one step: James 4.6

Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

James 4:9

I highly doubt that a pillow embroidered with James 4:9 would sell in your local Christian bookstore. I also suspect that the number of fridge magnets and t-shirts made with this verse are few. This verse, if spoken to you in the middle of the night, would cause anyone to pray and reject such a sentiment.

So why would we listen to James bring it to us in the Bible?!

If you recall, James is addressing the church at a time where double-mindedness (waffling between dependence upon God and dependence upon the world) and pride in self has created competition and fighting for leadership.* James has just finished calling the church to the wisdom of God (of which humility is paramount). He has instructed them to submit to God and resist the devil. James then lets them know in James 4:9 how they should respond to their realization of their arrogance and willful, wicked behavior.*

James invites them not to just act out mourning for their sinful ways but to engage in heart-level remorse.* Paul demonstrates this posture for us in Romans 7:24: “what a wretched man I am!” As seen elsewhere in Scripture (2 Samuel 19:1; Nehemiah 8:9; Acts 18:11, 15, 19), mourning and weeping are appropriate responses in the face of God’s impending judgment and call to repentance.*

My children are my children. They cannot change that. Nothing can. My children can do things that hurt me or impact the intimacy of our relationship however. Whenever kids see that they have done something to impact this intimacy with parents, they seek to respond in a way that restores that intimacy.

God tells us that our sin has impacted our fellowship with Him. Want to address that His way? It involves genuine remorse and repentance. We cannot ignore our sin and failings and think that God will too. We cannot think that because Jesus paid for our sins that our sins have no impact or consequence.

Douglas Moo states,

True Christian joy can never be ours if we ignore or tolerate sin; it comes only when we have squarely faced the reality of our sin, brought it before the Lord in repentance and humility, and experienced the cleansing work of the Spirit

In Scripture, laughter is often associated with foolishness.* God wants us to abandon the flippancy that minimizes sin in our lives; He wants us to embrace a heart of remorse and repentance. In doing so, He desires to bring us from genuine sorrow to genuine joy.*

Will we trade foolish laughter and counterfeit joy for the joy of restored intimacy with God?

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to come to God and grieve some sin in your life. Perhaps today God wants you to repent (change the way you think and live). Maybe today God wants you to outwardly express your inward grief. Perhaps you have been genuinely grieving your sin and now God wants you to experience the joy of restored intimacy with Him.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 194–195). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 256). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 4:7–10). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 243–244). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (p. 229). Zondervan Publishing House.
Martin, R. P. (1988). James (Vol. 48, p. 153). Word, Incorporated.

one step: James 4.5

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:8

James presents a promise of God to believers: draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. In light of the issues in the church that James must address, this is not an insignificant promise. Incredibly, this promise still stands for believers today.

What have you done? What are you doing now? Why do you not draw near to God? Sometimes we do not draw near to God because of the shame of what we have done or the fear of how God might react.

God invites you to draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. Amazingly, He doesn’t stand coldly while you approach, nor does He run or walk away. He draws near.

The second half of James 4:8 reminds us that this drawing to the Lord is not on our terms but His. We must come repentant.* The resisting of the devil in the preceding verse corresponds to this drawing to God.* Resisting the enemy includes moving toward God.*

Still, though God is drawing near, what will He do when we meet? Should we expect punishment? Should we expect harsh words or rejection?

As we draw near to God with repentant hearts, we see from the context of this verse that He draws near to us with forgiveness of sin, restoration of joy, and He provides us with strength to live in purity and righteousness.* In these great gifts, we see the grace of God on display.*

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to draw near to Him. Perhaps God wants you to know that you do not need to bring your confession to Him in fear of punishment but in confidence that He has good for you. Maybe today God wants to give you forgiveness, joy, or strength as you repent.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 194–195). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 256). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 4:7–10). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 243–244). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (p. 229). Zondervan Publishing House.
Martin, R. P. (1988). James (Vol. 48, p. 153). Word, Incorporated.

one step: James 4.4

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

Two-hundred and ninety-eight pounds of raw muscle compressed his head against the mat like a nut trapped in the jaws of a nutcracker. A repulsive combination of sweat and fear seeped from every pour as 1984 semi-pro wrestler Jimmy “the Buckle” Broheem found himself at the mercy of a stronger, faster, heavier opponent. These career-ending words spoken by his superior echoed through his mind for sleepless nights to come: submit!!

