Where God Reigns 神掌权之处
Dexu Xia
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Today's Scripture James 4:1-10
Today's Insights In addition to the admonitions of Peter (1 Peter 5:8) and James (James 4:7) regarding spiritual vigilance in resisting temptation, Paul also had something to say about it. After noting how the Israelites had succumbed to temptation in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:1-11), he warned the Corinthians: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful . . . . When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (vv. 12-13). The apostle lists two examples of how the “way out” can sometimes involve fleeing. He says we’re to “flee from idolatry” (v. 14) and “sexual immorality” (6:18). The Holy Spirit helps us to stand firm against the enemy.
Today's Devotion In 2018, a man checked into a room at New York hotel for a one-night stay. Remarkably, he used the room for five years without paying another cent—exploiting obscure rent laws to hold on to it. His refusal to leave, however, eventually led to potential prison time for him.
Like an unwelcome tenant who overstays, James warns us that the devil lingers in our lives when left unchecked. “Resist the devil,” James writes, “and he will flee from you” (4:7). The apostle emphasizes that our struggles often come from impure “desires” and “wrong motives” (vv. 1, 3)—things like pride, divided loyalties, and impure thoughts residing in our hearts. To counter such temptation, James offers two commands: “submit . . . to God” and “resist the devil” (v. 7). To submit means surrendering every part of our lives to God. Resisting the devil is equally active, requiring prayer, vigilance, and the wisdom of Scripture.
Like a landlord evicting an unlawful tenant, in God’s strength we can refuse to let the temptation of the devil overtake us. As we resist him, God promises victory as James asserts, “He will flee from you” (v. 7).
When we evict sin and the devil’s influence and “come near to God” (v. 8), we allow His peace, joy, and purpose to dwell more fully in us. The enemy can’t stay where God reigns!
Reflect & Pray
What can you do to remove “unwelcome tenants” from your life? How does submitting to God help?
Sovereign God, please help me surrender every part of my life to You so I can stand firm against the enemy's schemes. By Marvin Williams
故此，你们要顺服神。务要抵挡魔鬼，魔鬼就必离开你们逃跑了。（雅各书 4:7）
今日经文：雅各书 4章1-10 节
今日洞见： 除了彼得（彼得前书 5:8）和雅各（雅各书 4:7）关于在抵挡试探时保持属灵警醒的劝诫外，保罗也对此有所论述。在提到以色列人在旷野如何屈服于试探之后（哥林多前书 10:1-11），他告诫哥林多人说：“自己以为站得稳的，须要谨慎，免得跌倒。你们所遇见的试探，无非是人所能受的。神是信实的……在受试探的时候，总要给你们开一条出路，叫你们能忍受得住”（12-13节）。使徒列举了两个例子，说明这种“出路”有时涉及“逃离”。他说我们要“逃避拜偶像的事”（14节）和“淫乱的事”（6:18）。圣灵帮助我们站稳脚步，抵挡仇敌。
今日灵修 2018年，一名男子在纽约一家酒店登记入住，原本只打算住一晚。令人惊讶的是，他竟在未再支付分文的情况下占用了该房间长达五年之久，他利用了一些鲜为人知的租房法规来保住这个房间。然而，他拒绝离开的行为最终使他面临牢狱之灾。
就像一个赖着不走的讨厌房客，雅各警告我们，若我们不抵制，魔鬼就会在我们的生活中盘踞不去。“务要抵挡魔鬼，”雅各写道，“魔鬼就必离开你们逃跑了”（4:7）。这位使徒强调，我们的挣扎往往源于不洁的“私欲”和“错误的动机”（1、3节），比如骄傲、心怀二意以及内心深处忤逆上帝的念头。为了抵御此类试探，雅各提出了两条命令：“顺服……神”以及“抵挡魔鬼”（7节）。“顺服”意味着将我们生命的每一个层面都降服于神。抵挡魔鬼同样需要积极的行动，包括祷告、警醒以及运用圣经的智慧。 就像房东驱逐非法租客那样，我们靠着神的力量，可以拒绝让魔鬼的诱惑辖制我们。当我们抵挡魔鬼时，神应许我们会得胜，正如雅各所言：“他必逃跑离开你们了”（第7节）。 当我们驱逐罪恶与魔鬼的影响，并“亲近神”（第8节）时，便能让神的平安、喜乐和旨意更丰盛地住在我们里面。在神掌权之处，仇敌无法立足！
反思与祷告 你能做些什么来清除你生命中那些“不受欢迎的租客”？顺服上帝对你有何益处？ 主宰万有的神啊，求祢帮助我将生命的每一个层面都降服于祢，使我能坚定抵挡仇敌的诡计。——马文·威廉姆斯