4/2/10

War

War! Just look at that cat attack the other one! I wonder what started it? Maybe its over attention from their mother, or over some catnip, or perhaps one of them didn't like the way the other one purrred. Whatever the reason, they do look serious. Which makes me think: What causes wars in the first place?


James 4:1-10 (WEB)

James 4
1) Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don’t they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
2) You lust, and don’t have. You kill, covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask.
3) You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
4) You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5) Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?
6) But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
7) Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9) Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom.
10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Pride, power and possessions are the main reasons. The resulting hate leads to death; sometimes on a massive scale. But what about Christians; Do they "war"? If they indulge in the "main reasons", they do. James give the source... the devil and he gives the cure.... purification of the heart and humility. The result: The Lord will exalt you from the low state of sin. Don't pussy-foot around it.... just get rid of the sin (inside and out). Then you will be purrr-fect!!