Dear Faith Family,
"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 4:5)
Is it weird to think of God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that is, "yearning" for something? Perhaps more odd is to think of God, to whom all things belong, as being "jealous" for something. Still, topping off the strangness is to think that God, the One who forms and knows us, is longingly desirous not for something in general, but for you, for me, for us particularly.
Stop for a moment and consider James' exhortation. Do you not suppose that there is some reason that our scriptures speak of God in such a way? What could that reason be? Why would God yearn jealously for the life He has given you, for you specifically?
I hope, like David in Psalm 139, your contemplation leads to a God-glorifying, joyous knowledge of yourself and God deep in your soul. But, in case you didn't get there, whether in the hurry of finishing this email or because of the intimidation of considering a jealous God, let's take a quick look at the context of James' question.
Immediately preceding his question, James, rather dramatically, declares:
"You adultresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend with the world makes himself an enemy of (in opposition with) God." (James 4:4)
Okay, admittedly, James' statement does not exactly relieve anxiety around a jealous deity. Still, as we discussed on Sunday, it does clear up the image of our relationship to God. Think about it.
In one sense, verse four is a rebuke. We are accused of uniting ourselves spiritually and practically with someone, something that is not the one we are married to. As we learned on Sunday, "friendship" in the ancient world implied a soul-giving kind of relationship. And while true friendship is indeed a virtue, don't miss what James is contrasting lesser good and giving with: covenantal marriage.
Yes, by calling us adulterers, James is saying that we are being unfaithful, but not unfaithful to just any idea we have of God, but to a particular vision of God as our faithful, covenanted husband. God as our lover, beholder, giver of Himself. A vision of God as the One who longs for us, and, as One in love with us, expecting and anticipating the reciprocation of the covenantal commitment from us. In other words, while verse four gets to the issue of our hearts, it does so by revealing the heart of God toward us. God is generously, selflessly, lovingly committed to the fundamental goodness of our relationship with Him.
So, says James, "Submit yourselves therefore to God..." (James 4:7). Be committed, devoted to the One who committed and devoted to you. After all, that is the end of faith, to see God truly. A sight we behold when we are singularly committed, not "double-minded" (James 1:8, 4:8). Or, in the words of Jesus,
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)
So, will you join me and participate in the faith at work within us, clearing up the vision of ourselves and of our God? Here is how:
Read James 4:1-10
(Re)Listen or Watch(!) the Sermon
Reflect & Share
First with the Lord and then with your GC or a faith-filled friend:Who am I devoted to? Myself? The enemy? God?
In what ways does my faith lead to my humility, and therefore, to grace?
What would be different tomorrow if I responded devotedly to faith at work within me?
May our faith lead to our faithfulness.
Love you, faith family. God bless.