Today’s Scripture: You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can’t be a friend of God. James 4:4 NLT Tyndale
James is laying down some tough love here. A wake up call we need to be reminded of constantly. Don’t you find it interesting that in the previous paragraph that James tells us the only reason we don’t have what we want is because we don’t ask?
In James 4 3 he says “And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong- you want only what will give you pleasure.” Satan, the king of this world, is tricky. Because we live in it we slip into thinking it is all about what the world has to offer and we ask for what gives us pleasure in it.
Do we get frustrated that our prayers aren’t answered? Is it because we ask for the wrong things or have the wrong motives? Although motive has the connotation of purposeful action, I think that instead, Satan is good at misdirecting our aim. If our aim is to be a friend of God and our aim is about God and His purpose, we will seek what is important to Him.
When our aim is true we will want what God wants and when we ask for that we will get it. I pray we bow our knees and raise our hands and send the friend request that matters most.
Today’s Prayer: God, You are worthy of all honor and praise. I lift my hands and my voice to You and thank You for giving me the desire to be Your friend. I seek You above all others. I am asking that You give me all that I need to live for You. Help me to live in this world for You and with You as your friend. Amen
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
You are a friend of God my brother. God knows the motives of our hearts and blesses accordingly. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul and He will give you the desires of your heart. I pray that God will lead me today to have pure motives, and know that I do love Him with all my heart, mind and soul – in Jesus name, Amen and Amen!
Amen and Amen!! Thanks Sheryl!!
Friend of the world vs. friend of God. I choose the latter. i choose your choice. Good word Tom.
Thank you Bill. A friend to a Holy God….overwhelming as I said on your blog this morning. What a friend we have! (hey that should be a song, ha!)
To be in the world but not of the world! Ahh… there’s the thing. In a world rushing towards judgment the House of the Lord must say with you “Oh that I would be a friend of God!” Thanks for the reminder Tom
During the rush may He look down and know as the world rushes around that we are planted firmly by His side. May He know we are His friend in a most honoring and devoted way! Thanks for stopping by!