Drippings from the Honeycomb
Do you think the Bible is boring? King David, in one of his psalms, said the Scriptures were so sweet they were like "drippings from the honeycomb." Perhaps it's time that we take a few minutes out of our busy lives and look at the Bible through fresh eyes! Join us on a journey to find these "sweet drippings" as we walk through the books of the Bible by studying selected key verses through which we can glimpse the whole theme of each book! We will look at stories you might not have heard before, talk about the real people and places behind each of these verses, see how one verse can connect to many others across the entire Bible, and learn to see the beauty of God's sovereign plan which is woven through every page of His Word.
Drippings from the Honeycomb
The bar is set...HIGH (James 4:17)
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The central theme of James’ letter—calling believers to live holy and righteous lives—reaches its climax in James 4:17. Throughout the letter, James guides Christians along an increasingly narrow path of righteousness and wholehearted devotion to God, emphasizing human inadequacy when measured against God’s perfect standards. In James 4:17, he delivers this message with striking severity: sin is not merely the presence of unrighteousness, but also the absence of complete and specific obedience.
This statement carries a sobering implication: not only is obedience to God’s Word essential, and all disobedience considered sin, but each believer must also respond faithfully to the personal promptings and teachings of the Holy Spirit. In this way, James’ teaching aligns closely with Paul’s, though James expresses it with remarkable brevity.
Paul encourages believers to exercise their freedom with care, so as not to cause others to stumble. He uses examples—such as dietary choices—to illustrate that what is permissible for one believer may not be for another, depending on conscience. James encapsulates this nuanced idea in a single, powerful idea: “Anyone indwelt by the Holy Spirit who disregards the Spirit’s promptings on their conscience is sinning against God.”