Luke 10:25-37

We have been digging deep into the story of the Good Samaritan. This is the third and last part of a three-part devotional. I would encourage you to review the first two devotionals before reading this final one.

Victory Call regulars have been studying the book of James for some time. James 1:26-27 defines “religion” from the Christian point of view: “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Religion, when pure, is very powerful. However when religion becomes defiled it can rob individuals of their freedom to worship a holy God by instituting man-made rules and regulations. It can produce a carnal mind that is at enmity with God. It can block moving forward into the good plan God has for our future.

Today I want to review the story of a man from scripture who appears to have undefiled religion. If the spirit of religion tempted him, he must have defeated it. It appears that he move fully into the destiny God had prepared for him. His name is Caleb. He was one of the twelve spies Moses sent out when the Israelites came to The Promised Land after their trip from Egypt. Sadly, ten of the twelve spies only saw the giants in the land and the battles that would have to be fought. Joshua and Caleb, on the other hand, trusted in God fully and were ready to move in and take the land. The people were afraid and were ready to stone Joshua and Caleb. God was not happy (Num. 13:1- 14:12). Moses had to shift into intercession for the people once again. The people would have to wait 40 years to move into the Promised Land. As for Caleb, here is what God said about him: “But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it” (Numbers 14:24).

During those 40 years of waiting I do not find one word to indicate that Caleb was bitter or angry. Nowhere do I see recorded that he spoke in a way as to consider himself more important or righteous than others. It does not appear that he began to fall into doubt or unbelief though he did have to wait. In fact, after the time of waiting Caleb went into the land he was promised. He was 85 (Joshua 14:12). He and his descendants walked into the plan God has for his life. What was his “secret”? I believe it is found in the passage of the Good Samaritan. Caleb loved God with his whole heart, mind, soul and strength. He loved his neighbor as himself. Why do I say this, you may ask? I say this because God said it. As I indicated before, God is quoted as saying Caleb followed Him fully. He had a “different spirit” than others. The following verses also indicate that Caleb followed God “wholeheartedly” (Numbers 32:12; Deut. 1:35; Joshua 14:8-9,14). Caleb was sincerely and completely devoted, determined and enthusiastic about the God He served.

Now what about you and me? I would encourage you to take some time to examine yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to uncover those places where you may have embraced the spirit of religion. Then I would encourage you to get free and follow God wholeheartedly. You might start with prayer, a prayer like this:

Father in heaven, I love You with all my heart. I repent for the times I chose ritual over relationship with You. Specifically, I renounce the alliance with vain religion that I have made. I will now engage my heart regularly when I pray and worship You. Your Word is the final authority in my life. I will no longer exalt man-made traditions over Your Word. Jesus, I ask You to cleanse me from this sin. I receive Your forgiveness by faith in the blood of Your cross. I now renounce this spirit of religion. I yield to the Holy Spirit that I might worship in Spirit and Truth. Holy Spirit, help me to wholeheartedly love the Lord my God with my heart, mind, soul and strength and my neighbor as myself. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

At the end of the story of the Good Samaritan Jesus asked the lawyer a different question. He said, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The lawyer did answer honestly, “The one who had mercy on him.” That one was a Samaritan. I wonder if he walked away convicted or disgusted. Did he change his old mindset? The Bible doesn’t tell us. We do know that the Pharisees and Sadducees went on to seek government assistance in the crucifixion of Jesus. The lawyer who initially asked Jesus the question about how to gain eternal life was likely a Pharisee or Sadducee.

My prayer is that you and I will take a very different route. We will seek to love the Lord our God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength each and every day. We will love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).

Blessings,
Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Resource Materials used from: Freedom from the Religious Spirit, General Editor C. Peter Wagner; Regal Books, 2005

DIGGING DEEPER
James 4:7-9
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

Luke 10:25-37

We left off yesterday after having reviewed the familiar Bible Story of the Good Samaritan. I suggested that Jesus might have been using this story to confront the lawyer concerning the spirit of religion.

