Do ye think that the Scripture saith
in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us
lusteth to envy? But He giveth more
grace. Wherefore He saith, God
resisteth the proud, but giveth
grace unto the humble. 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 to the sight
of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.
James 4:5-10
Whose responsibility is it for us to be able to draw near to God? Is it the pastor? Is it the Sunday School teacher? Is it a theologian? Or, is it yours? Yes all those mentioned above have a responsibility to teach the truth of Scripture. Yet, the major responsibility for anyone to draw near to God is an individual. No one can act for you! Each person must be intentional, must be deliberate in the action to draw near to God. The message a person hears ought to lead a person to act, but if a person is refusing, as if they were in paralysis never leads a person to change. It is foolishness to see others who have drawn near to God and are living the life as outlined in Scripture and a person does nothing or little to find their way, to be drawn into the life of Christ.
Here is the coup de grace the action or event that finally ends or destroys something that has been getting weaker or worse, a final or decisive stroke. James writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "Subject yourselves therefore to God" (James 4:7a). To allow oneself to subject themselves to anything, as the world culture would admit, is to in someway lose yourself. So, as the world does, they fight anything that would lead them to subject themselves to anything and especially to God. The Greek word used in James 4:7a is an aorist, imperative, passive, plural in the second person. What does this mean? It means that this should be an act that has occurred and that it is not a suggestion but a command to start doing what you have not been doing, and it is passive so it is not speaking into the air, it is speaking to you. True living, true life, is when you live and act with your whole will to live as God commanded and be under His subjection.
Have you heard the word, the truth of God? Is so, then, allow that truth of God to become and invade your life and then act upon that truth. This action is not something necessarily physical, rather it is in your will. When a person acts according to God's will, to be under His subjection that person becomes emancipated and all the power of the Almighty God works in your behalf. If you humble yourself before God, before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ you will be lifted up so that you can put your hand to the yoke with Christ and together be a force for the Gospel.
God is calling! Are you listening for His voice? Jesus spoke these words: "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). This is putting oneself under subjection to Jesus Christ who died to save you. Do you need warrant to place yourself under Jesus Christ? Are you afraid of what this will mean to you and to others, to your life? Why? Do you believe that Jesus is God? If so then read this: "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" "It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that had heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me" (John 6:35, 45).
Well! There it is in a nutshell: you have all that God has promised: His presence in your life to help you, and all you have to do is heed the call and come to Him. God will not grab your hand and pull you to Him, but He will call you and your responsibility is to heed the call, subject yourself to Him by coming to Him. You will become linked to God and all His redemptive power. What are you waiting for?
Return, ye backsliding children,
and I will heal your backslidings.
Behold, we come unto thee; for
thou art the LORD our God.
Jeremiah 3:22
Humble yourself and be lifted up
Richard L. Crumb
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