Submit, Resist, be Humble
James writes to followers of Jesus,
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
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.
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:7-12.
Here is something all who claim to be followers of Christ need to think about. Do you submit yourself to God? Do you resist the devil?
James tells us to “Come near to God and he will come near to you” He calls us to purify ourselves. To “grieve mourn and wail”
By this is I feel James is telling us we need to be so ashamed of our sins of the way we at times fail God, that we cry out to God in all humility and tell Him we are truly sorry for our failings. In doing so God will lift us up. As someone has said it takes a strong person to admit their faults even to God.
As Christians we are to remember that it is not our place to slander or judge anyone. Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
We as mere mortals do not know what is in the hearts of other people. We do not know what makes them do things. Only God knows that, that is why God and God alone has the right to judge anyone.
The believer in Christ is called to live a good and holy life acceptable to God. A life that reaches out with the gospel to those around them in word and in deed.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Jesus also said,
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?
It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. Matthew 24:45-46.
Question, do you consider yourself a good servant of Jesus? Are you doing what God wants you to do?
Please think about it.
James writes to followers of Jesus,
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
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.
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:7-12.
Here is something all who claim to be followers of Christ need to think about. Do you submit yourself to God? Do you resist the devil?
James tells us to “Come near to God and he will come near to you” He calls us to purify ourselves. To “grieve mourn and wail”
By this is I feel James is telling us we need to be so ashamed of our sins of the way we at times fail God, that we cry out to God in all humility and tell Him we are truly sorry for our failings. In doing so God will lift us up. As someone has said it takes a strong person to admit their faults even to God.
As Christians we are to remember that it is not our place to slander or judge anyone. Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
We as mere mortals do not know what is in the hearts of other people. We do not know what makes them do things. Only God knows that, that is why God and God alone has the right to judge anyone.
The believer in Christ is called to live a good and holy life acceptable to God. A life that reaches out with the gospel to those around them in word and in deed.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Jesus also said,
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?
It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. Matthew 24:45-46.
Question, do you consider yourself a good servant of Jesus? Are you doing what God wants you to do?
Please think about it.
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