Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
James 4-5
James harshly called his readers, You adulterous people. The Bible describes the act of turning away from God as spiritual adultery. James charged his readers with spiritual adultery. It is a hard thing to admit, but we all are often distracted by and attracted to the things of this world and many times choose them over serving the Lord.
Friendship with the world describes a deliberate choice to follow the world. It is an act of defiance and rebellion against God. For a Christian, this type of response resembles entering the camp of the enemy and joining his army. World can refer to the human race, the universe God made, or to a system of values separated from God. In this context it describes a society severed from God and pursuing its own godless agenda. A person cannot be loyal to God and controlled by worldliness at the same time. Christians cannot peacefully coexist with evil.
James, in verse 5, was probably asserting that God had placed his Holy Spirit within believers. The Spirit was intensely concerned about any rival in the Christian’s heart. Envy intensely translates a strong word describing an intense longing or desire. It underscores the idea that God is a jealous God and allows no rivals. God refuses to share our commitment with any other so-called god. He wants our total loyalty and devotion. It is vitally important for us to remember that God makes great demands of His people.
If God makes heavy demands of His people, He supplies the grace to comply with the commands. The proud are those who turn their hearts away from God to another rival. God resists the proud by opposing the life and practices of those who fail to follow Him. He foils their plans and frustrates their dreams. God does not want our lives to be dominated by materialism, a search for prestige, selfish ambition, or deliberate forgetfulness of God. His aim is that we “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to be singular focused as I give you my entire heart.
- Lord, please help me to recognized that the world you have given is a tool to complete your will and affect your kingdom.
- Lord, please help me to model humility and a heart of gratitude for the salvation you have given to me.
Political
- Representative Pauline Wendzel – District 79 – Watervliet
- Representative Jason Wentworth – District 97 – Clare
- Representative Mary Whiteford – District 80 – Allegan