Daily Bible Study

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Day 4 James 4 James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture says in vain, The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy? 6 But he gives more grace. Wherefore he said, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He who speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judges another? 13 Go to now, ye who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him who knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin. We live in a time when the slogans are just do it, have it your way, and the sky’s the limit. People don’t consider the consequences of their actions. They are ready to pick a fight than to stop one. James told the people those thoughts and actions come from Satan. He told them anybody who did those things was at war with God. He told them they need to consider what they did and what they wanted and go after those things that would edify the body and not promote self over God. As Christians, you see a lot of those same actions in the body of Christ. Many people want to do Christianity their way and not God’s way. You hear about church division instead of church unity. Consider what David said about unity. Ps 133:1 (A Song of degrees of David.) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (KJV) When Christians live in unity instead of division, God commands the blessing on their lives. Frankly, I’d rather have God’s blessing than His punishment. What about you? Would you rather have God’s blessing on your lives? It’s time to put away petty differences and walk together in unity. Then the things you desire will line up with what God desires for you and you will have the desires of your heart. It’s time to submit yourselves wholly to God, resist Satan’s temptations and live your lives for Him. When you do, you will find God’s grace and favor on your life. Only God knows what tomorrow will bring. Live your life for God today, and you will see God’s hand of favor on your life in everything you do. Let’s pray: Father, help me desire only what You desire for me. Let me live in unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ and not bring division in the body. Keep Satan far from me and help me know when he tempts me with desires I think would benefit me, but will hurt me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 11 June 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay