Surrender, and Draw Near

In James 4:1, the half-brother of Jesus, and a prominent leader in the Church at Jerusalem asks “What causes quarrels and fights among you?” Have you ever stopped to consider those words in a modern setting? Unfortunately, we have not come very far, have we? I think if James were writing us today, He’d be asking us the very same question. The Church is divided, and not just globally, but also within the local body. We are divided over words and their meaning, trying to build our own legacies or make our own mark in our communities, traditions, colors of carpet, styles of music, how the preacher dresses, and so much more. We Church shop like it’s a pair of shoes: we’re looking for the most stylish while seeking a comfortable fit. We argue amongst ourselves, seeking to build our own kingdoms instead of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. We want control instead of surrendering to Christ Jesus.

Loved ones, as one of our elders constantly reminds us in the congregation I serve, much of this occurs because we are not surrendered. We’re worldly in our thinking, and we’re after our own comfort and way of thinking, instead of regarding God’s holiness. We keep trying to make the flesh work with the Spirit when the two are incompatible. We might have come to Christ to die and be born again, but we’re trying to mix the old self and the New Life, but the two are like oil and water: they just don’t mix. Come and Die. And every day, deny yourself, take up your Cross and follow Jesus. Die every day, walking as a Living Sacrifice, seeking God and His will through His word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Seek unity in the Body of Christ, and build His Kingdom, forsaking your wants, wishes and desires. Let go of the Flesh and walk by the Spirit!

James 4:1-12

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You 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”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Romans 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.