, come and water the earth of our hearts that it yields new crop, a new language that speaks of our mercy. Amen.
Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary
James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. [New Revised Standard Version]
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