CONSUMING FIRE

Sometimes I forget that GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE! Hebrews 12:29 

It says in the epistle of James that "God opposes the proud"! Meaning He hates pride, and those who are prideful are in direct opposition to Him. 

I never really considered the idea that to befriend the world, as it were, was in essence to become an enemy of God! How can that be? I've read those verses a thousand times in James, but I think I saw them more metaphorically, which diminishes their meaning and impact. I believe James is giving a clue when he says that "the Spirit He caused to live in us yearns jealously." Yearns jealousy for what? Our heart's! He doesn’t want us being pulled away and distracted from out relationship with the Life Giver Himself. Why? Because the truth is, there is no God but YHVH and the world presents us with other gods! The Hebrew word used for idolatry means to place something between you and the object of your focus (in this case God), thus blocking it from sight and causing something else to take it's place of importance. Simple, yet powerful!

Thank God James said "He gives us MORE grace!" He follows that thought with something from Proverbs. "... but He gives grace to the humble." 

So how do we humble ourselves to receive this grace? 

I think I'll sum it up this way... recognize the pride and then ache for the break. King David said, "a broken and contrite heart He will never turn away." 

This is the only confidence I have... what about you?

As the month of Elul is upon us and pushes us ever closer towards Rosh haShanah and Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets), in Judaism it is a time one is to take into account the last year of life, a soul search as it were, in preparation for Yom Kippur. It's probably not a bad thing to not only join into the process, but to ask God to show us how it is we have forgotten who He is and how the simplicity of our actions cause us to be at odds with Him, and His Spirit in us. Don't you?

Thanks for reading and shalom!

© 2010 Steven Bliss

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