…

Tears pooled at the base of bloodshot eyes. The stinging sensation slowly spread from her eye around to her left ear. Lindy learned long ago not to let tears fall. This would only make him more angry. She had done enough to cause him to snap. She knew better than to call him from his sports channel before the table was properly set. As she stood, head hanging like a dying oak tree, she wondered, “How did I get here?” Before a spark of hope or resistance could ignite, the well-meaning words of her deceased father rang louder than the ringing in her left ear: submit.

…

In our culture, the word submit has found place in various contexts. In the two fictional depictions above, the word submit seems obviously connected to one person imposing their might and strength over the other in a way to control and subdue. Choice, respect, and health seem to be conspicuously absent, leaving one person in control and the other suffering under abusive rule.

Experiences such as these and the understanding that they give us leave us hesitant to submit in the situations that God asks us to. In Scripture, we see a command to submit in the following areas:*

• believers are to submit to one another (1 Colossians 16:16; Ephesians 5:21)

• in that broader framework, wives are to submit to husbands (Ephesians 5:24; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1, 5)

• the young are to submit to the old (1 Peter 5:5)

• slaves are to submit to masters (Ephesians 6:5; Titus 2:9; 1 Peter 2:18 - for an understanding of slavery from the New Testament perspective and context, see one step: James 1.1 and one step: Romans 6.2)

• Christ-followers are to submit to the government (Romans 13:1)

Each of these have benefits and promises from God, but James asks us to submit to God for very good reason: as a remedy to pride and discord and a formula for victory over the devil.* Thus, understanding the true definition of submission proves key to living the Christian life.

Scripturally, submission involves yielding to the perspective or position of another.* It’s application is not just for some to implement, thus allowing others to rule. It is basic to Christian practice for every believer; all must live under God in a posture of submission.* What does this mean?

It means ordering our lives under God’s authority and will.* Submission to God is the posture of true humility.*

Interestingly, when the word submit is misused to control and abuse, the victim lives in oppression, unable to function as God intended. Contrast, when we submit to God, He gives us grace: what we need to live the flourishing life He is calling us to (see verse 6).*

We must not allow the misuse of the word submit to rob us of a life of humility before the Lord characterized by the gift of grace that we need to resist the devil and send him running the other direction. Submission to the authority and will of the Lord is necessary for us to then have authority. In this, the enemy no longer has any true power over us.*

Imagine that a person walks up to your car window, taps on the glass, and tells you to leave the parking lot you are attempting to park in. I can tell you, if that happened to me, I would turn away, pretend they were not there, and find a spot. Now imagine that this same person walks up to your car window, but now they have a uniform on with the insignia of your town on their shoulder. This badge indicates their submission to a higher authority, thus giving them authority. Now, not leaving has consequences.

The enemy is trying to park in your life. The only way to get him to leave is to submit your life to the highest power: God.

Today, take a step.***

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to render your life to the authority and will of God… in every area. Perhaps today God wants you to submit to Him. Maybe today God wants you to exit or put up boundaries in an unhealthy relationship that has oppressed you through the misuse of the idea or word submit. Perhaps today God wants you to resist the enemy and experience victory.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

***If you are a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out for help. The National Domestic Abuse Hotline is available 24/7 and wants to help you today. Call 1-800-799-7233.

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 193–194). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 255–256). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 4:7–10). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 241–243). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 228–229). Zondervan Publishing House.
Martin, R. P. (1988). James (Vol. 48, pp. 152–153). Word, Incorporated.

one step: James 4.3

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4

This verse marks the beginning of a direct call to the church to repentance. The language of James referring to the church as adulterous people aligns with tradition (Jeremiah 3:7–10, 20; 13:27; Isaiah 1:21; 50:1; 54:1–6; 57:3; Ezekiel 16:23–26, 38; 23:45; Hosea 1–3; 9:1) and speaks to their disassociation with God and their association with the world.*

It may seem strange to associate adultery with friendship, but our understanding of friendship differs greatly from that of the ancient world.* In the ancient world, friendship was taken very seriously as a lifelong agreement between people with shared values and loyalties.* In James’ day, friendship indicated identification to and relationship with someone’s standards and priorities.* Think of how different this understanding is from the understanding of “friendship” as social media conveys.

