What do you want ...

We might be reminded that the battle that rages is not one of flesh and blood but with principalities and powers (not even of this world). And James reminds us of this again in the fourth chapter of his letter. The battles we have are often from within. They are not always about external forces. In the instances he mentions it is about what we desire from a world view. As I think of this I contemplate the comforts, the pleasures, the "things", power, position, etc.

The problem is, these tend to pull us away from or separate us, from God, and what His will and plan is for us. They tend to take over and become a distraction to the simplicity of what God offers and promises us. They not only effect our relationship with God, but on many occasions the relationships we have with others, and James mentions the quarrels and fights, the jealousy and even the extreme of death (think even of King David as he pursued Bethsheba).

James highlights further the problem: "if you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God" - ouch! That is full on.

The secret or success to overcome is found in "coming close to God, and God will come close to you." Develop the relationship with God. Allow God's voice to be the One you hear and heed. Seek or search out His plan, His character and live it.

Have a look at the verses:

James 4:1-10 (New Living Translation)

Drawing Close to God

1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud

but favors the humble.”

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

May it be that we seek to further pursue and develop our relationship with God.

Restoration ...

Have a look at this passage a moment:

Amos 9:11-12 (New Living Translation)

A Promise of Restoration

11 “In that day I will restore the fallen house of David.

I will repair its damaged walls.

From the ruins I will rebuild it

and restore its former glory.

12 And Israel will possess what is left of Edom

and all the nations I have called to be mine.”

The Lord has spoken,

and he will do these things.

Don't you just love the work of God? I know I do. This is particularly concerned with the restoration of buildings and later the chapter goes on to spell out the abundant blessing of crops, etc. But what came to my mind was the fact that God is interested in us, His people, even more than these things. He desires to restore our relationships with each other, and with Himself.

I know that is my desire. That the restorative work of God can take place through me and in me. I don't want to be a hindrance or a blockage to this taking place.

"Lord, I desire to be an instrument of restoration. To enable this, let me be in a healthy and living relationship with You. Let me be open to hear Your voice as you speak to me and reveal to me that which needs to change in me, and help me to do this."

OTHERS ...

I was sitting here thinking, what will I share this evening? I have been reading some more of Prayer Coach and the need to confess before God our sin (another time perhaps). At CitySalvos tonight I was reminded of the need to give and where the motivation might come for that. Yet, as I pondered I thought again of the attention being removed from me, from self, to think about and be about "OTHERS".

The story goes that General William Booth (Founder of The Salvation Army) wanted to get a message out to his people one Christmas, in those days telegrams were the means of communication, however you payed per letter/word, etc. The Salvation Army back then was not very financial, so General William Booth decided that one word sufficed - "OTHERS". That is what we are about, their needs, their souls, their salvation.

We do well to keep this in mind today. It is so easy to be attentive to my needs, my desires, my comfort, or what I want. But what about the people I am called to serve, to minister too? What about their needs? The other aspect is in realising that what I seek for myself is usually items, additions, belongings. Justifiable? - of course, well in my mind at the time. Essential? Probably not. What if I was to change some priorities? What difference might this make in the life of another? Or a community?

"Lord, it is easy to think about self. To be caught up in what I desire, what I want, what catches my eye. Help me to stop, to reflect, to not be compulsive and to listen to You. What is Your take on the situation? What is it You require of me? How might I be more aware of and respond to the need of OTHERS? Help me to be faithful in my response."