Weighed on the scales and found wanting

I’ve been thinking about humility and repentance this week….

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that He jealously longs for the spirit He has caused to dwell in us? But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”  –James 4:4-6 (NIV)

God does not share. He demands our whole heart. In Daniel 4 and 5 there were two proud and evil kings. God, in His sovereignty, was able to humble them both. One responded and was restored to his position. The other refused to learn from his situation and lost his life. The title of this article is taken from his verdict.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and He will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.  –James 4:7-10 (NIV)

God is not inaccessible or unapproachable. Sometimes we avoid Him. When we flirt with the foolishness of the world, there is a price to pay. But He is merciful to humble us and offer the  opportunity to repent. And repent we must. We cannot serve two masters. Remember when the scripture said Jesus was unable to do many notable miracles because of the unbelief of the locals? Could it be that we miss out on revival because there is sin in the camp?

 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?  –James 4:11-12 (NIV)

We live in a generation where people do not want to be called to account. A nice, pleasant, happy god is a good god and a God who discerns between good and evil and judges His creation accordingly is not too popular. We are not to judge others – that isn’t our job. But let me ask you this: If I saw you walking toward the edge of a cliff, oblivious to the danger, would you want me to give you a heads-up? And when someone eschews the church for being too judgmental, are they not themselves being judgmental? Face it – we’re all hypocrites – people who struggle to live up to the ideals we hold. That’s why we all need Jesus.

(Image by Steven Dutton)