More Grace
Today was an interesting day. After some work in the garden (again!) I attended a congressional town hall meeting. It reinforced my lack of interest in ever running for congress. I then went to Loveland for an art/sculpture show. A former constituent by the name of Galen Sharp was showing some of his work. He is a gifted artist and his work is available to view at www.galensharp.com
I told him he was somewhat of an enigma. A political conservative artist! He made an insightful observation. He said, “most artists are more concerned about their art, than their country. I am more concerned about my country than my art!” It was good to meet his wife Barbara and his daughter and son-in-law.
As I was trying to figure out how I would navigate in my wheelchair to Galen’s tent, a shuttle cart showed up and was being driven by Debbie Proctor. Debbie is a former high school classmate and was so helpful during my illness last year. I got a ride but missed the opportunity to solicit her help with our roses this year!
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4: 6-8
Reading through James chapter 4 the five words that begin verse six almost come as a sigh of relief. James has stern warnings that “friendship with the world is enmity (sin) against God. That can be a struggle and must be addressed in the life of the follower of Christ.
How can we be victorious in this fight?
1 – God gives grace to meet us at our point of need.
“God gives more grace.” His grace is sufficient and His grace will come in proportion to our need. It is never in short supply
2 – Submit our lives completely to the Lord.
God’s grace (His favor/blessing) is with those who humble themselves before God. It is not a matter of how strong we are, but how much we submit our lives to the Lord. James offers the simple advice to “submit yourself therefore to God.” The place of grace is found in seeking the Lord as a refuge.
3 – Resist the Devil
When our lives are first submitted to the Lord it provides the covering and strength for victory in spiritual battle. We submit, we resist and the devil flees. Remember this is a spiritual battle, but we have assurance of victory.
4 – Draw near to God
I mentioned my friend Raimund Ruf coming by for a visit. It took Raimund some time and some people praying for him in order for him to come to a place of submitting his life to Christ. I recall him making the comment to me that he found that if he felt like the Lord was distant from him, it was because he moved and not the Lord. We need to take that step where we “draw near to the Lord.” When we do we will find His presence in an abundant measure in our life. There is an assurance in this statement. “If we will – He will.” It’s not…He might, it is a promise.
5 – Make up your mind
James throws down the gauntlet and says, “now is the time for action.” Cleanse your hands, purify your hearts, stop being double-minded. In the opening chapter of his letter James stated that a “double-minded person is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8) James is urging action. Be all in for Jesus. In this challenge, James is describing repentance. Changing the way we act and think. I am reminded of a high school basketball coach who would bark out prophetic utterances. When I would hesitate on a drive to the basket he would yell (to my embarrassment) “Summers! You have to make up your mind!” Often in our spiritual life we can see the goal Christ has for us but we hesitate to move quickly to that place of humility. It is like the Holy Spirit is yelling from the sidelines, “You have to make up your mind!” Move away from the world and drive with all your strength to the place of refuge, strength and grace.
The other utterance that I recall from my basketball coach is, “he who hesitates is lost!” I will apply that to a future lesson, but then again perhaps it applies today.