There are two readings for today.
SCRIPTURE: James 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
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. [James 4:7-10]
Along with “deedless faith”, James is also challenging their worldly attitudes.
They have forgotten what it is that they have been saved from, and saved for!
They forgot the remarkable life that God has in mind for us, if we submit to Him.
As long as they remain distant to God, this life will remain distant from them.
Come near to God and he will come near to you.
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” [Luke 10:17-20]
Compare how James says that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us… and how the disciples experience the demons submitting to them.
Jesus explains that through Him, the devil and his demons are defeated, and that as long as we remain close to him, they will flee.
But notice also Jesus’ warning – do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you.
Why this warning?
Jesus’ concern is that they will become more interested in the power experience than in their relationship to God.
They will become self-important, self focused – look at me, look what I can do!
This is a similar spirit to what had affected Jame’s audience, who were quick to ask things of God, but were asking for selfish purposes.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. [James 4:3]
Isn’t the history of the church (and of your own life) evidence enough how quickly we forget the Giver and focus on the gifts?
We are always at risk of this worldly spirit, hence the warning: Grieve, mourn and wail!
This warning is especially for worldly christians, who are drifting from God.
Which leads me to look within, to check whether I am infected by this worldly spirit.
It happens to all of us to some extent, the only question is how far is it in me?
In Christ in can experience the victorious life – Satan is defeated, I am free!
But I need to continually come back to Him, cling to Him, remain in Him.
This is where my life and freedom are found, not in the worldly pleasures or treasures or experiences that life offers.
PRAYER:
Lord, I can see where the devil is distracting me. Help me to resist Him and cling to you.