Scripture Text: James 4:1-7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
It is truly bothersome how James specifically addressed this letter to 'Christians' considering the grave sin and how darkened were the hearts that this passage mentioned. Firstly, James directly said that there are quarrels and conflicts between Christians and straightly went ahead to the root cause of these strife, which is the desire that is within that the hearts battling inside. Our fleshly desires that should be put to death since we are already a new creation—where our heart now is made of flesh that hears the word of God, from a heart of stone that seeks nothing, but selfish desire alone.
The passage continues to show how corrupted a man can be by having conflict with someone up to the point of murdering because of evil desires which was not given by God; firstly because it is not being prayed to God, and secondly was because these things are not being asked from God for His will, but only to satisfy the desires of our sinful flesh. This should never be the case of someone who has been born again in Christ as we are no longer of the flesh, but of Christ's.
He then proceeded to rebuke the 'Christians' by calling the people as adulterous people because being entangled by worldly and fleshly desires cannot be intertwined with doing the will of God in Christ. The hypocrisy of men is considered adultery since we can never serve God with that kind of heart!
Christians should strive to follow the will of God from the inside out. We should pray to seriously desire it with all of our being. To seek and find joy in His will and for it to be the sole desire of our heart. This can only be possible by truly repenting from these evil and fleshly desires and truly seek the Lord with all of our hearts—knowing that none can satisfy us, only Him.
By humbling ourselves in front of God, acknowledging that it is only by repentance that we can be free from these and fully relying on Jesus, we can be free from these sins in our heart and will not desire things that are seen, but desire the things from above.
Reflect
1. Why do we still desire evil things if we are already been born again of God?
2. Do we completely submit to the authority of God or is it still ourselves that is taking place in our hearts.?
Read
Romans 7: 7-23; 1 Peter 2:1-11; 1 Peter &:8-9
Remember
We will truly know if Christ is the one who is in our hearts by the things that we truly desire deep inside and if there is still a war inside us or we have fully given up the evil desires inside us.
Pray
Father, please have mercy on me, Your child. It is only by Your will that I can overcome this evil heart of mine and change it to a heart that will only chase to please You. Please save me from my sins and humble me, and let me find satisfaction in You alone.
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