Time to submit to God and resist the devil

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

There are some women who are all “lovey-dovey” and make extensive preparation for their marriage day, but cringe when the minister uses the word “submit” as part of the marriage vows. Someone sent me a video recently, where when the minister told the bride to repeat after him, “Submit yourself to your husband”, she asked him if he was joking.

To submit is to accept or yield to a superior force or person, and as the one giving the announcements, some churches would say, “Govern yourselves accordingly.” Some would argue this Concise English Oxford Dictionary definition, but while there may be two eyes to a body, there is only one head.

Although James, who is the half-brother of Jesus, was not a follower of his brother in the early part of his ministry, and only became converted after the resurrection, he became a powerful and influential leader in the church at Jerusalem. Persecution of Christians was still being carried out, so James wrote words of encouragement to the church.

“Submit to God and resist the devil” are powerful words to remain steadfast and unmovable. It is a wonderful gift to be an enabler and encourager to those who are weak of heart and low in spirit. Commit yourselves, as James speaks from the volume of the book.

Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you. You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures.

Unfaithful people! Don’t you know that to be the world’s friend means to be God’s enemy? Don’t think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, “The spirit that God placed in us is filled with fierce desires. But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’’’

Oh then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you hypocrites. Be sorrowful, cry and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Do not criticize one another, my friends. If you criticize or judge another Christian, you criticize and judge the law, then you are no longer one who obeys the law, but one who judges it. God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are to judge someone else?

Now, listen to me, you that say, “Today or tomorrow, we will travel to another city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.” You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment, then disappears.

I don’t believe that many of us as human beings realize, in spite of the tragedy and loss of loved ones, how enriched we are with the quality of their lives during this pandemic. The whole world has been given time to change what was not good for us morally, socially and spiritually. There is certainly a paradigm shift in the affairs of our lives. Though thousands have left us, and are leaving us, yet remain millions and millions who have the opportunity to make their lives and the lives of others better than when we entered the portals of 2020.

There is still time left to submit to the will and purpose of God for our lives. Time to make amends for wrongs. Time to forgive and work together for the good of all. Time to alter our foolish and arrogant ways. Time to seek the Lord while he may be found. Time to give and not to get more and more. Time to speak truth and fire the devil. Time for righteousness to be the watchword for our nation and the nations of the world. Time for love and not hate. Time for decency, dignity and decorum. Time for law and order. Yes, it is time to submit to God and resist the devil – he will have no other choice but to flee.

• E-mail haystreet241@gmail.com or rubyanndarling@yahoo.com. Write to P.O. Box 19725 SS Nassau, Bahamas, with your prayer requests, concerns and comments. God’s blessings.

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