If You Feel From God Guess Who Moved?
James 4:7-10
"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. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
The popular comedian Flip Wilson coined the phrase in one of his comedy bits, "The devil made me do it." All too many times we are tempted to blame the devil for our bad decisions. James points out that many of their fights and quarrels come from their sinful desires within them. Also they have become more enthralled with the world than their relationship with God.
First he tells them to "submit to God". Their first problem was they were submitting to other masters other than God. Second, he told them to "resist the devil". The apostle Paul tells us our battle is not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers of this present darkness. And he says, "Don't be unaware fo the devil's schemes". Because God's power within us is greater than the devil's, if we resist him, He will flee. We often don't make use of this power. Finally, James gives us the believers and us a great promise. If you come near to God he will come near to you. One of my favorite phrases is, "If you feel far from God guess who moved!"
The bottom line is James is telling these young Christians that following God through Christ is a daily decision. Though God has accepted us unconditionally through Christ we must actively follow him in faith. I think this is what Jesus means when he says, "If anyone would come after me, let them take up their cross and follow me daily." Luke 9:23
While we are in the world, we mustn't become OF the world. Meaning we can't be taken out of the world, but we can resist adopting the world's values. Finally, let's not become naive to the spiritual battle we are in as we seek to bring in God's kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. God has given us everything we need to live an abundant life here on earth. Draw near to God today and He will draw to you. This is a promise he always keeps.
"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. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
The popular comedian Flip Wilson coined the phrase in one of his comedy bits, "The devil made me do it." All too many times we are tempted to blame the devil for our bad decisions. James points out that many of their fights and quarrels come from their sinful desires within them. Also they have become more enthralled with the world than their relationship with God.
First he tells them to "submit to God". Their first problem was they were submitting to other masters other than God. Second, he told them to "resist the devil". The apostle Paul tells us our battle is not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers of this present darkness. And he says, "Don't be unaware fo the devil's schemes". Because God's power within us is greater than the devil's, if we resist him, He will flee. We often don't make use of this power. Finally, James gives us the believers and us a great promise. If you come near to God he will come near to you. One of my favorite phrases is, "If you feel far from God guess who moved!"
The bottom line is James is telling these young Christians that following God through Christ is a daily decision. Though God has accepted us unconditionally through Christ we must actively follow him in faith. I think this is what Jesus means when he says, "If anyone would come after me, let them take up their cross and follow me daily." Luke 9:23
While we are in the world, we mustn't become OF the world. Meaning we can't be taken out of the world, but we can resist adopting the world's values. Finally, let's not become naive to the spiritual battle we are in as we seek to bring in God's kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. God has given us everything we need to live an abundant life here on earth. Draw near to God today and He will draw to you. This is a promise he always keeps.
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