20th September 2024
Courage
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 (NIVUK)
The main point throughout the book of James is to make a distinction between mere profession of faith and actual possession of faith. James’s point is faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). He is saying that Christianity is not just adopting a set of beliefs or an ethical code, but it is to be a living faith that affects what we do. This means we are to take the truths of the gospel and lay them on our hearts in such a way they change everything about us, including how we live our lives.
In our header scripture James gives us two pointers as to how we can do this, both of which take courage:
It takes courage to submit to God and not to our own thoughts and desires. This was supremely demonstrated by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane shortly before his arrest and subsequent crucifixion. He knew what lay ahead of him: a horrendous beating, an excruciatingly painful death, and the sin of all humanity laid upon him. No wonder he was ‘…in anguish…and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.’ (Luke 22:44). It took courage for him to say to his Father, ‘..not my will, but yours be done.’ (v. 42).
It takes courage to resist Satan and not follow his evil machinations. Again, this was supremely demonstrated by Jesus when he was confronted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He was tempted to turn stones into bread to satisfy his hunger, tempted to throw himself off the temple for God to save him, and tempted to bow down to Satan and receive all the kingdoms of the world. It took courage to resist Satan’s temptations and in so doing Satan left him (v.11).
James exhorts us to have the courage to put our faith into action by submitting to God and resisting Satan. The trouble is I don’t feel very courageous in submitting my life to God and resisting Satan in the battles I face. But thankfully none of us have to rely on our own courage or lack of it. With Jesus living in us and partnering with us we have his perfect courage to enable us to submit and resist. All we need to do is trust and rest in him and allow him to do in us what we cannot do ourselves.
May God give us all the courage to do that.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, clothe and fill us with your courage. Thank you, for being there for us, so that we do not need to be afraid of submitting to your will and resisting the temptations of Satan. In your name, we pray, Amen.
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Study by: Barry Robinson About the author: |
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Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church