Wednesday, September 26, 2012

EPISTLE: James 4:7-10

Reading:

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.   Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.   Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.   Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Commentary:

Here is the proper way of faith when we are afflicted by God.  We submit to His will, though our life be hard and difficult, and we resist the temptation that God no longer loves us.  "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  Likewise it is out of love for Christ that we mourn our sins (repent of them).  Contrition is godly and sincere sorrow over sin.  "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."  This means God does not cast away the penitent, but He comforts our hearts with the peace of Christ, namely His forgiveness.  That is why we are not to be doubled-minded.  Faith trusts and is certain all sins for Christ's sake are forgiven and heaven is our home.  "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."  Each trial is limited in days, but heaven is eternal.  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

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