Let us take a look at the “Symptoms of the Religious Spirit” as shared by Rev. Robert Heidler, Th.M. Rev. Heidler identified seven characteristics of those oppressed by the religious spirit:

1. An Overemphasis on Outward Form
The religious spirit wants you to say the “right” words, do the “right” things and have the “right” look. There is always a fear of what others will think. It brings with it a resistance to change and a hesitancy to try something new. For example, Saul’s daughter, David’s wife, was horrified by David’s dance in worship as it went beyond what she was used to (2 Sam. 6:14-22). In contrast God places heart attitude above outward appearance (Mark 12:30).

2. A Sense of Condemnation and Fear
The religious spirit always condemns you if you don’t “get it right”. There is a continual fear of failure. It takes “risk taking” right out of you. After all, who wants to come under condemnation and fear? Yet God’s mercy triumphs over justice (James 2:14b).

3. Attitude of Pride and Judgment
The religious spirit will cause you to pick up self-righteous pride in your accomplishments, a feeling that you are better than others, and a critical attitude toward those who don’t measure up. Jesus wants us to do nothing out of selfish ambition and He calls us to value others as more important than ourselves (Phil. 2:3).

4. Oppressive Legalism
The religious spirit offers a legalistic system with no flexibility. It wants to produce a method that can replace a relationship with Jesus. Rather John 10:27 tells us that we can have a very personal relationship with Jesus. We can listen to His voice. He knows us. We follow Him rather than some method developed by man that is here today and gone tomorrow.

5. Need to “Figure God Out”
Religion reduces God to a subject for intellectual study. It’s an attempt to put God in a box. New moves of teh Holy Spirit are rejected if they don’t match up with our understanding of how God works. As if we could ever really fully understand God’s ways. The prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter 55 verse 8 that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts; His ways are not our ways. There is always more of Jesus to know and love.

6. A Dependence on Self-Effort
Everything depends on “YOU”! Try harder and discipline yourself more!! I think this one has hit everyone at least one time in life. Get yourself off this hook, dear one. In the kingdom of God, righteousness is obtained through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:4). Righteousness flows from a relationship with Jesus. It is because of His blood we can wear His breastplate of righteousness (Eph. 6:14b).

7. Undue Emphasis on Tradition
Religion will cause you to attach great honor to the work of God in the past, while standing in opposition to His will for the present. That is what happened when a spirit caused the children of Israel to burn incense to the bronze serpent (2 Kings 18:4). God does want us to remember His great deeds in the past but without turning them into idols. He wants us to seek the Holy Spirit for direction and help in the present.

Now that we have addressed the symptoms of the religious spirit let’s take a look at someone in the scripture that appears to have been free from this spirit. Watch for Part 3!!

Blessings,
Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Resource material used from: Freedom from the Religious Spirit, C Peter Wagner, General Editor, Regal Books 2005.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 4:7-9
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

Luke 10:25-37

Our church has been using a Bible Reading Plan this year called E 100. We read two scripture passages each week that are key in the Word of God. Pastor preaches on the passages on Wednesday evenings and at Sunday morning service. It has been a real blessing and has encouraged the body to dig into the Word of God.

This week I have been reading the story of “The Good Samaritan”. As I reflected upon the scripture and sought what the Lord was teaching me, it seemed the Lord continually brought me back to one theme…this story brings to light the dangers of the religious spirit.

The story is presented when a lawyer, who was likely a scribe and very familiar with the law, asked Jesus, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him with another question, “What is written in the Law?” The lawyer answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” The lawyer was not satisfied and asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied as He often would, with a story.

The story presents a person who was injured on the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers left the man for dead. A priest passed him by offering no assistance, a Levite passed him by offering no assistance, and then a Samaritan arrived who not only gave him immediate care for his wounds but took him to an inn and provided the necessary funds (2 days wages) for his continued care. Amazing, God used a Samaritan to teach this learned lawyer who was likely a Pharisee or Sadducee.

Now the Jewish people did not associate with Samaritans. Samaritans were a mixed race of people. The King of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. The people took over Samaria and lived in its towns. While living in Samaria the people did not worship the LORD but rather the gods of their home nation. The King of Assyria sent a priest from the Israelites to go and teach them to worship the Lord. They did so but they continued to also worship their gods in the high places and offer sacrifices to them. Some Jews inter-married with the foreigners who were living in Samaria. To learn more about Samaritans read 2 Kings 17:24-41.

