Submit, Resist, and Draw Near
(ESV) James 4:6 Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Throughout the years, I have heard people quote James 2:7 as a magic formula for avoiding temptation. But if we are relying on this single verse to protect us from the storms of life, then our umbrella has holes in it.
The first step in resisting the devil is to confess our pride, repent, and then God, who is so faithful to forgive, will bestow His grace upon us. It is then and only then, that we can resist, or stand against, the devil.
You see, whatever we do in our strength will never be enough. We have to call on the name of Jesus, taking on His righteousness and putting on the whole armor of God, to stand against the enemy.
Then, and only then, are we ready to resist the devil.
May we determine today and every day to draw near to God, being confident that He will draw near to us. We’re not talking about meeting God in the middle. Scripture shows us that as soon as we begin to move toward God, He is already moving toward us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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