prone to forget it when someone else shows that they also have re- maining sin in them. How quickly we transition from sinner saved by grace to judge who knows no mercy! But how foolish we’ll look if Christ comes and casts His great shadow over us as we look down on one another with proud spirits that know how to condemn, but not how to overlook a fault. It is a necessary reminder then, as we wait for the appearing of the Judge of all the earth, that we’re to maintain humility with regard to other people in this world.
Our Plans To this James then adds his
fourth to humility with regard to our plans in this world. He tells us that we shouldn’t boast about our plans year plan for the church, or the next business deal, or the next vacation, or retirement, when we don’t know if we’ll enjoy any of those things. To do so, rather than focusing on praising and serving - It is to think and behave as if our uncertain plans for the future are better and more worthy of our at- tention than His perfect call to live for Him right where He has us at present. It is to forget that when we stand before Him, we’re not going to give an account of all the great things we had hoped to do one day, but of the things we ac- tually did with the days He gave. So, rather than boasting of the fu- ture, James says, we should hum-
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bly remember that each day is a language of a person who knows Who holds every tomorrow in His language of someone who lives - ship, humbly submitting all our plans to Him, even as He fervent- Taken in sum, James is describ- ing a beautiful, Christ-like life. And it all begins with seeing our- the proud but gives grace to the - sentially what James writes in humble yourself get down on your confess your foolish pride. Grieve that you could have ever thought life was all about you and your position and your possessions and your plans, when the Son of God lowered Himself and died on a cross to save you. And this, not so that you could do whatever you want, but so that you could heed His call to take up your cross daily and follow Him.
That, people of God, is how
you’re to live so as to be found ready for the return of Christ. trusting that, at the proper time, He will make you to shine like the sun as He lifts your head and speaks those sweetest of words, -
exaltation we’re to seek – the great reversal, the lifting up of the lowly in the day of Christ’s return. And, if you would seek and share in it, then James has told you the way humility.
Rev. Eric Hancox is the pastor of Covenant of Grace ARP Church in Winston-Salem, NC. He is a graduate of RTS-Charlotte. He and his wife, Laura, have four children.
“God
opposes the proud but shows favor to the
humble.” James 4:6
CHURCH PEW CUSHIONS Padded seats or reversible cushions
DON GREEN UPHOLSTERY Call collect (864) 277-3795
Write: 1401 Piedmont Hwy., Piedmont, SC 29673 The Associate Reformed Presbyterian
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