AM I AN ADULTERER?
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
James 4:4-5 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
James jumps from dealing with our selfishness and hostility towards each other into calling us “adulterers.” This is a strong statement that was intended to cause us to pause and think about what he is saying. He wants us to realize that “friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God.”
How do we accept this passage in light of the fact the gospels tell us Jesus was a friend of sinners? Jesus showed love and respect to those far from the kingdom of God. Jesus was accused of being a friend of sinners. So, if I am to be a follower of Jesus shouldn’t I be doing the same thing?
There is a big difference between showing respect to someone and participating with someone in their sin. I can show a person respect and love without participating in their behavior that is displeasing to God.
It is the concept of being in the world but not of the world. We are called to be children of God. Our citizenship is in heaven not on earth. There should be something about my life as a follower of Jesus that is different from the life of those in my world who are not followers of Jesus.
If I dress like the world, talk like the world, and do the same things the world does then how can I claim to be different from the world?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me to keep my focus and priorities on the things of heaven. Help me to live to please You. Forgive me for allowing the world to set my standard of behavior.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”