In our walk of faith, we will be consistently challenged with truly submitting ourselves to God's will. This can often feel daunting, yet it holds the key to unlocking a deeper, more fulfilling life.
Today, we'll explore what James the half-brother of Jesus discovered - and reflect on what it means to yield ourselves fully to God.
James, in his characteristic straightforward style, confronts us with some hard-hitting truths about pride, humility, and our relationship with God. He asks, "Where do wars and fights come from among you?" It's a question that resonates not just on the global stage, but in our personal lives as well. How often do we find ourselves in conflict with others, or even at war within ourselves?
James doesn't leave us guessing. He points directly to our desires for pleasure, our lusts, and our covetousness. It's a sobering reminder that so much of our strife comes from within – from our own hearts and minds. However - James tells us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
If you have felt resistance in your life (dreams, plans and goals - seemingly thwarted) - and wondered why - this simple yet profound statement encapsulates the essence of God's plan for your life. It's not about losing our identity or becoming doormats. Rather, it's about recognizing our place in relation to our Creator and yielding to His wisdom and love.
But what does this 'submission' look like in practice? James gives us clear directions:
1. Submit to God.
2. Resist the devil.
3. Draw near to God - He draws near to you.
4. Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts.
5. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.
These steps paint a picture of active engagement with our faith. Submission isn't passive; it's a deliberate choice we make every day.
To illustrate - consider the story of a young boy who loved playing marbles. One day, he encountered a girl with a bag of chocolates. If there was one thing he loved more than marbles it was chocolate, so he offered to trade all the marbles for her chocolates. However, he secretly kept back his prized blue marble (which had won him many matches), and safely tucked it away at the bottom of his pocket. As he was leaving - he suddenly stopped - turned and asked the little girl- "you did give me all of your chocolates - right"?
This touching story serves as a metaphor for how we often approach our relationship with God. We want all the "sweets" - the blessings and benefits of faith, but we hold back parts of ourselves – our "blue marbles" – unwilling to fully submit them to God's control.
True submission requires us to give everything to God, even those things we hold most dear. It's about trust – believing that God's plans for us are better than our own.
I see this type of submission - in many biblical figures (including James himself) - calling themselves "bondservants" of Christ. In ancient times, a bondservant was someone who, after being set free, chose to remain in service to their master out of love and devotion. They were free to go - but chose to stay - to serve Him! This voluntary submission is at the heart of our relationship with God.
As we navigate the "traffic circles" of life, yielding to God's voice becomes crucial. Just as failing to yield in a roundabout can lead to accidents, failing to yield to God's guidance can lead to spiritual collisions and detours.
But how do we cultivate this attitude of submission? The answer lies in 'humility'. James advises us to "humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." This humility isn't about thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It's also not a "false humility" to score brownie points with God and look good to others. It's about recognizing God's sovereignty and our total dependence on Him.
Here's some practical steps toward submission and humility:
1. On-going self-reflection and prayer, asking God to reveal areas where we may be holding back
2. Practicing gratitude, which shifts our focus from what we lack to what we've been given
3. Serving others, which helps put our own desires in perspective
4. Studying Scripture to align our thoughts with God's truth
5. Seeking accountability from fellow believers
As we walk out this journey of submission, we will find it challenging. Our pride, our fears, and our desire for control can all stand in the way. But the promise is clear – as we humble ourselves and submit to God, He gives us more grace (un-merited favor in our lives). He lifts us up. We also find that in yielding to Him, we discover our true selves and our true purpose.
Remember, submission to God isn't about losing our identity. Rather, it's about becoming more fully who God created us to be. As Warren Wiersbe beautifully put it, "Submission makes a person become more of what God wants them to be. It brings out individuality. It gives the freedom to accomplish all that God has for your life and ministry."
In a world that often equates power with dominance and success with self-promotion, the call to submission and humility can seem counter-intuitive. But this is the paradox of faith – in losing ourselves, we find ourselves. In submitting to God, we find true freedom. (Matt 16:24-27)
As we close, let's challenge ourselves to identify our "blue marbles" – those areas of our lives we're reluctant to hand over. What might change if we opened our hands and offered everything to God? How might our relationships, our work, our dreams be transformed if we truly submitted them to His will?
The journey of submission is lifelong, marked by daily choices to yield to God's voice and guidance. It's not always easy, but it is - always worth it. As we learn to humble ourselves, resist pride, and fully submit to God, we open ourselves to experiencing the depth of His love and the fullness of His plans for our lives. As James so aptly put it: "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" - James 4:13-15
May we all have the courage to say, like the bondservants of old, "I love my master... I will not go out free." In that voluntary submission, may we find the grace, peace, power and purpose that come only from aligning our will with God's perfect plan.