The Priests and Levites surely did not associate with Samaritans. They would never think of a Samaritan as following the Scripture more correctly then they. In addition, although the Bible does not tell us anything about the man who was injured, it is fair to say that the Priest and Levite who passed him by must have presumed that the injured man was not their “neighbor”. You see, they viewed a neighbor was anyone they considered “righteous”. The Samaritans therefore did not qualify. Sadly, the Priests and Levites, the Pharisees and the Sadducees did not know the truth that we are all sinners and not even one person is righteous apart from Christ. The leadership of the Temple were sadly a people who believed anyone who was “wicked” was hated by God. They did not know that although God does hate sin, He loves the sinner. Trapped in their religious system, they were not open to the revelation that Messiah was standing with them. Messiah who physically lived among them loved the sinner so much He would die on the cross. They were so stuck in “religion” they did not have eyes to see their salvation standing in front of them. That is how “religion” works. It causes us to be critical and closed to what the Holy Spirit is telling us.

Perhaps there are places you are stuck because of a spirit of religion. Please keep an eye out for part 2 of this message for more understanding and help with getting free of the spirit of religion.

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
James 4:7-9
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

We have passed the half-way mark in our study through the book of James. I hope you are being blessed by our baby steps through the book. There are so many treasures in this book; it is one of my favorites.

If you are just joining us now in our journey, we have been making our way through James on Mondays and Fridays. Welcome and I trust you will be blessed.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Commentary:
“Submit. Lit. “to line up under.” The word was used of soldiers under the authority of their commander… James used the word to describe a willing, conscious submission to God’s authority as sovereign ruler of the universe. A truly humble person will give his allegiance to God, obey His commands and follow His leadership… Resist the devil and he will flee from you. The flip side of the first command. “Resist” literally means “take your stand against.” All people are either under the lordship of Christ or the lordship of Satan…there is no middle ground. Those who transfer their allegiance from Satan to God will find that Satan “will flee from” them; he is a defeated foe.” [The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur pg. 1893]

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

James 4:5-6
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (ESV)

Points to Ponder
I remember being struck by our pastor’s statement that God opposes, resists, the proud. I have read that Scripture numerous times but apparently I never stopped to actually consider that in my pride, God opposes me. We tend to think of pride as the arrogant buffoon that parades around drawing attention to herself, demeaning others and elevating herself. But pride is soooo much more than that.

I was reminded today by a co-worker that anger is a form of pride because an angry person thinks they are right. Hmmm. I guess I never really thought of that, but it seems true. How about having to have the last word or the first word or the loudest word?

How about criticism or judgment? Don’t they both involve pride?

But what is true humility? I don’t think it is “acting” humble because even in “acting” humble we can be proud.

I trust you, like I, desire to be humble from the heart. When we are truly humble, God’s grace will wash over us, for He gives grace to the humble.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

In a recent remake of the movie “True Grit”, there’s a scene early on in which the main character, Mattie, arrives at the undertaker’s to claim her murdered father’s remains. At which point the undertaker allows her to view the body and says to her, “If you would like, you may kiss him.” To which she replies, “No, the spirit has flown.”

His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish. Psalm 146:4 (NKJV)

I remember when my dad died, almost seventeen years ago now… his funeral was, to say the least, very difficult. We all loved him and his death came unexpectedly. At the time I was 8-months pregnant and my family was concerned that the grief and stress of his loss on me and the baby would be overwhelming. They were careful to not let me spend too much time lingering at his side. I remember that it bothered me he didn’t smell like “daddy.” I brought his cologne (Canoe) to the funeral home later in the day and my brother put some on him…but still, daddy was gone.

Although he was a wonderful father to me, he did not know the Lord, nor did I at the time. I didn’t feel the need to kiss him, but stroked his hair, touched his arm and pulled away. I knew that although his body was there, “the spirit had flown.” He and I had no “unfinished business,” no unspoken words, or hugs or kisses not given or received. I praise God there had been much love given and returned. I couldn’t even say that I hadn’t shared Jesus Christ with him. How could I have shared something I had yet to receive?

