God willing. James 4.

In 1530 the emperor Charles V attempted put the lid back on the reformation process that began in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses against the practice of indulgences on the Catholic Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Charles called a meeting, or Diet, in Augsburg, hoping the leaders of the Lutheran revolt would issue a statement clarifying their beliefs, possibly resolving the controversy, so that a political unification of the German princes would help in the defense of his territories. It didn't work, and the result of the meeting was "The Augsburg Confession", which cemented the split between the Catholic and Protestant churches. To this day it is the primary confessional document of the Lutheran faith.

The last sentence of the document reads, "If there is anything that any one might desire in this Confession, we are ready, God willing, to present ampler information according to the Scriptures."

The phrase, "God willing," or "the Lord willing," used to be a common qualifier in the language of Christians. Listen to some of our oldest saints, and you still can hear it today. But it's usage has dwindled in the last 50 years, until it now sounds quaint to our ears.

Using this phrase is one way of making sure we understand how the universe works. As James says in verses 4:13-17, it's a conceit of people to think they know how life will turn out from day to day, month to month, and year to year. The only reason we can even think this way, is the same reason we shouldn't -- God is in control, and He is consistent. Think of how much we depend on His consistency -- in the laws of the natural world, in the understanding of one another as human beings, made in God's image, in His mercy and care. The reality is, He is in control. And James says simply, we ought to remember that. In our attitude, and in our speech, and in our plans.

What gem did you mine out of James 4 today?