Flogging or Flowing?

"Letting the Spirit move me—not through pressure, but presence."

Based on “In Christ—Not in the Epistles of James—Why?” from In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash

E. Stanley Jones draws our attention to the notable absence of the phrase “in Christ” from the Epistle of James. His observation is not to diminish the truth of James’ exhortations but to contrast two different ways of living the Christian life: one driven by human effort, and the other by divine union.

In James, we read of a faith proven by works. Yet, Jones notes that the letter leans heavily on moral effort and visible action, using Abraham’s offering of Isaac as a model of justifying faith. Luther famously called James "an epistle of straw" because it lacks the nourishment of Christ-centered grace—highlighting activity more than identity.

Jones points out that many modern Christians mirror James’ emphasis, laboring to prove their faith through deeds, yet doing so independently, “in themselves,” rather than “in Christ.” The tragedy lies not in the call to live righteously, but in the method—flogging the will to perform rather than flowing from union with Christ.

This isn't about rejecting James; it’s about restoring the foundation. Good works should be the natural overflow of Christ’s life within us, not the product of self-striving. One is the exhausting beat of the moral drum. The other is the quiet rhythm of the Spirit’s indwelling presence. One flogs. The other flows.

Journal Entry – In the Voice of the Holy Spirit

I am not inviting you to labor harder but to lean deeper. The life I’ve given you is not one of striving to prove your worth, but of resting in the worth that Christ has already accomplished. You are not called to perform righteousness; you are called to express the righteousness that is already yours because you are in Me and I am in you.

The work you long to do flows from the One who began it in you. I am faithful to complete it. The fruit you desire to bear is not the result of relentless pressure but of constant presence. I am your life. In Me, the law is fulfilled. In Me, you are justified. In Me, you live, move, and have your being.

So do not measure yourself by what you do, but by whom you abide in. You have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer you who live but Christ who lives in you. Let that be enough. Let it be everything.

I have written My laws on your heart and put My Spirit within you so that you might walk in My ways. This is not a push from behind, but a pull from within. Not a list to obey, but a life to enjoy. When you trust Me, good flows like wine from a vessel already full.

Let go of the whip and take hold of the wellspring. My yoke is easy. My burden is light. Walk freely with Me and watch how naturally the works appear—not to prove who you are, but to reflect who I am.

Scriptures: Philippians 1:6, Galatians 2:20, Acts 17:28, Romans 8:4, Ezekiel 36:27, Matthew 11:30

Prayer of Confidence

Father, I rejoice in the reality that I no longer need to flog myself into action. You have placed within me the life of Christ Himself. I trust that You are producing in me all that honors You. I rest in Your life—not to excuse passivity, but to embrace the joy of Your activity through me. Thank You for the gentle flowing of Your Spirit, shaping each moment, each word, each act of love. I walk today not as one laboring under pressure, but as one dancing in the freedom of Your presence. Let everything I do today simply be the echo of Christ within me.