James 4:1-10
The ESV titles today’s reading, “Warning Against Worldliness”. With that in mind, verse 5b struck me when I read it in the NKJV: The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously. This verse is translated very differently in the ESV and the NASB. Not knowing which is the more correct, I liked the sense in which the NKJV pitches this verse – that the Holy Spirit within us is jealous of our affections for the world around us! James follows that thought up with an uplifting verse, But He gives more grace. (v. 6a) If the Holy Spirit within us is jealous for our love, God grants us more grace so that we might have a greater sense of the Holy Spirit within us and yearn more for Him. It’s hard for me to imagine God jealous for my love!
My Study Bible guided me a bit on verses 8-10, herein edited to highlight the commands: Draw near to God … Cleanse your hands … purify your heart … Be wretched and mourn and weep … Let your laughter be turned to mourning… Humble yourselves before the Lord. Pull all these commands together and it becomes a serious call to repentance! If the world is our lover, we need to repent.
Slava Bohu!
I was really struck by today’s passage. Very timely for Lent and our current circumstances. How to draw near to God: submit to Him, resist the devil, lead a pure life, lament, and humble yourself.
Yes, I was also struck by the verbs—no question about God’s will for you: submit to God…, resist the devil…, come near to God…, wash your hands…, purify your hearts…, humble yourselves…
But the last one also includes a promise: He will lift you up!
Yes, Carol!