Receptivity

Receptivity

What James writes about receptivity in these verses is—according to the letter—a clear contradiction. However, these are spiritual words. They had received the Word, and at the same time they had not received it. Therefore there must be two kinds of receptivity, or receptivity with a two-fold meaning.

1) They had received the Word in the sense that the Word was true and good; they wanted to do it and were hoping to receive grace to live according to it in the future—a little bit at a time.

2) The other kind of receptivity, which is of far greater significance and to which James exhorted them so fervently, is that they would immediately receive a living faith and a burning love—and through that, the power to act—so that they, immediately or at the first opportunity, carried out what they so very much wanted to attain to. Of course, this is the only way in which to make quick progress.

The power to act is and will remain the most effective power, an unspeakably great, amazing power. As long as this power is not active in your life, it is not true that you gladly want to do God’s will. It is quite simply self-deception, a tall tale.

Therefore: full speed ahead into the second degree of receptivity. We owe James a big “Thank You” for all his powerful and effective words.