Devotional - March 22, 2023
James 4: 7-10 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.
We all have seen the motif of the person with an angel on one shoulder, whispering into one ear, and a demon on the other doing likewise. Most of the time, the demon wins and the angel gets batted away. Sadly, this rings true for many. Our need to fulfill our desires is strong regardless of their merit. James uses verbs to outline his formula for dealing with evil. He submits, resists, draws near, washes and purifies. Using verbs to explain his process is correct. It takes effort, every day (Matt 6:34), to maintain one's spiritual life. The amount of work it takes varies. James offers his formula and encourages the church to use it. Many have, and have found it to be very effective. His first step is submission to God. Do you remember when James talked about the fiery trials we face at the beginning of the letter (James 1: 2-3). What did they produce (James 1:4)? God does not build us up by sending us difficulties or tribulation. I believe what Jesus taught, it is a part of the world we live in and we have to deal with it (John 16:33). James tells us to accept it, don't be surprised by it, and deal with it. Not to mention, if you are living your faith in Christ, you will encounter more because your lifestyle is against the norm (Matt 10:22). Add your own personal issues to the mix, and you might want to throw in the towel. However, never think your relationship with God is weakened by your questions or struggles. I have plenty of questions, but I know who God is and I know where evil belongs. When my faith is tested by evil, I set aside my issues, and submit to God. I'll continue to pursue my questions later. Resist the devil knowing he will flee, especially since you are positioned with God. Spiritual victories are not characterized by compromise. James uses the next few verses to help you understand how to resist. First, like I just said, position yourself, draw near, to God. Wash yourself clean of the evil you are dealing with, get it out of your mind. Temptations are a normal part of anyone's life. You can't stop the flow of thoughts that go through your mind. You can't keep them from happening, but you can know what to know about them. Just because you have a thought, does not mean anything. It is what you do with them that matters. People who struggle with OCD learn this the hard way. If you know someone who suffers from OCD, recommend the book, Brain Lock by Jeffrey M Schwarts, it is quite helpful. In this process, James talks about grieving because it isn't fun, it's work, but it is good work. And, it's not something you do alone. God will be with you. God will train you, if you are willing. And then, God can bless you because you are prepared to receive the blessing. You are trustworthy. In the previous text, do you remember why those who asked for spiritual blessings did not receive them (James 4:3)? The book of James is a spiritual tune-up. It tunes the engine, rotates the tires, and replaces the fluids all in a few short chapters. Why is he doing so? Because, James wants others to live the life God gives rather than compromise with the world, and with the evil therein, thinking ...believing, it is better.
Pray with me ..., Holy God, we confess we desire the things of this world, it's ways. They invigorate us and, at times, enthrall us, but they leave us empty and we know it. Continue to reveal Yourself to us, so we can know of Your goodness and continue on in it. Be with our loved ones we pray, bless and guide them. And bless our church, guide us, so we can be the people You call us to be, in Jesus name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
