James 4:1-1

James 4
Submit Yourselves to God

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Wow! This section of scripture is packed with things that just jump right out and get me in the heart!
"You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
Does this not answer so many peoples question about why they ask for something and it doesn't happen???? What are the motives behind your asking God for something? I think we all need to step back and think about that. I think so many times the scripture, " You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. " out of context! This is why I have to tell students and others so often that you cannot look at one scripture and not look at the rest. To truly understand what God is saying you have to look at His whole Word not just a piece of it.

Ahhh, the word submission, aint it grand! How we hate that word. Don't you hate it! I know a lot of people who leave it out of wedding vows now because they despise it so much. When it comes to a relationship with God there is no option to remove it! This scripture is just one in many that say, "Submit yourselves, then, to God." When we try to live our christian life without submitting to Him we let the world become our friend and the world will ALWAYS let you down! God will ALWAYS pick you up!

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? This is another set of scriptures that really speaks to me. It is also a very misunderstood scripture. Please understand that to my understanding someone is not judging you if they come to out of love and say they notice a sin in your life that they want to pray with you about. However, I think to many times out brothers and sisters in Christ tear each other apart over some wrongdoing! Why do we do that? We are all sinners and need to help each other through this life!

There is so much more that I get out of these scriptures! Please read and study them.

Father, you are speaking to my heart. Please help me with the selfish desires. I long to know Your Will for my life and not my own. Help me to love with your love! Thank you for loving this sinful creature! Amen.