With this understanding, remaining friends with the world while being friends with God is unthinkable as is the reverse. To be a friend of God, one must align to His values and loyalties and commit one’s life to Him. Thus, aligning one’s values and loyalties and commitment to the world places one in direct opposition to God by default.* By this definition, someone cannot maintain both a friendship with God and this world.

Scholars suggest that this criticism of James comes to a church that has turned its back on God not by willful choice, but by choosing to operate as the world does: discriminating against others (2:1-13), speaking negatively of others (2:1-12), holding bitter envy and selfish ambition (3:13-18), and pursuing selfish pleasures (4:1-3).*

This compromising conduct is not just a choice against God’s ways, but agains God Himself.* We must be deceived: we cannot turn our backs on God’s ways without turning our backs on Him.

Douglas Moo says,

God tolerates no rival. When believers behave in a worldly manner, they demonstrate that, at that point, their allegiance is to the world rather than to God.

The fact that this kind of adultery against God (turning from Him as the bride of Christ in order to flirt with this world) may occur without intentional effort should produce caution and pause in our life. The turning of our heart from God to this world may simply come as we perceive and believe the world’s ways as the best ways.

David Nystrom defines the world as the “whole complex of human institutions, values, and traditions that knowingly or unwittingly are arrayed against God.”* Anytime we look to what is created by man to live and interact with one another, we risk allowing our hearts to turn from God.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to turn back to Him. Perhaps today God wants you to turn away from this world, abandoning the ways that this world encourages. Maybe today God wants you to repent for allowing your heart to stray from Him.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 189–190). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 254). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 4:4–6). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 234–235). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 226–227). Zondervan Publishing House.
Martin, R. P. (1988). James (Vol. 48, pp. 148–149). Word, Incorporated.

one step: James 4.2

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

James 4:2-3

Much debate has surrounded the word “murder” in James 4:2.* Some believe that it was metaphorical while others believe that James was indicating a path: unfulfilled desire leads to murder.* Others believe that the word is quite literal as the audience of James included Zealots with violent pasts and a religious belief system where murder for making justice was acceptable.*

Regardless, James is insistent that whatever mechanisms that they implemented to obtain the results they wanted failed.* The key to this failure was not just tied to the means of their efforts, but to the motives as well.

Like a flower amongst the thorns of their faulty efforts (impure desires, covetousness, murder, fighting, and quarreling) sat prayer. Indeed, despite their sinfulness, they prayed… well, some did.

Scholars suggest that James refers to those first who did not see desired outcomes in their life (specifically, in their context, positions of leadership and freedom from oppression) because they did not ask God for them.* Secondly, he refers to those who ask, but with wrong motives.* Those who do not ask receive the same thing that those who ask with wrong, selfish motives receive: nothing.*

For God to answer selfish prayers, He would be encouraging selfish desires in His people, and that goes against His nature and goodness.* Selfish prayers, then, go against the best interest of the Christian community, for the best interest of the Christian community is always God’s ways.*

As believers, why would we not pray for issues that plague us? Why would we ask God for things out of selfishness? Because we are all a work in progress.

George Stulac offers,

The conclusion for us is that our fights reveal a wrong relationship with God which is manifest in our prayer lives. Either we do not pray, because we do not trust in God’s grace, or we pray with wrong motives, because we do not follow God’s purity.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to trust Him with your situation. Perhaps today God wants you to pray. Maybe today God wants you to change what you are praying for to an unselfish, Kingdom focus. Perhaps today God wants you walk in His purity.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 187–189). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 253–254). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 4:2–3). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 227–231). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 224–226). Zondervan Publishing House.
Martin, R. P. (1988). James (Vol. 48, pp. 145–148). Word, Incorporated.