James 4
by Philip Layton
‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (v 7)
Discussion Questions
- How do you understand verse 6?
- How can we submit ourselves to God? Would you say James believes in a literal devil (v 7)? If so, how can we resist him?
- What is the essence of the teaching James is giving through verse 15?
- How is it relevant to you and your plans?
Share your thoughts below, or tweet about it with the #boundlessbible hashtag. Don't forget this week's Children's Challenge!
Going Deeper From 'Words of Life'
Have you ever felt a task before you was too great? Or that God was leading you in a certain direction, but you didn’t want to go? Perhaps you have prayed for something specific to happen, and it hasn’t! This song is all about God’s will for our lives, about trusting him enough to say, ‘Thy will be done’:
My God, my Father, make me strong
When tasks of life seem hard and long,
To greet them with this triumph-song:
Thy will be done.
(SASB 744 v 1)
It is about having confidence in God. It is also about praying that God will reveal to us his perfect will. It takes strength of spirit and humbleness of heart. Yet through prayer, Christ gives us freedom:
With confident and humble mind,
Freedom in service I would find,
Praying through every toil assigned,
Thy will be done. (v 3)
Hymnwriter Frederick Mann was educated in London and ordained in the Church of England in 1882. He said that true joy came to a person only when in God’s will. So we must ask ourselves: Do we have such joy today? And are we trusting God for tomorrow?
When we have faith to believe he wants only the very best for us, the ‘chimes’ of Heaven will be heard, giving us great hope. Together, let us read aloud the last verse and pledge to follow God’s perfect will for our lives:
Beverly Ivany
Tags: James