April 24 – When Freedom Is Not

“ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” - James 4:7  (ESV)

We find in the Bible promises that are within instructions. We have such a promise in our verse today. We have two commands, two actions we are instructed to do. The first is Submit and the second is Resist. Working together obeying these instructions has a promise. But instead, many times we Resist Submission. Submitting is contrary to our concept of “free will.” The word “submit” here is a military term “to be subordinated” or “to render obedience.” Submitting is required in many circumstances. Resistance fits more comfortably with our concept of freedom, but here’s a problem, that’s not freedom. When we resist God we are submitting to the way is the devil wants us to behave. Of course that’s backwards from what we are instructed. We’ll never see the promised results of running the devil off if that is the way we live. What we really want, and need is freedom from sin and the devil. That comes when we submit to God and resist the devil. The devil cannot overpower God power in our lives. Submit to God, Resist the devil, We must do this with consistency, over and over. The victory of Christ becomes more precious.

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February 24 – Joining the Resistance

“But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”  - 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7 (ESV)

Temptations come at us every day; this we know because Jesus told us it would happen if we followed Him and His teaching.  The world hates us and abuses us for professing Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We have a means to fight this battle by joining the Resistance.  Resisting the devil is an effective means of enduring temptations and avoiding pitfalls the enemy throws in our way.  Temptations and the abuse of the world are part of the sufferings we endure because we choose to believe Jesus.  Resisting is something we must do continually and as we do, we have two promises from two verses today.  The Apostle Peter says that by standing firm in our faith we resist the enemy.  James tells us that if we, in submission to God, resist the devil it will turn tail and run off.  The battle is already won, but devil does not give up.  Each time the devil comes back we resist again and our faith grows stronger.  In the Resistance, we begin to see more clearly the victory God promised (1 John 5:4 ESV) and so we are not so easily tripped up or fooled by the enemy.  

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