Daily Devotions

Today’s reading came from James 4:1-10

James 4

1WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?
2You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [I John 3:15.]
3[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
4You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
5Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?(A)
6But He gives us more and more grace ([a]power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).(B)
7So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
8Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].
9[As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].
10Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

Two questions touched my spirit.

According to verses 1-3 what is the source of worldly antagonisms? It is the whole army of (our) evil desires at war within us. We want what we don’t have. We are not content with what we do have. So, according to God’s Word we kill and scheme to get what we want. We’re jealous of others and we fight and quarrel in order to get what we want. That’s a red light for me. Whenever I’m feeling quarrelsome I will stop and check myself out. I am going to try to analyze the situation and pray what would God have me do next. Somehow I know the answer and that is step away and do nothing for the time being.
The next question speaks about humility verses pride.
Read verse 10 of James chapter 4 with Matt 23:12, Luke 14:11, 18:14, Phil 2:5-11 and 1 Peter 5:6. How could you apply this principle to your own life and teach it more effectively to those for whom you are responsible?
When I bow down before the LORD and admit my dependence of Him, He lifts me up and honors me. To humble myself or submit myself to God’s mighty power and timing, He will lift me up and honor me. Our attitude should be the same as Christ. Jesus showed humility in every aspect of his life. For the proud shall be humbled and the humble will be honored. Those who exalt themselves shall be humbled and those who humble themselves shall be exalted.
Tell me your thoughts on the scriptures.