We Christians have a relationship with God our father, we call many times as Father-Child relationship, Sheep-Shepherd relationship, friend relationship and a relation like a family (Husband and Wife), Bedrock of a family relationship is trust and faithfulness. God expects that type of singular relationship with him.
'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. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us ? ' James 4:4-5
We read couple of things here
Adulterous People – We Christians, after knowing God, we choose to live a life with attachment to world and some part on him, a double standard life. He feels we are cheating the relationship we have with God. Think of the inner pain and torture inside the person who is betrayed by an unfaithful spouse, who must reckon with the truth, I am faithful to them, but they are not faithful to me. This is what the Spirit of God feels regarding the way when we act on world-loving things in heart.
Enemy of the world – If we live a life close to the world, he says they (Christians) are the enemy of God, this statement comes - as our God is a jealous God. He is jealous about our relationship with him.
If you meditate deeper you will understand why he used such a strong word for his people (“Adulterous” and “Enemy”). If we live a close life to world we get into Sinful ways, this is opposite to what Jesus wants each of his chosen one to be, he wants us to be holy / free from sins so that It can prepare us for an eternal life with him. With Sin in our life it’s impossible to get the salvation that God desires..
So we may ask how is it possible to live a life in the world, not be close to world and also be close to God ?
God expects us to keep him as First and Primary source when we have that relationship. He understands that we need the worldly things to live in the world, he will give all the things in world for us. He will give you the desires / things of the world on what he wishes, not what we wish (we may wish more). Often when we walk in this relationship we think having a worldly blessing is God’s will and choose to move close to world and keep God secondary, leading to a sinful life and staying away from God. It’s a fine line on where you should watch not to cross over.
We have sinful desires by Birth, how much ever we try to lead a Godly life Sin comes into us even though we may think we are close to God.
'But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” ' James 4:6
The verse starts “'But he gives us more grace”, We sin even after walking with God, so he realizes that in the world we live ,we will trip and fall into Sin due to our sinful desires we have by birth, He gives More grace to his children.
Spurgeon writes - Sin seeks to enter, grace shuts the door; sin tries to get the mastery, but grace, which is stronger than sin, resists, and will not permit it. Sin gets us down at times and puts its foot on our neck; grace comes to the rescue... Sin comes up like Noah’s flood, but grace rides over the tops of the mountains like the ark.
The above Is very true, as children of God we have Grace.
How do we get Grace of God?
'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 'James 4:7-8
Unconditional Surrender – Surrender yourself to God, like how a prisoner surrenders in defeat, surrender everything to him. Don’t surrender select things in life, surrender all (personal ego, proudful heart, every areas of your life) the things to him without any conditions. This is what it means “'Submit yourselves, then, to God”
Resist the Devi – God gives us a command “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” Devil that refers here is our closeness to the world, we are tempted by many things in the world, he asks us to get rid of the temptations in the name of Jesus, he will flee away.
Come Near to God – He asks us to come near to God
It means to draw near in worship, praise, and in prayer. It’s not a one-time thing, it must be daily.
It means to draw near by asking counsel of God. When we face challenges in worldly life, he will counsel us what to take and what to avoid, what things can make us cross the line from Godly to Ungodly things.
It means to draw near in enjoying communion with God. Asking God how we should make our walks in life, like a GPS of our life he will guide you what to do next, as you are dependent on him.
Once we do this, he will help us navigate in the world to stay away from Sins. Also prepare us for his eternal glory and make us ready for his judgement day
Coming near to God helps us to become pure. He will make us Holy, it’s a constant battle, but he will make us one step though our life with small steps.
Coming near to God helps us to acknowledge our sin. We feel sorry for the sin’s we commit in our heart. our soul will long when we do something that is not correct in Lord’s eyes.
Coming near to God helps us to speak well of other people. It gets us the Love for others, Godly Love comes to us and uses that for his glory.
Coming near to God helps us to think of eternal things. He will make us think of how to work for his ministry and see how we share the good news we have to others which can draw others to him, thru us. He gives talents to us (Praying / Singing / Prophecy / Writing etc..) thru which we are looking towards his eternal things.
Once we receive the grace of God, he will wash us and purifies us from all sins.
So, this is how grace overcomes Sin – “sin tries to get the mastery, but grace, which is stronger than sin”
Blessings from God
Now that you have overcome Sin with Grace, if you want to get more blessings from God, “Humble” to God
Earlier we read James 4:6 - “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble”.
But we can get the grace only when we Humble in front of God.
We need to get rid of the pride in us to get favour from God.
“More Grace” is not given for us so that we can take sin lightly and keep on sinning again and again. It’s given for us a chance to move away, we can get that only when we “Humble” in front of God.
He will lift us up if we humble. And bless us more in our life.
'Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. ' James 4:10
Once we humble and surrender, he will save us and lift us up.
'As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ' Romans 10:11,13
So, remember this – “Sin gets us down at times and puts its foot on our neck; grace comes to the rescue” you get that only with an Unconditional surrender attitude towards God.
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