Verses to Abide In
“You adulterous people! 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. 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”?” James 4:4-5 ESV
Digging Deeper
From Grant Richison on James 4:4:
We commit spiritual infidelity when we love the world. Friendship with the world and friendship with God are mutually exclusive. A person who attempts to love God and the world simultaneously is a double-minded man. He wants his cake and eat it too. This is spiritual adultery….
God is a jealous God and will not tolerate unfaithfulness. He does not share Himself with anyone or anything. The person who falls in love with the world constitutes himself against God. He is not just indifferent to God, but he is the enemy of God. He deems that God is not sufficient for his needs, so he runs off to his mistress, the world. In adopting this system of values, he cuts off God’s blessing from his life.
When the carnal (worldly) Christian fully buys into Satan’s system, he completely shuts down to the Word of God. His orientation of values changes from God’s viewpoint to Satan’s viewpoint. Satan’s viewpoint might not be overt evil but a philosophy or a religious belief contrary to the principles of the Bible. His heart hardens toward the principles of the Word. He eventually shuts down his volition toward God wholly.
The longer the carnal (worldly) believer stays in this orientation away from God, the deeper he gets into Satan’s system. Conversely, the greater momentum he has in the Word of God, the stronger he gets in his orientation to God’s system of values. It takes many decisions to get to either belief system…
There is a lot of good information about the intricacies of James 4:5. For brevity I will merely share this also from Grant Richison:
The word “dwells” means to cause to dwell, to put within. The Holy Spirit’s jealousy longs (yearns) for fellowship with the spirit that dwells in us. He is jealous of our love. Some believers committed spiritual adultery (4:4), so they needed to understand how God longs for His people. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
From the Heart
As I have been meditating on and praying through our verses for this past week, anticipating Father’s Day, it dawned on me to make the connection in how our Heavenly Father longs for us. I know I just posted about it above, but I wasn’t making the connection with my love for my earthly father as we prepared to celebrate him, as well as my husband as the father of our children, and our son—who is now a father himself.
Here is a photo of my family! My parents, our sons and daughter-in-law, and grandkids. They bless our lives so richly!
One thing my dad has taught me is the importance of family and being together. Before he knew Christ, he was at work constantly. After he (and my family) came to know the Lord when I was three years old, he gradually began to change. He started coming home at 6 PM so we could eat dinner together as a family—even if that meant he would wake up at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning to get work done.
What a beautiful picture to me as his daughter of how my Heavenly Father also values time with me.
Those dinners were foundational in my growing-up years. I am so thankful.
Here is a picture of me with my dad when I was a tot.
Over the years, I have seen God continually change my dad, drawing him away from the world, closer to himself, and toward a greater love for others.
Here is a link to an interview my dad did with Paul Tripp, whom he works with. May it be a blessing to you to hear about God’s work, as it has been to me to see his hand in my dad and our family.
Let's Pray
How precious is your steadfast love, your lovingkindness, O God!
We take refuge and put our trust under the shadow of your wings.
We relish and feast and get our fill on the abundance of your house; and you allow us to drink of the stream of your pleasures, from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life, the fountain of life-giving water; in your light we see light (Psalm 36:7–9 AMPC, AMP; John 4:10, 14).
Prepare our hearts to receive and apply your words, we ask.
Is there any sin blocking my perspective of your truth?
Am I following the system of this world—in which the enemy rules—influencing me, whether known or unknown to me?
Show me…
Convict my heart of your will and way for me to follow in you.
Forgive me for…
Forgive me for my self-reliance, bitter jealousy, and selfish ambition…
Forgive me when I waste time on… especially when you are convicting me to do something else…
Help us to have an urgency, in view of your mercy, to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to you.
We do so now, surrendering our bodies to you.
May we be set apart for you alone.
May this be our spiritual act of worship.
Give us strength in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10) not to conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but rather help us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds
so that we will be able to test and approve what your will is—your good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 12:1–2 NIV).
Yes! May it be so in and through us!
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11 ESV)!
We trust in you. You are our trust (Jeremiah 17:7).
In the name of Jesus, our Friend (James 2:23; John 15:15).
Through your Spirit, with whom we have been sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30 ESV).
Amen.
May God help each of us to realize more and more his yearning for our whole hearts,
Laura
Upcoming Events
Sunday, July 5, 4-7pm
America 250 Celebration
We will wrap up this beautiful evening at about 6:40
with a few songs to sing along with and a brief message from Michael
Crossing Community Church
80 Lower Silver Lake Road
Newtown, PA 18940
Saturday, August 1, 2026, 7-9pm
Acts of Grace Coffeehouse
1609 Woodburne Road
SUITE 403B (very back of complex)
LEVITTOWN, PA 19057
Monday, August 3, 2026, 7-9pm
Karen's Place Outdoor Concert
Doylestown Mennonite Church
590 N. Broad Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Saturday, August 8, time 7 PM
Red's Room Online Concert
Red's Room Entertainment