Resisting God

May 21, 2014

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown brings forth death.

:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

:20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves!

I have the word of God implanted in me. Do I use that and go to God's word when something is going on or do I go to every other book written or everyone else around me?

Has the fact that information is now so easy to come by made it to easy to resist what we know God is telling us to do? You can find someone who has interpreted something from the word of God to say what you want it to say these days if you look hard enough. That doesn't make their interpretation truth. Just makes it say what you want it to say. But if you ask God He will tell you what He wants from you – stop trying to justify your actions or attitudes. If they are lined up with what God wants there will be no need to justify them to anyone.

Receive in verse 21 means deliberate and ready reception of what is offered.

Meekness is an attitude toward God where we accept His dealings with us as good, and don't resist. A humble heart doesn't fight against God.