Message from Scripture: 10/17/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is Jas. 4:7. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

 

In James 4, James addresses some issues the Christians he wrote to were struggling with. They had a problem with quarreling among each other, They were having problems gaining control over sinful desires. Some had stopped praying and were finding they did not have what they needed spiritually, but even those who were still praying were not getting their prayers answered, because they were asking from sinful desires. This is not how life in Christ should be! While James addresses several things that they could change, the two instructions in our Scripture reading are fundamental to overcoming the flesh and having victory in Christ.

 

First, James gives them the imperative of submitting to God. No one will find spiritual success if they have given themselves over to sin, or if they waver back and forth between the will of God and the desires of the flesh. Earlier in this chapter James said, “You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4). We must spend time in God’s word daily to remember what we are to do to be in submission to our loving Father.

 

Next, James tells his readers they must resist the devil for him to flee from them. We’re familiar with the saying of how playing with fire can cause one to be burned. If you allow Satan influence in your thoughts, he will gain influence in your life. If we know the will of God, we know the right path to take. We must make it our goal, with the help of God, to practice godly principles. We can pray for wisdom (Jas. 1:5), and know God will be with us to help us keep our focus on what leads to eternal life.

 

Every day we have a choice to make, either for God or for the devil. Satan does everything in his power to destroy us, while God in Christ does everything to save us. Today, choose wisely and find the joy of life in Christ. God bless.

 

Robert