Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 175 – James 4:4-6 – Gives Grace To The Humble – Growing As Disciples
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:4-6 (NIV)
Humble Yourself
Will you humble yourself before me? Yes, I will humble myself before you. How will you humble yourself before me? That is difficult to say. I don’t know for sure what living a humble life before you will look like. I think my understanding of living a humble life before you will unfold as I live my life with and for you. There is no doubt about that. But you have already said something quite important. What’s that? You have said that you are going to live your life with and for me? Will living that kind of life require humility? That is certain. I can see that a choice is before me. What choice? Will I live a prideful self-reliant, self-centered, self-indulgent life with me at the center with all the things of this world as my idols? Will I live a comfort and pleasure-seeking life? Will I attempt to satisfy myself with things of this world? Will my heart and mind and life be consumed by lusts for what this world has to offer? All these questions represent one choice. What is the other choice? Will I live my live with and for you? Will I humbly walk with you through life? Will I go where you guide me? Will I do what you ask me? Will I allow you to give and grant the desire of my heart. What is the desire of your heart? The desire of my heart is to know and love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. The desire of my heart is to be fully devoted to you. The desire of my heart is to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. The desire of my heart is to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Where do you think this desire came from? It certainly did not come from me. No, it did not. This desire came from you. This desire is a gift of your grace to me. Yes, it is. So, can you see that I have already given you this good desire? Yes, I can see that. What else must also be true? The desire you give will be the desire you grant to me. You would never give me this desire if you had no intention of granting it. No, I would not. So, you will help me to live my life with and for you. You will help me to be fully devoted to you. Yes, I will. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, I have loved the world. I have pursued the things of the world. I have made the things of the world my idol. What a mistake. What a waste of time. Forgive me. Now, I will humbly live my life with and for you. Help me to love and follow and serve you. Amen
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