What is it that gives some people such great freedom from sin? What is it that gives some people such great courage and boldness in proclaiming the gospel? What was it that enabled the Apostles to transform their world for Jesus? James gives us some hard but profound counsel in James 4:6-10.
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Sometimes sin seems so powerful in our lives and sharing the gospel seems so intimidating, but James gets to the heart of the matter. We must submit ourselves to God. Submission to anything isn’t particularly popular in our culture today. There is a prevalent argument that “the good life” is found through pursuing individual freedom. But pursuit of freedom is what led Adam and Eve to rebel against God and redefine good and evil around their own whims and fancies.
God is calling us to submit to him as King and Creator, to trust his definition of good and evil through faith in Jesus the Messiah. In order to do that, we must spend time daily reading and memorizing the Bible, both individually and in community. When we humbly submit ourselves to the promises and commands of God, we find ourselves equipped to resist temptation, ready to boldly proclaim the gospel, and exalted by God as we exalt Him.
This summer, we will read the Bible together daily, but you should not wait to get into the Word until our trip starts. Along with all your other summer preparations, prepare your heart. If you are not already involved in a Bible reading plan, would you read one chapter of Psalms and one chapter of the Gospels every day from now until Training Camp? Start with Psalm 1 and Matthew 1.
Ephesians 3:20-21 provides us with this encouragement: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”