Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (James 4:9-10). If you don’t, he will. Humble you. You see, God is best able … Continue reading
michael
Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:8b). I’m not double-minded. OK, sometimes I am. Well, no I’m not…eh, maybe a little. And a sinner? Hey, just look at me and see if you think … Continue reading
Come near to God, and he will come near to you (James 4:8a). Again with the “Will.” God doesn’t flirt. He doesn’t play games. He doesn’t write a “Do you like me? Check this box” note in crayon and have … Continue reading
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7b). Interesting how that doesn’t say, “Might.” or Probably or Hopefully or Kindasortacrossyourfingersandhopeforthebest. The word of God says, “Will.” So, if the devil isn’t fleeing, perhaps–just perhaps you aren’t so … Continue reading
Submit yourselves, then, to God (James 4:7a). I hate that word, “Submit.” It sounds like I’m putting myself under someone else’s authority. Oh. It’s a scary thing, this submission. By obeying God, I’m giving up power and authority and the … Continue reading
But he gives us more grace (James 4:6). Look back through the verses we’ve covered this week. They don’t paint a very pretty picture of mankind. Selfish, violent, hedonistic, adulterous–we are a pretty pathetic bunch of flesh. And how does … Continue reading
Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? (James 4:5) The traditional view of this verse it that James is talking about our soul here, the “spirit” God … Continue reading
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4). Kind of an intense week, huh? Hey, don’t … Continue reading
You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because … Continue reading
Oops, we never did finish James, did we? Well, back to it. What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (James 4:1) The word translated Desire here comes from the same … Continue reading