Today’s passage: James 4:4-10
Helpful thoughts:
- The original Greek word for “adulterous people” is written in the feminine form (“You adultresses!”). Remember, Christ is the groom and we (The Church) are the bride. When we go after other selfish desires, we are cheating on the one to whom we have been betrothed. (2 Corinthians 11:2)
- The Greek words translated as “friendship” and “friend” carry the idea of intimate relationship and association, going much deeper than any casual friendship that we think of today. Within this context, this use of these words conveys the idea of having a soul-mate of the opposite sex who is not your spouse.
- There is a spiritual war going on for your affections! For your thinking and your desires.
Questions to consider:
- How does the marriage analogy help you to better understand the application of this passage?
- What role would Satan be playing in this analogy? Why is resisting his temptations necessary and why does resisting work? When you say “no” to him who are you saying “yes” to?
- Why is it appropriate for our laughter to turn to mourning if we have been unfaithful? What will God’s gracious exaltation and our newfound delight in His love result in? What will our repentant mourning be turned into?