I’ll lay my trophies down

by chuckofish

I am currently reading the Epistle of James in my daily Bible reading plan. Chapter 4 is quite convicting:

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Clearly, resisting the devil is a full time job and we must never drop our guard. Read the whole chapter and see how the Bible speaks to us today. Washing our hands was not just something we did during Covid.

So be obedient and all manner of things shall be well. Don’t follow the world, follow Jesus. Being kind is important, but it’s not the Gospel.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

–Elvina M. Hall, 1865