Friday – July 22nd – James 4:4 -----
4:4) 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.
The Daily Walk Bible inspirational thought for today:
WALKING BY FAITH MEANS BEING PREPARED TO TRUST WHERE WE ARE NOT PERMITTED TO SEE.*
Hello Friday! Yes, the end of this fast week is here for us to enjoy. Our inspirational thought for today is one that is particularly tough for me to put into practice. I certainly agree with the principle behind the statement, yet admittedly I struggle, not with the trusting part, but the not seeing part. I am a self-confessed planner type person who likes to have everything laid out in detail before I start a project or begin a trip. As followers of Jesus, we are to do just that - follow and trust that He is leading us where we are needed the most. Following can be best described as walking behind the leader while resisting the temptation to sprint past the leader to get a better look. This statement reminds me of the blind skier I witnessed going down a steep slop who was following the voice commands of a trusted partner. My pray is to have that kind of outright trust and complete faith in following Jesus.
In our pick verse today, James directly calls out those who are attempting to straddle the fence of being a follower of Jesus without letting go of the ways of the world. In this verse James’ reference to adulterers and adulteresses indicates an unfaithfulness to God rather than unfaithfulness in marriage. Throughout the Old Testament the Lord is referred to as the “husband” of His people Israel, and they are His bride. This same principle is carried into the New Testament when Jesus is referred to as the bridegroom and the church as His bride. When Israel displayed a lack of devotion to God, both Isaiah and Ezekiel called it adultery. James uses this same concept when warning the first century believers that the devil will do all in his power to turn hearts against God. Twenty-first century Christians are not exempt from these same schemes of the devil – we can be tempted into being just as adulterous as those who have gone before us. Stand strong in the Lord and lean into the wisdom that comes from above.
Blessings
Pastor Jim
Saturday – July 23rd – James 4:5-6
*Tyndale. The Daily Walk Bible NLT (Kindle Locations 37984-37985). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
4:4) 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.
The Daily Walk Bible inspirational thought for today:
WALKING BY FAITH MEANS BEING PREPARED TO TRUST WHERE WE ARE NOT PERMITTED TO SEE.*
Hello Friday! Yes, the end of this fast week is here for us to enjoy. Our inspirational thought for today is one that is particularly tough for me to put into practice. I certainly agree with the principle behind the statement, yet admittedly I struggle, not with the trusting part, but the not seeing part. I am a self-confessed planner type person who likes to have everything laid out in detail before I start a project or begin a trip. As followers of Jesus, we are to do just that - follow and trust that He is leading us where we are needed the most. Following can be best described as walking behind the leader while resisting the temptation to sprint past the leader to get a better look. This statement reminds me of the blind skier I witnessed going down a steep slop who was following the voice commands of a trusted partner. My pray is to have that kind of outright trust and complete faith in following Jesus.
In our pick verse today, James directly calls out those who are attempting to straddle the fence of being a follower of Jesus without letting go of the ways of the world. In this verse James’ reference to adulterers and adulteresses indicates an unfaithfulness to God rather than unfaithfulness in marriage. Throughout the Old Testament the Lord is referred to as the “husband” of His people Israel, and they are His bride. This same principle is carried into the New Testament when Jesus is referred to as the bridegroom and the church as His bride. When Israel displayed a lack of devotion to God, both Isaiah and Ezekiel called it adultery. James uses this same concept when warning the first century believers that the devil will do all in his power to turn hearts against God. Twenty-first century Christians are not exempt from these same schemes of the devil – we can be tempted into being just as adulterous as those who have gone before us. Stand strong in the Lord and lean into the wisdom that comes from above.
Blessings
Pastor Jim
Saturday – July 23rd – James 4:5-6
*Tyndale. The Daily Walk Bible NLT (Kindle Locations 37984-37985). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
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