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Doers Receive More Grace
Rod ShimabukuroYou adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? James 4:4-5
God calls us friend. But we can also be an enemy to God by being a friend of the world. Friend of God? Or friend of the world?
The attribute of jealousy belongs to God. No doubt this references a holy jealousy. A jealousy connected to love. Love is protective. Even over protective and jealous when our Creator God sees and feels our hearts; our love and friendship attaching itself to worldliness. Flirting with the world will easily lead to an adulterous relationship with her. But... 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Obedience and being a doer of God, as a friend to Him will allow me to receive grace - even more grace.
I realize that pride is connected to my inclination to be and live a worldly life. My proclivity to sin and be drawn into a friendship,with the world is not far off. But I must continue to draw near to God, monitor my heart in relationship to my temptations and desires to be worldly. I want to continue submitting to God, through Jesus!!
Dear Jesus.
Your Spirit within me yearns jealously to be more like You. There's a holy pull to be like and live for You. Thank You for cleansing me of all unrighteousness. Help me to keep my marriage with You pure. NO FLIRTING WITH THE WORLD OR MY INNER WORLDLINESS.
