Join us as we read the scriptures and a daily devotion written by Don Crisp. We pray these messages will bless us all at this time.
Wed 1st July – Read James 4:7-10
Categories: Don’s Daily Devotions
Wed 1st July – Read James 4:7-10
V7: To submit to God is willingly to give Him the obedience of our hearts, which is His due, to seek to do His will, not our own. Equally we are to “resist the Devil” and his temptations, and if we do we are told he will “flee from us” – frustrated by our obedience to the Lord.
V8: And where we, in faith draw near to God, we are assured He will draw near to us – here is the intimacy of the relationship which grace makes ours in Christ. (See John 17:22-23.) – but for this, our hearts and hands ( i.e. our desires and deeds ) must be made clean (see Psalm 24:3-4.) but though James calls us to this, we must always remember that only in and through Christ and His shed blood are we made clean (see 1 John 1:7-9) Again he warns against “double-mindedness” – a divided heart cannot know the joy of this intimacy with God.
V9: He calls on them (and us) to recognise their sin, and be “spiritual mourners”, as in Matthew 5:4, where we have the promise that those who do so mourn will know God’s comfort. May we truly know such comfort, as we remain mindful of, and truly sorry for our sin.
V10: Those who humble themselves before God in this way will be lifted up – and ultimately know the wonder of the fullness of salvation, sharing in His glory for all eternity – all, and only, by His grace.