…but god James 4: 8-10

Mar 22

James 4: 8-10

Transcript

“Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

James 4:8-10 NASB2020

In these verses, James reminds us what it means to be a follower of Christ. It’s not about us it’s about Him!

Our lives as followers of Christ must be a complete submission to the will of God. Therefore, if we are happy, living in the world, if we are comfortable living in the world, and if we don’t have to sacrifice anything by living in the world, then how is that being a follower of Christ? This is what James is explaining when he says “ Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom.” Our joy our happiness, and our love must come from Christ and the power of his Holy Spirit.

I know when my happiness and fulfillment of my life is based upon what happens to me, or what I have accomplished I am not satisfied, happy or fulfilled. Those things are earthly things, and not heavenly things. Therefore, as a true follower of Christ I must always put the serving of Christ first! When I have done this, I have fulfilled what Jesus has called me to do. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NASB2020

Dear Lord, I thank you for all the blessings you bestowed upon me. Forgive me for not putting you first for seeking the things of the world. Help me and my fellow followers to always seek you first. Help us to always put your will first. Help us to use the tools of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. We pray all these things in Jesus precious name. Amen!

Shalom, Shalom, Blessings! Press in and press on!

by Chad McBeam

Aaron Marcarelli

After getting his under-graduate degree from Cal State University San Bernardino where he played college baseball and received all American honors. he was a graduate assistant baseball coach at both Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee, and at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. He received his master’s degree in Teaching from Whitworth, with plans to someday be a head baseball coach at a university. However, God had other plans. Aaron started teaching English and History and coaching baseball and other sports at the high school level and found out how much he loves high school kids, and he has been doing that for the past 27 years. Personally, heI has been married to his wife Sharon for 32 years, they have one daughter, Amanda Parrish, who has been married to Austin Parrish for 2 years. Aaron also has two grandsons Travis age 2 ½ and Aden who is 13 months and are blessed to have another on the way due in May. Aaron loves reading, golfing, and spending time with his wife and grandkids.

…but god James 4: 8-10

…but god James 4: 5-7