We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. – James 3:2

Today's Scripture Reading (January 26, 2021): James 3

Vera Nazarian, in "The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration," argued, "was it you or I who stumbled first? It does not matter. The one of us who finds the strength to get up first, must help the other." The question is never whether we stumble. We all do. We stumble, and then we get up again and move on. Nazarian's point is that when we, as a group of stumblers, get onto our feet, regardless of how momentary our balance might be with us, we are required to help those who have stumbled to regain their feet.

That is how it should work. But, in truth, it doesn't. At least, that is not the way that we perceive it. Too often, those who have momentarily gained their feet seem to be more likely to ignore or take advantage of those who have stumbled, rather than helping them to get up again. And our unfortunate response is that often when we know that we have stumbled, we want to isolate ourselves from those around us who have found the strength to stand again. When we have fallen, we fear, rightfully, those who are standing. It shouldn't be that way, but that is our reality.

James says that "we stumble in many ways." There is not just one way to fall. We fall because of our actions, and while that might be the most obvious way that we fail, it is not the only way we stumble. James is about to enter into an argument that what we say is as important, or maybe more important, than what we do. Just as a small rudder can steer a large ship, the tongue essentially guides the actions of our lives. What we say and the positions that we take on issues are critical, and when our words stumble, sometimes we tend to overlook these moments as just words. Yet, our speech and the things that we say our loud, or even just to ourselves, will often prove to be the very things that cause us to physically fall.

The perfect one is not just the one whose actions are without fault; the perfect can keep their whole body in check, including the things that they say. And that describes none of us. Because we all stumble, and we fall in many ways.

There was one who was perfect. His name was Jesus, and one we crucified. And yet, he came off the cross committed to helping us get up when we have stumbled. He is our restoration and our reconciliation to God. But more than that, he is our example. What he does is what we should do. And when someone falls, we should be the ones to help the other to stand up because we have found our strength.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: James 4 & 5