Beyond the Weekend

June 28 | The Solution

June 28, 2018

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Come near to God, and he will come near to you… James 4:8a

Read: James 4:6-10

Listen: James 4

TODAY’S MESSAGE

James reminds his congregation that pride is at the center of their problem. They were allowing their selfish desires to lead them to conflict and outbursts of anger. If desires are the kindling, pride is the blowtorch. Pride tells us we can take matters into our own hands when it comes to getting what we want.

Pride says, “I want it my way and I want it now.” Instead of receiving from God in his way and timing, we take it by force. This rarely works out well for us.

We are to receive and engage all of God’s gifts with humility, recognizing God as the giver of all good things and sustainer of every aspect of our lives. When we don’t, God invites us to turn back to him in repentance.

John Dickson defines humility as “the noble choice to forgo your status and use your influence for the good of others. It is to hold your power in service of others” (Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership). It’s recognizing that your power is not your own, but a God-given gift intended to bless not only yourself but those around as well.

As we surrender our desires and pride to God, we find he is forming the character of Christ in us to reflect and better experience his life in our life. Watch the video clip below on humility from Senior Pastor Jeff Manion.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Take a moment today to memorize James 4:8a. Write it on a 3×5 card or type it in your mobile to remember that when we turn back to God and humbly seek him in our lives—we find that he’s been seeking us all along. He desires to shower his goodness and blessings on us. Turn to him today and experience the sweetness of walking humbly with God.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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