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Daily Scripture

THURSDAY 9.8.22 James 3:11-12

11 Both fresh water and salt water don’t come from the same spring, do they? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? Of course not, and fresh water doesn’t flow from a saltwater spring either.

Reflection Questions

Like Jesus, James used the farming products familiar to most anyone who lived in first-century Palestine for illustration. “Figs, olives and grapes were the three most common agricultural products of the Judean hills, and alongside wheat and barley they would have constituted the most common crops of the Mediterranean region as a whole.” * And a valued water source, like Jacob’s famous well, didn’t unexpectedly fill your bucket with undrinkable salt water.

• James again echoed a theme Jesus often taught about. “Jesus had pointed out that what comes out of the mouth is a sign of what is really there, deep in the heart (Matthew 12.34; Luke 6.43). James echoes this passage when he speaks of the fig tree bearing olives or the vine bearing figs. Things just aren’t like that!” ** Sometimes we try to explain angry words by saying, “That’s just the way I am.” On closer scrutiny, what makes that excuse weak and sobering?
• Like his brother and Lord, even James’ warnings were meant to redeem. N. T. Wright saw what James was after: “He wants people to follow Jesus through and through, to be blessing-only people rather than blessing-and-cursing people….The spring must be cleansed so that only fresh, sweet water comes out. For this we need help. That, fortunately, is what the gospel offers.” *** How close are you to being a “blessing-only” person? How can you move further in that direction?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, cleanse the spring of my heart, so that when I speak or write only “fresh, sweet water comes out.” Keep scrubbing bitterness and anger out of my inner being. Amen.

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* Comment on James 3:12 in NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
** Wright, N. T., Early Christian Letters for Everyone (The New Testament for Everyone) (p. 22). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.

*** Ibid.

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