Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers. I have been looking forward to writing on this subject for a few weeks now. I’ve had a good dose of the Book of James – both in my BBT class and in my personal reading. This Book could be considered a book of wisdom in the New Testament, much like Proverbs in the Old Testament. Framed within an overall theme of patient perseverance during trials and temptations, James writes to encourage believers to live consistently with what they have learned in Christ. He desires for his readers to mature in their faith in Christ by living what they say they believe. And James condemns various sins including pride, hypocrisy, favoritism, and slander, and he encourages believers to humbly live heavenly wisdom rather than worldly wisdom, and to pray in all situations.
While there are many wisdom-packed verses contained in this Book, one that has particularly grabbed my attention- and one I’ve found myself referencing frequently – is verse 10 in chapter 4: “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.” To my way of thinking, this is the essence of the Gospel in one verse.
I find it interesting that almost all of the promises in the Bible begin with the two words: “if you” or “when you”. In other words, the meat of the promise that comes after these two qualifying words is predicated on our participation in what is being described. I liken this to the recovery process. Going to the recovery meetings is important, and they can be both enlightening and inspirational. But that in itself will not keep you clean and sober. The transformation process begins when we decide to participate in the “12 step” process. And the terms “participation” and “process” are the keys in this matter.
A “process” is exacting. Merriam Webster describes it as “a systematic series of actions directed to a defined end.” The term “systematic” reminds us the end is dependent on not deviating from the prescribed plan. The Scripture referenced above is a perfect example of this process.
Unfortunately, most people don’t wake up to their own insufficiency until they find themselves at the end of their proverbial rope and out of options. That’s when the first two words, “When you” become real and begin to look like a life jacket in your sea of despair. And much to your own surprise, you entertain the thought, “perhaps this is the answer”. What a brilliant idea! Now that new sense of “willingness” that you’ve finally found can open the door to the process outlined above.
“When you bow down before the Lord…” This is not literally referencing any ritualistic activity, but is instead referencing the state of our heart. This awareness of our own insufficiency has finally produced in us a state of humility, and nothing gets God’s attention more than a humble, pliable heart. This is clearly stated in James 4: 6-8: “God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble. So humble yourself before God. Resist the Devil (the source of pride)… Draw close to God and God will draw close to you.”
Those verses leave no doubt about God’s disdain for PRIDE. “And why is that?” you might ask. Because pride comes from our enemy, the Devil. The most effective lie he uses today is the same lie he used to seduce Eve in the Garden. “You won’t die, the serpent hissed. God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil. The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise!” (Genesis 3:4-6) Satan always wraps his alternative plan in a manner that titillates our human nature. And the caveat is always the same nuggets Eve found irresistible: “you can be self-sufficient. You will know everything. You will become just like God…you won’t need God.”
God didn’t create us to be independent creatures. He created us to live in communion with him and to experience his love and care, just like Adam and Eve did before the fall. Step 3 of Alcoholics Anonymous states this concept so beautifully: “We made a decision to turn our will and life over to the CARE of God, as we understand him.” I capitalized the word “care” because I know in my own case, while I read “care” and said “care”, what I heard in my mind was “control.” Needless to say, I wasn’t too fond of being under the control of anything.
But one day when I was reading that Step 3, the word, “care” jumped off the page as though it were illuminated with bright neon lights. Wow! I was shocked. How could I have missed that? It says CARE! So what does a care-giver do for someone under their guidance? Well…they keep them safe; they make sure their needs are met; they provide a sense of love, peace and security. How awesome is that?! Well… the good news is, this IS the God we find when we admit our dependency on him. This is the God who’s love is unconditional, unending, and unfailing. This is the God who provides the answers to all of our worldly problems through the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. When we are in Christ, we are heirs to all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm and all the promises in the Bible. And that is only the beginning of what our dependency nets us.
“And He will lift us up and give us honor.” Once we have gained a new sense of humility by realizing “we aren’t God”; and once we have admitted our dependence on Him and have accepted his Gift of Grace, the floodgates are open to experience his abundant blessings.
First, we become a new creation in Christ. 2Corinthians 5:17 tells us that, “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! What this specifically tells us is, our old nature – our sin nature, or what our culture calls our “human nature” – is taken away and replaced with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This new Spirit now empowers us to make new decisions that are in line with God’s will rather than following the self-serving desires of our sin- nature. This conflict is addressed in Galatians 5:17-18: “The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to your sinful nature.”
In other words, we are set free from the bondage of our old selves. As a new creation in Christ, we can call on the Holy Spirit to empower us to make choices that help us to become the person God created us to be, and to bring honor and Glory to God. Now we are capable of becoming God’s “masterpiece”, as referenced in Ephesians 2:10: “For now we are his masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
So the honor that we get from admitting our dependency on God is a second chance at life. And along with being a new creation is the new identity that comes from being in Christ. Because of that new standing, we are grafted into God’s family. We are a child of God; our sins are forgiven; we are acceptable and worthy to come into God’s presence; we are heir to all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm and all the promises in the Bible.
But not only are we in Christ, but Christ is in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. That gift is part of God’s salvation plan for us so we can begin living the life he has called us to live in this fallen world.
This is how we rise above the quagmire of sin in which we live to become the “masterpiece” referenced above…we call on the Holy Spirit to empower us. Bear in mind, the Holy Spirit does not fix or solve our problems for us, but he does empower us when we call on him with wisdom, courage, strength, patience, perseverance – whatever it is we need to solve our problems in a way that brings honor and Glory to God.
So rest assured of these two truths. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are in Christ and Christ is in us. That’s what the Scripture means when it says, “Jesus Christ, our hope of glory.” (Colossians 2:27) And believe me, my Friends…Jesus Christ is our only hope of glory. A-men!
So my question to you today is… Have you bowed down before the Lord and admitted your dependence on him? How has you experiencing Him given you honor?
Feel free to respond to this post, and please “like” it and share it with other social media friends.
May God bless ya…
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
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