Divided Loyalty

Meditations in the Season of Lent 

March 20, 2023

Divided Loyalty

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

James 4:8

Read: James 4:1-10

Last Thursday, (March 16) reflecting on James’ discussion of the evil within our tongue, I noted James wanted the church to recognize the dichotomy that is the reality of our life. Today’s passage expounds on that dichotomy.

·         The quarrels and fights among you come from the evil desires at war within you.

·         You want what you don’t have.

·         You are jealous of what others have.

·         You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

·         When you do ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

But James doesn’t leave us hanging, he reminds us our hope is in God’s faithfulness: “God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. And he gives grace generously.” (v.5-6) Because of God’s generous grace, we can humble ourselves before God, resist the devil, and he will flee from us. We can come close to God, and God will come close to us! (v.7-8)

Today’s passage ends with a truly Lenten theme: “Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.” (v.9)

My Takeaway: There is also a hopeful, Easter resurrection ending today: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” (v.10) Yes, God gives grace generously!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.