To You—He Has Provided All You Need
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. . . .”
(The Letter of James 4: 8a NASB)
Imagine growing up in the city Nazareth & living in the same house & placing your head under the same roof—as the Son of man Jesus. This could not have been easy for James. For twenty-nine years, they were both known throughout the city as Joseph & Mary’s sons, until suddenly, there became a distinction that set them apart—Jesus, the Son of God—began His earthly ministry.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. . . .”
We could memorize this portion of the Scripture, and peace reigns in our being. Maybe that was the Lord’s intent in leading James to write these words. Nevertheless, the verse continues, instructing & leading & teaching & directing the steps of the children of God. We must read all parts of this verse found within James’ letter written to the twelve tribes scattered abroad the known world.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
(The Letter of James 4: 8 NASB)
Cleanse your hands, you sinners;
and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Last evening, my son-in-law spoke about an electronic device that he used during his last trip home. This description came during our discussion of healthy eating, aging parents, and the need for staying in shape.
It’s a headset that you place on your head, and then you air-box, beating against the air, as you face the opponent seen (hypothetically) right before you. That’s right, you are hitting your closed fists against air. Now, maybe you are asking: How in the world can a person become more tone, healthier, and more bodily in-shape when he is only hitting something as whimsical as AIR! ?
This is a fair question.
Earlier in the day, as my husband and I traveled toward our daughter’s home, a comment my husband said stayed with me and connected immediately to my son-in-law’s description of air-boxing. My husband described a Karate technique where a person stays tone, becomes stronger, and remains fit—NOT by lifting weights, but by placing internal tension within our bodies. Tighten our arms, stiffen our buttocks, flex our legs out into a hardened position, & then hold in place as we control our breathing.
“Does this work,” I remember asking.
“Yes, it is a proven technique.”
We live in a world where advertisers sell all types of home equipment for us to purchase when (according to the two men in my immediate family), we may only need an electronic headset as we bounce around in our living rooms, air-boxing & flexing our internal sinews God has already placed within us.
AMAZING!
There is a melody “Stand” by Britt Nicole that sings this truth into our hearts. Please pause to listen today & be encouraged by the promises of God.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
(The Letter of James 4: 8 NASB)
Cleanse your hands, you sinners;
and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Each person alive is easily identified in this single verse within James’ letter when we read “you sinners;” and again “you double-minded” for each person truly is that—a sinner & a double-minded individual.
- It is truth, we are all conceived in iniquity. The Bible says so!
- It is also a truth, because we are sinners, we need a Savior. The Bible says so!
- It is imperative that we never forget how double-minded we are, in need of purification by the Father. The Bible says so!
All we must actively do each day we are given to live is simply this—“Draw near to God and . . .”
It is God’s promise, recorded in the Scriptures, that as we do—“He will draw near to you.”
So yes, it is possible to—
- Air-box against the temptations of the devil, & to
- Internally flex our God-given strength against Satan’s wiles.
To all Christians—The Lord Jesus Has Provided All You & I Need!
It is a promise of God.
- We who BELIEVE in the TRUTH of GOD must go deep with God—sharing alone time with God!
- We must go wide with God—working out His mission that He gives us to do!
- We must make every day an opportunity—to live for Jesus with intentionality!
- We must—for it is GOD HIMSELF—who has the divine right to govern our lives!
The Bible tells us so!
“But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 6: 17-20 NASB)
Flee immorality.
Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body,
but the immoral man sins against his own body.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,
whom you have from God,
and that you are not your own?
For you have been brought with a price:
[with the precious shed blood of Jesus Christ]
therefore glorify God in your body.”