My God and My Country

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The Epistle of James 4:7-8

(Study notes by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades)

7 Submit yourselves to God: resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purge your hearts, ye double minded.

Brethren:

We find in today’s reading a similar recommendation written by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians Chapters 4:22-24 and 6:11-18. Read the passages and see how God’s word is always harmonious. Herein then, we find that both Paul and James are stating that the closer we come to our creator the better off we shall become in our pilgrimage on this temporal plane.

Observe in verses seven and eight that we are first instructed to submit, and draw near to Him. Both actions will work to our advantage, as it strengthens our ability to resist Satan, who is as is commonly known the god of this age. (See 2 Corinthians 4:4).

Secondly, we read in (also in verse eight), that we are to purge our hearts, cleanse our hands, and to not be double minded. (See also James 1:8). Paul likewise writes in his epistle to the Church at Ephesus, that we are to put away our old behaviors. Toss them off and away as one might toss off an old coat or garment, and put on the “new” man. This is say that we would be well advised to put on the face of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Indeed Paul goes even further in chapter 6 to state that to put on the entire armor of God would prepare us for the battle of spiritual forces between ourselves that would stand with God and those who would deny Him. Make note friends, that although we are just flesh and blood, we are still imbued with a spirit. This then begs the question whose spirit dwells within you? Is it a spirit of holiness and righteousness, or of carnality and unrighteousness?

Do you not recall a part in yesterday’s reading about not being able to serve two masters? And likewise that those that give service to worldly desires simply cannot serve those of a righteous spirit and by extension God?

Brethren, we all face divers temptations, trials, and tribulations. Let us henceforth go armed with the Word of God. Clothe ourselves in His attire of righteousness and holiness. This will enable us to resist the Devil and the things of this carnal generation.