Why do we fight? Why do we have problems? Why are we never satisfied? James says it is because of the passions within us that struggle against God’s will for us. Just like the spring James described with both fresh and salt water coming from it, we are divided within ourselves and divided among one another.
“Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” James asks. When we as God’s people live according to the World’s priorities and values, it puts us in conflict with God. It erodes our faith, hope and love. It leads us to think in terms of power instead of submission; pride instead of humility; domination instead of service. Yet the Word teaches, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
Remember that we are the creature. God is the creator. More than that, remember that we were the Fallen, and Jesus is the savior that lifts us up. When we step outside of these relationships with God, we find ourselves in conflict, not just with ourselves and others, but with God Himself. When we get this relationship wrong, we begin to place our priorities over His, our plans over His, and essentially make ourselves our own god. (It’s a sad picture when we strut through life proclaiming to ourselves, “All, hail me!”)
Thank the Lord that He is so patient with us! Even in our most puffed up opinion of ourselves He is still gracious and gives us His underserved kindness. But he still calls us back, and our lives will not work right until we find ourselves in our place – living by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus, and that faith showing in what we do by the power of the Holy Spirit.
James also talks about doing the right thing. He is teaching us there are two kinds of sin. The first we all know about. We call them Sins of Commission – sins that we commit. In these sins we do something wrong and break God’s commands. James also teaches that there are Sins of Omission. These are sins that we commit by not doing the right thing – we “omit,” or leave out, what we should have done. It is not enough to say, “I didn’t do anything wrong.” Did you do anything right? This is why when Luther explains the Ten Commandments he follows the pattern, “We should fear and love God so that we do not . . .” and then he describes the behavior that is prohibited. Then he continues, “but we should . . .” and describes the behavior and action that God desires from us.
One more thing from this chapter: the last half of verse 7 and the first half of verse 8 are two sentences we should commit to memory. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” We resist the devil through prayer and choices which are empowered by God’s Word. We overcome him as we live in God’s power day by day, depending on His grace and forgiveness being transformed through faith in Jesus who died and rose for us.
Father, thank you for making me, saving me, and empowering me to overcome the devil in this life. Help me to choose to do what is right, and by my actions show your love to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” James asks. When we as God’s people live according to the World’s priorities and values, it puts us in conflict with God. It erodes our faith, hope and love. It leads us to think in terms of power instead of submission; pride instead of humility; domination instead of service. Yet the Word teaches, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
Remember that we are the creature. God is the creator. More than that, remember that we were the Fallen, and Jesus is the savior that lifts us up. When we step outside of these relationships with God, we find ourselves in conflict, not just with ourselves and others, but with God Himself. When we get this relationship wrong, we begin to place our priorities over His, our plans over His, and essentially make ourselves our own god. (It’s a sad picture when we strut through life proclaiming to ourselves, “All, hail me!”)
Thank the Lord that He is so patient with us! Even in our most puffed up opinion of ourselves He is still gracious and gives us His underserved kindness. But he still calls us back, and our lives will not work right until we find ourselves in our place – living by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus, and that faith showing in what we do by the power of the Holy Spirit.
James also talks about doing the right thing. He is teaching us there are two kinds of sin. The first we all know about. We call them Sins of Commission – sins that we commit. In these sins we do something wrong and break God’s commands. James also teaches that there are Sins of Omission. These are sins that we commit by not doing the right thing – we “omit,” or leave out, what we should have done. It is not enough to say, “I didn’t do anything wrong.” Did you do anything right? This is why when Luther explains the Ten Commandments he follows the pattern, “We should fear and love God so that we do not . . .” and then he describes the behavior that is prohibited. Then he continues, “but we should . . .” and describes the behavior and action that God desires from us.
One more thing from this chapter: the last half of verse 7 and the first half of verse 8 are two sentences we should commit to memory. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” We resist the devil through prayer and choices which are empowered by God’s Word. We overcome him as we live in God’s power day by day, depending on His grace and forgiveness being transformed through faith in Jesus who died and rose for us.
Father, thank you for making me, saving me, and empowering me to overcome the devil in this life. Help me to choose to do what is right, and by my actions show your love to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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