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SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD      
  2021-04-22 Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You (Ja.4:8)      
    Jas 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James writes about the roots of our quarrels and conflicts (v.1-5).
The symptoms of our conflicts include wanting what others have (v.2).
Even when we ask, and not take, we generally ask with wrong motives (v.3).
Often we try to get things in our own way that only God can provide for us. These are symptoms of selfish pride.
When we pursue these courses of action we walk like enemies of God (v.4).

Now that James explained the wrong path, he contrasts that path with the right one (v.6).
Jas 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
Because of this principle of resisting the proud, James exhorts his readers to submit to God and resist the devil (v.7).
Submitting to God and resisting the devil will cause the devil to flee (v.7).

If we are moving toward God, He moves closer to us.
While the Holy Spirit already lives within those who believe in Him, it is evident that we can walk according to the world, the flesh, and the devil.
As we focus less on ourselves and more on Him, we can be more submissive to Him.
This seems to be the idea behind what it means to “draw near to God.”
As we align our priorities and behaviors with what He prescribes, we find that we are walking with Him.

This is the same idea Jesus talked about in John 15, that they should “abide” in Him (Jn.15:4).
It is good for us to see the simplicity of what God is asking us to do.
He is asking for simple, quiet fellowship with Him.
Jesus reminded His hearers that His yoke was easy, and His burden was light (Mt.11:30).
God is not trying to complicate things for us.
He has not made walking with Him burdensome.
He simply reminds us that we need to draw near to Him and He will draw near to us.
Pastor Tom Elseroad		      
           
           
           

 

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