I pursue no revenge. My father died of a massive heart attack. In God’s sovereignty, which I did not then, nor do I now question, it was his time. What I do pursue is the opportunity to share Jesus Christ with others. I know my earthly father, if he could, would beg me to do that. And my heavenly Father commands it.
Mattie spent the remainder of the movie hunting down her father’s killer in pursuit of justice and revenge. She seemed to have “True Grit” in that she was determined despite all costs to would avenge her father’s death. Part of the movie’s soundtrack included “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” a great old hymn some of you may know. Mattie didn’t seem to be leaning on God’s everlasting arms, but on her own strength.

…What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms….

The spirit does depart, either to spend eternity with the Lord or eternity separated from the Lord. When your spirit has departed, where will it have flown?

Psalm 146 (NKJV)
1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.
5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners.
8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
10 The LORD shall reign forever-
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!

Dina Seaton
Marketing Assistant, Staff Writer

For more information on how to know God, click the following link to our website. http://www.americaskeswick.org/364496.ihtml

DIGGING DEEPER
James 4:5-6
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (ESV)

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1

Yes, the “why” question. I am sure you have heard others ask it; in fact, I’m pretty sure you have asked it at some point in your life. Maybe you are even asking God WHY right now.

You have heard the cliché – “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I read recently that the remainder of that saying should continue, “The tough get going in the opposite direction!” Right? When times are tough, when we don’t understand, when we are not happy with the way things are or what is happening in our lives… we tend more to run and hide than anything else. Or at least in our hearts that’s what we want to do.

Are you in a pit? Are you finding yourself in a holding pattern without clarity of direction? Are you in personal or physical pain? Maybe you feel like you are wandering around in the dark. I do not know where you are at, but I know the God who does know and totally understands. The hard part is that He does not always choose to answer our question “why”. (God told us why Job had to suffer, but Job was never let in on that secret.)

Even though He may not directly answer our “why” questions, He does choose in His Word to give us some possible explanations or reasons for our suffering and trials. One well-known example is that we are to: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-3).

In his book, The Problem with Pain, C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscious, but shouts in our pain.” Pour out your heart to God, ask Him why and trust Him that He will take care, and make it all make sense in His grand story for your life. “Trust in Him, at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

Bill Bright challenged us in His book, The Journey Home, to not be like the Pharisees whom Jesus admonished because “you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God”(Matt. 22:29). It will be true that when we have some understanding of how God is working in our lives and how our troubles fit into His plan, it is much easier to accept difficulties. He further challenges us to put this sign on our soul today: “GOD IS AT WORK.”

My goal is to write some Victory Calls which will look further into the question of “Why?” I hope you join me on this journey. Let me end with this today – it is always good to remind ourselves that God is loving, kind and just, and that brings us the promise of hope, the promise of new life, the promise of restoration, and the good news of a peace that passes all understanding.

Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies

DIGGING DEEPER
James 4:5-6
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (ESV)

Sitting recently under the teaching of Mark Kolchin, I felt like parched and cracked dry land with first drops of water and then a flood of water washing over my soul. It was oh, so refreshing but also challenging and convicting. Mark did an abbreviated teaching from his 24-part series “From Exodus to Canaan.” We mostly looked at Exodus and Numbers but visited Deuteronomy and other books of the Bible as well.

In front of the room was a huge map of the area including Egypt to Canaan. We tracked the flight of the Israelites and I think every one of us learned a few details we had missed over the years. I could write numerous Victory Calls about my own experience of excitement even after being a believer 28 years and perhaps I will but today’s is about a realization I had over the weekend that I share because perhaps you too might find yourself with the wrong kind of contentment.

You know there were 12 tribes of Israel but only 10 1/2 tribes crossed into the Promised Land, 2 1/2 tribes (the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh) settled on the near side of the Jordan.

Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock. So the people of Gad and the people of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the chiefs of the congregation, “…the land that the LORD struck down before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan.” Numbers 32:1-4

The people of Reuben and the people of Gad liked what they saw on the near side of the Jordan. They didn’t want to actually cross into Canaan, but asked to settle just outside the border.

They gave the illusion of being single-hearted with the nation of Israel. “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east.” Numbers 32:16-19

The two and a half tribes were enamored with the land OUTSIDE the Promised Land. In their mind it was “good enough” that they didn’t actually have to cross the Jordan. They were content but in less than all that God desired for them.

