The Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, hated the book of James, calling it an "epistle of straw" (because of its emphasis on "works" and because it commands that believers seek to keep the "commandments"). And yet, who can read our verse for today and not see the value in its counsel and the wisdom in its words? What James prescribes here, and in other parts of his book, would make this mean and often godless world a much better place if people would simply do as the Apostle directs.

The essence of James' advice is this: First, as Christians, we should be "open" about our sins with each other. James is not saying, go around telling everyone what your weaknesses are. Rather, he is saying, "If you've sinned against someone, confess it, acknowledge it, apologize for it, and repair it." He's also saying we should spend more time praying for others-when many of us spend most of our time praying for ourselves (just to make sure God has a copy of our "shopping list" of blessings that we want from Him). James tells us that, as we pray for others, we can "be healed." Part of that healing will come through the "repair" of the damaged relationship that we humbly seek to "fix." God will "heal" us as we try to "heal" the harms we've done to other people. Finally, James reminds us that "Prayer fixes things." That it is "powerful and effective." He may be telling us because some of us will hear him saying, "Go apologize for what you did and ask God to humble the heart of the person you offended," and think to ourselves, "Yeah! Right! That's never going to work. "And yet, James says, "The prayer of a righteous"-and, thus, repentant-"person is powerful and effective." So, trust the Apostle, fix what you've done wrong, pray for forgiveness from God and a forgiving heart from those you've heart, and believe that God can heal you, and them!