Day 1:
We’ve reached the final week of our Lenten reflections! We know that spending time in reflection, asking God to search your heart, confessing and turning from anything that has separated you from God is heavy work, but we pray it’s been a blessing. Hopefully you’ve been reminded or encouraged that the mercy and kindness of God, and that repentance is a gift that allows you to draw closer to the Lord.
Our final passage comes from James 4:7-10. Each day this week, we’ll build on these verses, but for now, simply read the passage and think on it. If you like, read it in more than one translation and see if anything sticks out to you.
James 4:7-10 (ESV)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Day 2:
Re-read James 4:7-10.
The book of James was written by Jesus’ half-brother, who led the church in Jerusalem after Christ’s ascension. Rather than addressing this letter to a specific church, James wrote it to Christians everywhere as a reminder of how we are to live out our faith. In this series, we’ve seen how God calls us to return to him, using his words in Scripture and the community around us. We’ve seen how we can and should respond to this call by humbly confessing our sins and running to the Father who greets us with open arms. We’ve seen that once we’ve returned to God, we can invite others—the whole Body—to join us, and we can intercede on its behalf.
Here, James, too, is calling on the whole church draw near to God. He is reminding the people he invested most of his life to serving (and us) that when they submit, draw near, repent, and humble themselves before God, he will draw near and lift them up. As we can see from this series, this is not new information—it wasn’t news to the original readers, and it isn’t news to us. Sometimes, though, as our days come and go, we need this reminder. And sometimes, we need to be the ones reminding others.
When we live, share, and serve together as a community of saints, we can and should speak truth into each other’s lives. God has given us the words to encourage and build each other up, for, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). When we have submitted ourselves to God and we remain rooted in Christ, we can humbly train others to do the same. This takes knowledge of Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with the church community. We must be committed to God and his ways before we can instruct others to commit to his ways. May we choose to be a conduit for his love and truth to flow through us to those around us.
Day 3:
Re-read James 4:7-10.
There are great benefits to hand copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from James 4:7-10 (or all) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation.
In your handwritten copy of this scripture or in your Bible underline the verbs as you look over our verses in James. This passage is filled with calls to action. Start with “Submit” and “Resist.” Continue to mark each verb, allowing your mind to notice these active ways to follow God’s directions.
Day 4:
Re-read James 4:7-10.
Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2, or what has come to mind in your own personal study and pray it out. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.
Father God,
You have asked us to draw near to you, so here I am. I’m not always sure how to draw near, but I am trusting that in my willingness, you will draw near to me. You will hold me. This is a strange week in the church calendar—so many highs and lows, not so different from my life. My joys are quickly dashed, and disappointments and reality can knock me so low. And in my own reflection this Lent season, I have spent time facing some of my own sin. I am so sorry. I don’t want to stay where I am. With your help, with your power, I am turning away from Satan and all he is dangling before me. I am asking for your power to pull me from my sinful habits. And even as I remember today—Maundy Thursday, where you washed your disciples’ feet and shared a last meal—I remember that your body was broken for me. God, you were lifted up on a cross, paying for my sin. Oh God, your mercy to me is so great! Please walk with me, lift me up, help me on my way today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 5:
Re-read James 4:7-10.
Reflect and Apply:
How many times a day do you wash your hands? Put this verse on a sticky note near your sink. As you wash your hands, think about the internal, spiritual, repentant cleansing that God wants to do in you. What does he want to wash away?
James is the only Biblical author who uses the term “double-minded” (from the Greek word dipsuchos [dip’-soo-khos]). That description hints at the idea that believers can find themselves torn between competing ideas or interests, conflicted in their thoughts, easily thrown off course. Write down some things that pull your focus away from Jesus and his priorities for your life.
The U.S. culture is often not comfortable with deep sadness. We shy away from lament or outward demonstrations of sadness. Push yourself today to spend some time in honest sadness. Allow yourself to cry, to sit with your personal pain, to maybe even be mad at God a bit. One position of humility is to physically kneel, to kneel with your head to the floor or even to lie face down on the floor. Spend time in this humble physical position and listen for God. He will raise you up.
Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward. And on Sunday we will all be able to sing His praises as we celebrate a lifted up, risen Savior.
