…but god James 4: 5-7
Transcript
“Or do you think that the Scripture says, for no purpose, “He jealously desires the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and He will flee from you.”
James 4:5-7 NASB2020
All too often we rely on ourselves instead of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. The holy Scriptures regarding God’s jealousy, that James is referring, are many. They include Exodus 20:5, & Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy, 32:16, and Zechariah 8: 1-3.
I love Zechariah 8! It reads, “Then the word of the Lord of armies came, saying, “The Lord of armies says this: ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ The Lord says this: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of armies will be called the Holy Mountain.’”
Zechariah 8:1-3 NASB2020
James Makes it abundantly clear that our Lord God will not share our allegiances with anybody or anything.
As James mentioned earlier, the difficulties of living, wholy for God in a horrific and fallen world are many. However, if we can rely on the Holy Spirit, instead of our own sinful nature, we can please the Lord and be His witnesses for his Holy Kingdom which He has called us to be!
Therefore, we must humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord. For it is in our humility, that His amazing light will shine through us. If we do not humble ourselves, the creator of the universe will be obliged to humble us - as he did with king Zedekiah, whom we can read about in second Chronicles, 36: 11-13
“Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God; he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet who spoke for the Lord. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear allegiance by God. But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel.”
2 Chronicles 36:11-13 NASB2020
All too often I find myself behaving, like Zedekia falling into to the ways of the world and its sinful nature, or other times just focusing on good things, and not Godly things.
I must be humble, and seek the Lord God, my king and my savior, first and always!
So let us not be like Zedekiah, but like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who humbled himself even to the Cross, to save the world from sin.
Heavenly father, thank you for these words from James today. Thank you also for showing us what it means to have humility. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to save us from sin. Help us to humble ourselves and be more like you so that you’re perfect and pleasing name will be lifted up and so others may know you by the power of your Holy Spirit. We pray all these things in Jesus name. Amen.
Shalom, Shalom, Blessings! Press in, and press on!
by Chad McBeam
