CREDENTIALS (CREDS)
James 4:7-10
James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He
will lift you up."
The book of James is like a lecture. So, many people don’t bother reading it. Check out the lesson linked below, to learn a
little of his teaching. James has the
creds. He led the church of Jewish
Christians in Jerusalem.
Sick
people enter a hospital for diagnoses and healing. Sinners attend a church seeking spiritual health
and growth. James confronted, diagnosed
and corrected mistaken behavior and beliefs in the early church. He offers rare wisdom, necessary for
Christian growth. He urges us to live God’s truths.
One
truth James tutors is humility.
People are too proud to admit their pride! Romans 6:16 teaches that we’re slaves to whomever we obey. Humans naturally want to be in control, and controlling our lives sounds the opposite of submitting one’s self to God! So we resist that with all our might.
But
controlling our own lives equals being enslaved to sin .
And
this leads to totally messed-up lives.
When believers realize that they’re in trouble, they cry out to
God. Perhaps God answers in James 4:7:
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Oh.
Listed
here are contrasting creds to help us determine whose control is better:
PEOPLE
GOD
GOD
Character:
Selfish, greedy, self-absorbed, Holy and sinless, infinite wisdom,
perfect limited intelligence and sight, knowledge,
eternal perspective
Temperament:
Calm when life’s good, Consistent, all powerful,
peerles
unstable during trials patient, kind, good
Motive:
Wants wealth, fun, easy life, Love, wants people to love Him in
return,
popular, powerful, prestige works everything out for
believer’s good
Life’s
Goal:
Safety, security, assurance Salvation, mature into
Christlikeness
Whose
creds do you reason can manage your life better?
If
we’re wise, God is master of our lives.
All rivals must go. We grieve
God’s Spirit when we say, “Yes!” to sin.
We restrain Him when we say, “No.” to God’s commands. Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not grieve the
Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophesies with contempt.”
Take Home Nugget
Yielding one’s life to the Lord’s control doesn’t destroy lives. Quite the opposite is true. It may seem edgy at first, even slightly scary. But we’ll never fall to earth from the tree limb that feels like we’re dangling from. When God is master, people are lifted up. Free. At peace. We’ll never regret God’s control because He rewards obedience. Sin’s hold on us lessons, then disappears entirely.
Can your creds measure up?
Freedom from enslavement comes
from the best master—ever!
J.D. Griffith
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Bible Study Resources click here
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