James, the
“servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, asked the
people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” whether
they thought “the scripture says in vain, the spirit that dwells
in us lusts to envy?” In
chapter four and verse six of his letter, James shared how “God
resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”
where we read:
The verse begins, “But he gives more grace.”
James began with the word, “But” which is a
disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be stated
takes precedence over what was just written, “moreover,
nevertheless or nonetheless” “he gives” or “delivers,
bestows, supplies, furnishes and delivers” “more grace”
which means “greater, larger and stronger favor, thanks, pleasure,
joy, delight, sweetness, charm and loveliness”. Though the “spirit
that dwells” within “us” desires things that are in
opposition to God, God “delivers and supplies” a “greater and
larger” supply of “unmerited favor” toward us.
The
verse goes on to say, “God resists the proud, but gives grace
unto the humble.” James continued, “God” which
refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God
the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “resists”
which means “ranges in battle against and opposes” “the
proud” or “the showing of one's self above others,
overtopping, conspicuous above others and pre-eminent”, “but”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to
be stated takes precedence over what was just written, “moreover,
nevertheless or nonetheless” “gives” or “grants, puts,
shows, delivers and makes” “grace” which means “greater,
larger and stronger favor, thanks, pleasure, joy, delight, sweetness,
charm and loveliness” “unto the humble” which refers to
“not rising far from the ground, lowly in spirit and deporting
one's self abjectly and servilely to others”. James exhorted and
warned his readers concerning having attitudes of “pride”
stating that God “opposes” those who exhibit it, and he shared
how “God” extends “unmerited favor” toward those who
are “lowly in spirit” and “servile” toward others.
When we consider these
words of James, we should be inspired to “be humble”
before “the Lord” and
remember God “ranges in battle” against those who are “proud”.
We must never “show ourselves above others” or be “preeminent”
above anyone lest we be in opposition to God. Jesus Christ “humbled
Himself” “and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”, and
since He did that for us, what should ever inhibit us from following
His example?
Next
time James tells his readers to “submit
to God” and
“resist the devil”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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