I found that illustration convicting. In many ways, I am like those two and a half tribes, content with being close to the Promised Land but not actually IN the Promised Land. To be in Canaan requires we fully surrender to the Lord, die to ourselves and live in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. To go into Canaan, I must die. To live just outside of Canaan, I deceive myself that part of me can live on. And frankly it is pretty comfortable close to but not IN the Promised Land. I realize I have the wrong kind of contentment.

How about you? Have you FULLY surrendered to God? Are you following Jesus Christ with your WHOLE heart? Are you living the crucified life? Are you discontent until you are IN the Promised Land or are you content to be close enough?

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

Stay tuned, the Crossing the Jordan Bible Study is nearing publication. I believe by September we should have it available for purchase.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 4:5-6
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (ESV)

Dear friends, thank you to several of you that responded to last week’s Victory Call letting me know you are out there reading. I appreciate your input. We are able to track the emails and know that of the nearly 900 subscribers only a small portion of you actually open the Victory Call email – and of course you are the ones reading this. I can’t fault those who choose not to open and read the e-votional because I’m just as bad, signing up for things and then just delete, delete, delete them as they come along. For those of you who continue to follow and be blessed by our meager offerings, we are encouraged and blessed to know that God takes our loaves and fishes and multiplies them a thousand-fold to feed His people.

Our experience has been similar with the Crossing the Jordan Bible study. To think that God has seen fit to use our writings way beyond our intentions is very humbling. I am even today (Thursday as I write this) reviewing the manuscript, I think for the final time. Soon it will be whisked off to the publishing house and the printer. We will keep you posted when it hits the shelves. Please pray with me that it is God’s heart, God’s words, and God’s truth that ends up in print, not ours.

Okay – back to the task at hand.

James 4:5-6
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (ESV)

Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (NIV)

Commentary
“Scripture. The passage James had in mind is not known. the spirit…envies intensely. The words ‘the spirit he caused to live in us’ refer to God’s creation of man (Gen. 2:7). Because of the fall, man’s spirit ‘envies intensely,’ but God’s grace (v. 6) is able to overcome man’s envy. Regarding the two alternative translations…the meaning of the first is that God jealously longs for our faithfulness and our love…In this case the Scripture referred to may be Ex. 20:5. The second capitalizes “Spirit” and makes Him the subject. It is the Holy Spirit who longs jealously for our full devotion. If this is the correct translation, it is the only clear reference to the Holy Spirit in the letter.” [The NIV Study Bible pg. 1884]

The difference God makes between pride and humility, v. 6. This is represented as the language of Scripture in the Old Testament. 1. The disgrace cast upon the proud: God resists them. The proud resists God. Let proud spirits hear this and tremble – God resists them. He will certainly fill with shame the faces of such as have filled their hearts with pride. 2. The honour and help God gives to the humble. Grace, as opposed to disgrace, is honour: this God gives to the humble. Wherever God gives true grace, he will give more. He will especially give more grace to the humble, because they see their need of it, will pray for it and be thankful for it; and such shall have it. [Matthew Henry’s Commentary in One Volume by Matthew Henry pg. 1935-1936]

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

James 4:4
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Points to Ponder
Think about it. How wide the chasm between the world and holiness? I can see in just the nearly 30 years I have been a believer how the contrast between the believer and the non-believer has become dimmer and dimmer. Sometimes they appear indistinguishable. I’m not talking about sticking out like a sore thumb under the guise of holiness, but genuine humility, compassion, and love will mark any woman as unique in today’s society. Do Christians have a corner on these things? No. There are non-believers that often put Christians to shame with their “Christ-like qualities.”

I think we need to be discerning as to WHY we want to be like the world. Are we genuinely concerned for our unsaved family and friends? Do we want to have open doors of opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ? Can we do that without crossing the line of temptation and sin or negatively impacting the reputation of our Savior?

OR

Do we want to be friends with the world because our flesh likes it? Or perhaps so we fit in and don’t need to explain ourselves? Are we embarrassed of our faith? Do we so fear man that we fail to fear God?

Do you see why James calls such people adulterous? We belong to Jesus Christ, we have been bought with a price, redeemed, regenerated, rescued; so if we romance the world we are betraying our Groom, our Redeemer, our Rescuer, and our Love.

Are you today a friend of God or His enemy?

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.