{"id":1952,"date":"2012-11-15T06:00:50","date_gmt":"2012-11-15T12:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hungryformore.org\/?p=1952"},"modified":"2012-11-15T06:00:50","modified_gmt":"2012-11-15T12:00:50","slug":"part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hungryformore.org\/part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Submission as Freedom: Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

You are in for a major treat over the next three days and we have a man of both “heart and pen”<\/strong> with us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I first met Chad Berry<\/strong> when he spent several weeks in Taiwan<\/strong> one summer. Originally from Alabama<\/strong>, Chad ended up on a team of volunteers from South Carolina<\/strong>. Isn’t it just like our Father to have his future wife<\/strong> on that Carolina team?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Previously with the Tuscaloosa News, Chad now writes for a large overseas organization. Get ready to eat heartily as he opens\u00a0James 4:7<\/strong> to us in a fresh way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

——————————–<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSubmit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.\u201d<\/em> – James 4:7\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

James\u2019 letter is often hailed for its practicality and straightforward, God-inspired wisdom<\/strong>. Today\u2019s verse is a prime example. In just 14 (English) words, it captures the essence of living as a follower<\/strong> of Jesus. The ramifications are massive. It is as forceful today as it must have been to the 1st century church.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Really, the admonition in this verse goes back even further, to the Fall (Gen. 3). God gives a command<\/strong>. The devil tempts Adam and Eve. Instead of resisting the devil<\/strong>, submitting to God and obeying his command<\/strong>, they rebel against their Creator, believe the father of lies and sin. The rest is history, with us in rebellion against God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our world today is certainly reflective of this, making James 4:7 seem as \u201ccountercultural<\/strong>\u201d as ever. Especially in the West, the idea of \u201csubmitting\u201d and \u201cresisting\u201d goes against the norm. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Submit<\/strong>?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span> don\u2019t think so. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I<\/span> don\u2019t have to submit to anyone and do anything I<\/span> don\u2019t want to do. Authority is not to be trusted. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Resist temptation? No, we prefer \u201cif it feels good, do it.<\/strong>\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s all about me<\/span> anyway. Sin, if it really exists, is a subjective thing. What\u2019s wrong for you may be right for me. We have natural impulses \u2013 why would it be wrong to follow them? The boundaries of absolute truth are ever constricting. We live out our self-made, self-centered theologies.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is the world we live in and the air we breathe.<\/span> Following Christ<\/strong> and teaching others to do the same takes place in a context that goes against what we see every day<\/strong> and, indeed, against our sinful nature. Now, let\u2019s look at this verse\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSubmit yourselves, therefore, to God<\/em>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s always good practice to go back and look at what \u201ctherefore\u201d refers to<\/strong>. In this case, it\u2019s the preceding verse: <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut he gives us more grace\u2026God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble<\/em>\u201d (4:6).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As we submit to God, we should remember and reflect on God\u2019s grace. The Fall wasn\u2019t the end<\/strong> of the story! Jesus came to redeem (\u201cbuy us back<\/strong>\u201d) us from our sins, and did so at the cost of his life and rose again, triumphing over death and sin. If you are a believer, God has graciously worked in your heart to awaken you to this gloriously good news and recognize (submit to!) him as Lord and Savior.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How does submission<\/strong> grant you hope?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You are in for a major treat over the next three days and we have a man of both “heart and pen” with us.\u00a0   I first met Chad Berry when he spent several weeks in Taiwan one summer. Originally from Alabama, Chad ended up on a team of volunteers from South Carolina. Isn’t it just like our Father to … <\/p>\n

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