James 4:1-12
James asks, "Where does war and fighting originate?" Is it not from the lusts within us. We desire things that aren't ours so we kill to get them. We don't have what we desire because we don't ask to fill it. When we do ask we are asking for the wrong things with the wrong motives. God calls this friendship with the world spiritual adultery. We can't be friends of the world and be God's friend too. It makes us his enemy. Our own spirit is completely vile but God's grace covers us if we resist our pride and humble ourselves before him. If we give ourselves totally to God and turn from the devil he will have to leave us alone. If we want to approach God he will meet us. He loves for us to draw near.
How do we approach a holy God? We cleanse our motives and our strengths and become single minded. We are ashamed and sorrowful about our state of sin because if we humble ourselves, he will lift us up and receive us. We stop doing God's job and let him judge people.
James gives us quite a list of do's and don'ts but it all boils down to laying down our lives and taking up the cross. No way we can do that except by his grace which he so freely gives us.
In a few days I will be going to Israel where I will see this lust and envy that leads to strife and murder play out. The sad thing is that murder is passed down from one generation to another and no one seems to see the obvious - turn back to God.
Lord, let us be examples to our Jewish brothers of love and unity. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
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