Today, we'll explore what James the half-brother of Jesus discovered - and reflect on what it means to yield ourselves fully to God.
James, in his characteristic straightforward style, confronts us with some hard-hitting truths about pride, humility, and our relationship with God. He asks, "Where do wars and fights come from among you?" It's a question that resonates not just on the global stage, but in our personal lives as well. How often do we find ourselves in conflict with others, or even at war within ourselves?
James doesn't leave us guessing. He points directly to our desires for pleasure, our lusts, and our covetousness. It's a sobering reminder that so much of our strife comes from within – from our own hearts and minds. However - James tells us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
If you have felt resistance in your life (dreams, plans and goals - seemingly thwarted) - and wondered why - this simple yet profound statement encapsulates the essence of God's plan for your life. It's not about losing our identity or becoming doormats. Rather, it's about recognizing our place in relation to our Creator and yielding to His wisdom and love.
But what does this 'submission' look like in practice? James gives us clear directions:
1. Submit to God.
2. Resist the devil.
3. Draw near to God - He draws near to you.
4. Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts.
5. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.
These steps paint a picture of active engagement with our faith. Submission isn't passive; it's a deliberate choice we make every day.
To illustrate - consider the story of a young boy who loved playing marbles. One day, he encountered a girl with a bag of chocolates. If there was one thing he loved more than marbles it was chocolate, so he offered to trade all the marbles for her chocolates. However, he secretly kept back his prized blue marble (which had won him many matches), and safely tucked it away at the bottom of his pocket. As he was leaving - he suddenly stopped - turned and asked the little girl- "you did give me all of your chocolates - right"?
This touching story serves as a metaphor for how we often approach our relationship with God. We want all the "sweets" - the blessings and benefits of faith, but we hold back parts of ourselves – our "blue marbles" – unwilling to fully submit them to God's control.
True submission requires us to give everything to God, even those things we hold most dear. It's about trust – believing that God's plans for us are better than our own.
I see this type of submission - in many biblical figures (including James himself) - calling themselves "bondservants" of Christ. In ancient times, a bondservant was someone who, after being set free, chose to remain in service to their master out of love and devotion. They were free to go - but chose to stay - to serve Him! This voluntary submission is at the heart of our relationship with God.
As we navigate the "traffic circles" of life, yielding to God's voice becomes crucial. Just as failing to yield in a roundabout can lead to accidents, failing to yield to God's guidance can lead to spiritual collisions and detours.
But how do we cultivate this attitude of submission? The answer lies in 'humility'. James advises us to "humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." This humility isn't about thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It's also not a "false humility" to score brownie points with God and look good to others. It's about recognizing God's sovereignty and our total dependence on Him.
Here's some practical steps toward submission and humility:
1. On-going self-reflection and prayer, asking God to reveal areas where we may be holding back
2. Practicing gratitude, which shifts our focus from what we lack to what we've been given
3. Serving others, which helps put our own desires in perspective
4. Studying Scripture to align our thoughts with God's truth
5. Seeking accountability from fellow believers
As we walk out this journey of submission, we will find it challenging. Our pride, our fears, and our desire for control can all stand in the way. But the promise is clear – as we humble ourselves and submit to God, He gives us more grace (un-merited favor in our lives). He lifts us up. We also find that in yielding to Him, we discover our true selves and our true purpose.
Remember, submission to God isn't about losing our identity. Rather, it's about becoming more fully who God created us to be. As Warren Wiersbe beautifully put it, "Submission makes a person become more of what God wants them to be. It brings out individuality. It gives the freedom to accomplish all that God has for your life and ministry."
In a world that often equates power with dominance and success with self-promotion, the call to submission and humility can seem counter-intuitive. But this is the paradox of faith – in losing ourselves, we find ourselves. In submitting to God, we find true freedom. (Matt 16:24-27)
As we close, let's challenge ourselves to identify our "blue marbles" – those areas of our lives we're reluctant to hand over. What might change if we opened our hands and offered everything to God? How might our relationships, our work, our dreams be transformed if we truly submitted them to His will?
The journey of submission is lifelong, marked by daily choices to yield to God's voice and guidance. It's not always easy, but it is - always worth it. As we learn to humble ourselves, resist pride, and fully submit to God, we open ourselves to experiencing the depth of His love and the fullness of His plans for our lives. As James so aptly put it: "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" - James 4:13-15
May we all have the courage to say, like the bondservants of old, "I love my master... I will not go out free." In that voluntary submission, may we find the grace, peace, power and purpose that come only from aligning our will with God's perfect plan.
HOPE Blog ... Pastor Bob DeFelice
Sometimes random - sometimes not - some things I think - measured against scripture.
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
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