Week of July 25

A woman once told me that her prayers were bouncing off some heavenly barrier. Her petitions were not getting through. She reached out to me because she could not discern the cause of heaven’s silence. I cannot recall her exact situation, but I do know one reason why people do not have good communication with the Heavenly Father. They are not spiritually attuned to Him.

James chapter 4 examines wisdom from two perspectives—worldly and godly. He strives to show his readers that godly wisdom forms the basis for a successful life and active communication with the Father. The heart that cleaves to God represents the absolute key to this form of wisdom. The wise person views this instruction as a great gift and has learned to listen and apply what God says. Let’s examine this thought more closely in our time together today.

James has a clear message for sincere believers. God graciously provides aid to the humble person, so be humble (4:10). This verse has been applied in myriad ways across the years, but the specific context requires us to look to the line of reasoning that he has been following. First, James states that the precise form of humbling that his readers needed was repentance for the sin of transferring their loyalties from God to the pleasures of the world. Hang on! You do not have to list the bass boat or Fendi handbag on Craigslist just yet. Secondly, this verse may be widened in its application because it emerges from within a consistent biblical principle: God exalts the humble (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 5:6). Let me explain this principle a bit more.

Tommy Lea points out to us that verse 10 contains both a command and promise (HTNC). On the one hand, becoming humble requires us to voluntarily turn to God. England’s Queen Elizabeth has ruled for more than 69 years. I am fascinated by the manner with which any dignitary must approach her. There is a distinct protocol that one is to follow when interacting with the Queen—deference. The same holds true for our Divine Sovereign.

We may also picture what “humble yourselves” meant to James by imagining a subject falling prostrate before a powerful oriental ruler, seeking his mercy. Too often we measure our humility by our own standards, but this will not suffice when coming to the Lord.

On the other hand, when we truly yield to his will, then He promises to exalt and elevate us. In other words, he will give us the “moral and spiritual power” to live the life that He requires (1 Peter 5:6; HNTC). There are several clear steps to follow to place ourselves in the right position to receive God’s presence and blessing.

I am by no means a radio expert, but I do know enough to understand the importance of communicating on a precise frequency. Public Radio lists several ways to gain good reception. First, it helps to have a radio with good quality. Excellent sound and fidelity features are nice, but the radio unit does not always have especially good receiver circuitry. A radio’s performance may be visually appealing but practically frustrating. If our spiritual circuitry is not God-given, then our reception of His communication to use will be spotty.

Here are several thoughts for our spiritual growth. Francis Quarles, the 16th-17th century English poet, spoke quite poetically of God’s compassion when he said, “Heaven finds an ear when sinners find a tongue.” Let me share some ways to find a tongue today that will lead to God’s presence. We are to cry out to God to forgive, heal, and restore our lives to His service. The result is not only finding the pardon for which we have sought, but we will experience the joy of friendship with God (cf. 2:23; 4:4). Here are several steps in the process.

First, we should seek direct communion with God. Repentance will be a lifelong practice for every believer, so James brings to our attention the truth that we all fall into sins that undermine our faith and fellowship with God. We must return to Him with “whole-hearted commitment.” Secondly, repentance continues with a call to submit to God (4:7). The imperative is to stop resisting God in anything. Included in this exhortation is the understanding that the wisdom to carry out our submission must come from God and not from our own self-effort or abilities (1:4).

Thirdly, the believer will actively resist the devil so that he will flee. Satan is the embodiment of all that resists God and is at odds with God (cf. 4:4). The tempter uses lies and deceit to carry out his purposes. If he is actively resisted through our submission to God, then he will not fight back and will flee. We may say that he feeds upon our envy and selfish ambition that are at the root of conflicts and quarrels in the Christian community (NAC).

Godly people approach God with their acts of worship (4:8; cf. 2 Chronicles 29-31). The dependent and penitent person approaches God by focusing his or her attention on Him and is ready to leave the encounter to perform his or her service unto Him. Since the Old Testament pattern had been superseded, these believers (and we, too) would be cleansed by God’s action in their behalf (cf. John 13:8; 15:3; Isaiah 1:16). We are to receive God’s cleansing and to dedicate afresh our bodies to the “purity of true religion” (1:27). Outward moral practice begins with an inner life that has been purified and that “corresponds with the character of God” (NAC).

1. What personal attitudes may be hindering your communication with God? You may discover that your spiritual receiving unit looks nice on the outside, but your heart is not attuned precisely to Him. Ask God to forgive you and to restore you to fellowship with him.

2. For families: The verse in today’s lesson can be fun for children to apply. Have them do a couple of experiments with you about communicating. First, have your children stand by a window inside the house. Ask them to figure out what you are saying. Then, put on a mask and go outside. Give your children a simple set of instructions through the closed window using a low voice (like “You can have two cookies for a snack.”). Go back inside and ask them what you said. Did they not understand you?

Try the second experiment. Have them turn their backs to you, and you turn your back to them. Now each of you walk ten paces forward, creating a space between you. In a mere whisper, give them the instructions again. Could they not hear you again? Then call them close and explain that our communication with God requires certain things from them. They must have a tender heart, a listening ear, and a quiet spirit. God will hear them, and they will hear God, when they come with the right attitude. Then give your children their final instructions, straight into their upturned faces. Did they hear you this time? Good. This is how it is with God.

May all your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock