James 4:7-8

James 4:7-8 – Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double-minded.

In this passage we are given specific instructions. Each are actions for us to do that are followed by the action of another. First we see submission. “Submit yourselves, then, to God.” This is the only one that is not immediately followed by a by a corresponding action, but the other two cannot happen without us first submitting to God. We must let go of our pride and submit to what God has for us.

Next we see we are supposed to resist. Once we are submitted to God all we have to do is resist the devil. He has already been defeated, but he is looking for you to give him opportunity. You don’t have to give it to him. It starts with your act of resisting and ends with the devil fleeing. When you are submitted to God and you stand against the devils lies he know he can’t touch, so he flees.

After that we see another action. This time it is the act of drawing near to God. This action is also directly followed by the action of another. When we draw near to God He will draw near to us. That is a promise. Once we make the decision and take the first step, He does the rest. You turn to Him and He meets you where you are at.

So I repeat: submit to God, resist the devil and draw near to God. One small act of faith on our part results in a great act of Love on God’s part. He wants you close to Him, but asks that you take the first step, then He will do the rest.

Hebrews 7:18-19

Hebrews 7:18-19 – The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

           What is the former regulation that is talked about in this passage? The former regulation is the law. When the law was set up it was set as a means to make men perfect. It pointed out sin and told the people what they could and could not do. If you obeyed the law you would be perfect; if you did not obey you would receive the consequences, or would have to sacrifice an animal to receive a temporary covering for the offense.

           There was a problem with the law, however. It did a great job of pointing out sin, but there was no one who could follow it. There was no one who could be obedient, so as a result everyone deserved death.

           This was not God’s plan. He did not want His people to die. His Love created another way. God couldn't allow us all to die, but He is also a Just God, so sin had to be punished. So a better plan came into play. This plan would get rid of sin once for all and would allow us, His children, to walk with Him again.

           This new plan is Jesus. Jesus is the “better hope” that is talked about in this passage. He is the one by which we are able to draw near to God. Through Him all sin (past, present and future) is taken care of. He paid the price so we don’t have too.

           Jesus did what the law could never do; He made us perfect before God. Now we are able to stand before God blameless and set free from sin.