Resist Being Proud
James 4:1-8 (NIV) Submit Yourselves to God
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 3:17 – 4:7 (MSG) Get Serious
1-2 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
2-3 You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
4-6 You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”
7-10 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.
I have spent the last few days in the Epistle of James, and today I read the first eight verses in Chapter 4 in both the NIV and the Message. It is apparent that James was not concerned with bringing the sinner to Christ, but instead his focus was teaching the Christ follower to live holy.
I love the way the Message paraphrases the final verse: Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. It reminds me of a song in the ‘80’s—“Get on Your Knees and Fight Like A Man” by Petra. I made the statement earlier this week that one of the worst mistakes I ever made was ceasing to get on my knees in prayer.
Why is our prayer posture important? It conveys our attitude toward God. When we humble ourselves before a holy God we are recognizing our sinfulness before Him. Can we show our humility while sitting in a chair or lying in our bed? Of course, we can. It is all about our heart attitude.
Today, what would happen if we began relating to God as the Supreme authority in our lives? What would happen if, when we end our prayers “in Jesus’ name” we were asking only for something that Jesus would want us to have?
May we learn from today’s scripture that either God is first in our lives, or we are first. We cannot have it both ways. Choose God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
It’s the Way You Live that Counts
James 3:13-17 (MSG) 13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish plotting. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.
17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
Yesterday after our service I downloaded “The Message” onto my Bible app. I use primarily the NRSV and the NIV study Bibles. But our pastor has used “The Message” on occasion and I found I enjoy the way it reads. 17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others.
I wonder how many people are lacking in Godly wisdom because they have redefined the meaning of wisdom to match the world’s understanding rather than God’s. Had you ever considered that Godly wisdom is connected to the way we treat others?
Being mean spirited, boastful, twisting the truth does not lead to, nor does it reflect, wisdom. Instead, such behavior reflects a shallowness that is not of God.
May we develop true wisdom as we grow in gentleness and mercy toward others.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Power of our Words
James 3:7-12 (NIV) 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Years ago I was a Vice President at an insurance company. In my bookshelves I had my Bible and next to it were books from an insurance course offered by the Life Office Management Association. The first course was “Principles of Life Insurance.” So, I always told people that while I successfully completed all of the courses and received the designation of FLMI, a Fellow of the Life Management Institute, to me my most important designation was being a disciple of Jesus Christ and following the principles of life found in the Bible.
When I think of discipleship and the qualities one needs as a disciple, I always think of James who breaks down so succinctly the behavior required of a Christ follower. My question today is how can we justify praising God in one breath and tearing down our fellow man in the next. I think part of the problem is that we do not recognize the power of our words.
As a child I was impacted by not just the words found in the Bible or those learned in Sunday School, but I loved poetry. My aunt bought us a volume of “Great American Poetry” and I poured over it for hours at a time. I am sharing with you today one of the poems that went straight to my heart.
Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.
Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;
You’ve disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.
Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them, once you’ve started them to flow.
Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;
But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn’t believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there’s gladness still a-swelling, and there’s joy acircling yet,
And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.
– written by James W. Foley
May we think before we speak, and may we bless others and be a blessing to others.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Heir of salvation, Purchase of God
Hebrews 1:4 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
2 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Lately I have been singing the old hymns of my childhood. William Newells’ “At Calvary” is an ever-present melody, with its lyrics proclaiming mercy, grace and liberty. And “Blessed Assurance,” where Fanny Crosby reminds us we are “heirs of salvation, purchase of God.” Because God paid the extraordinary price of His own Son, we have the legal right to salvation.
As the writer of Hebrews said “we have so great a salvation,” yet some squander this great gift. I heard someone say recently she had been saved from her sins, but she had not been delivered from this world. What did she mean? She had accepted salvation but she had not yet turned her back on the allure of this world.
Paul said we must work out our salvation. The terms for our salvation were completed at Calvary, but I believe, in a way, we are saved daily as we give over our will to God and utilize the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the building up of the Kingdom. Every day.
May we begin each day by seeking His guidance, and end each day thanking him for His faithfulness.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God Knows Us
Psalms 139:1-14 (NIV) Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Oh, what a wonderful hymn of praise! Wouldn’t you love to hear the music David wrote to accompany these words?
In these verses David recognizes the complete sovereignty of God. There is nothing hidden from our God. I have had people confess to me they were angry with God and asked if that was wrong. My reply has always been “He knows your anger before you express it, so you may as well tell Him you are angry and why. Trust me, He is big enough to handle it.”
Isn’t there a comfort in this world where we sometimes feel so isolated and unseen that God knows our going out and our lying down? Isn’t there peace in knowing that even the darkest place, in God there is light?
May we have the confidence of David in our God and in His love and watch care over us. And may we share God’s love with all.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 