Daily Encouragementنموونە

James is speaking about “the Lord’s coming.” This is an arresting picture - the Judge standing at the door.

The certainty of the Lord’s coming. There can be no doubt about it with the Judge at the door. We have his word that he will come. The prominence of his doctrine in the New Testament is well known - there is a reference to it every thirteen verses! To think of the Judge at the door keeps the imminence and the uncertainty of the coming in balance. His coming will be his appearing (1 John 3:2). He has been at the door all the time.

The comfort of the Lord’s coming. James is particularly comforting the poor, who are being oppressed by the rich. “Be patient,” he says, “until the Lord’s coming.” In the end the only people who can afford to wait are those who share “the blessed hope.” We can face all the evil which seems to triumph when we know that “the Judge is standing at the door.”

The challenge of the Lord’s coming. It is the Judge who is at the door - “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10). Our service will come under the scrutiny of the eyes of fire. It will be a searching but kindly judgement, for “At that time each will receive his praise from God” (1 Cor. 4:5).