James 4
Bible Passage: James 4
I once heard a RE teacher asked his students the following:
“In our lives we sometimes feel that God is near, but other times, God is very far from us. Who do you think has moved? Was it God? Or was it you?”
Today’s chapter tells us clearly the answer.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.“
But why is it that sometimes we try to pray more but we do not get any feeling of drawing any nearer to God?
I chose the image because it shows God has already come down to earth as Jesus Christ and had his hands crucified to come near to man, can we still doubt Jesus for wanting to come near to us?
James clearly tells us that we need to do a few more things other than desiring to come near to God. Our desire must be coupled by actions of repentance, of leaving our sinful deeds. On top of that, we must lament and mourn and weep! Even our laughter should be turned to mourning and our joy to gloom.
Some Christians wonder if there is such a necessity to cry out with tears to God. Is it not enough that we mourn in our heart since God sees our hearts? Why must we shed tears in front of our brethren?
But if we humble ourselves, this should not even be a question. Because our love of God should make us not worry about our “face” even before men.
Do not judge by speaking evil of another
Remember the Bible verse that tells us not to judge in Matthew 7:1? So some Christians are really critical of anyone who says to another that he is a sinner.
I feel that verse 11 says more about that kind of judgment that is mentioned in Matthew – speaking evil of one another. When one speak evil against the other, does one still hope for the repentance and salvation of that person?
I feel that we need to speak the words of the Bible and correct the people who speak or act otherwise, as we are acting as the messenger of God to tell others, friends or strangers, the words that God wants them to hear. But we must be careful how we speak, that we must speak in truth and sincerity, honestly hoping for the other to be saved. It can be hard when we end up in a debate with unbelievers who leave no regard for us at times, but we can only keep trying, and reflect upon ourselves after every such a session.
We are reminded at the end of the chapter that we do not know what will happen tomorrow. Indeed how apt it is a reminder to the above verses and their messages.
May we live our tomorrow drawing closer to God and doing His will on earth, knowing He holds our tomorrow.
2 Comments
Camelinaneedle
I can relate quite closely to this post.
James 4 : 3
” You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ”
Sometimes, when we seek the Lord, we have to execute our own self-reflection before seeking, so that we will know that the sole purpose we have chosen to seek God has truly been of the heart.
God does look at our vulnerable hearts; how it yearns and thirsts, how it leaps and feels, how it plots and deceives.
More often than we realize, God is waiting for us to make things right on our own, waiting for us to get out of our bedraggled tenements by ourselves, because He knows our predicaments are not too big for us to handle.
God’s presence should be recognized and acknowledged every moment of our lives, even though we also must realize that God’s grace is sufficient for us, that when we feel lost and helpless, God has not forsaken us. He’s only left us some room to stand up on our own two feet.
When He will, He will.
Sherman Tan
Does a man work of his own accord and quote scriptures where they fit in the aftermath that he has deliberately caused and not be taken to task by God?
The man who claims to “Speak In The Name Of Jesus” when his heart is away, heaps judgement on himself for the careless words that he speaks. When someone speaks for you, do you not tell them what to say?
Isaiah 59:1Behold, God’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.