Fall On Your Knees Before The Lord!

Jesus has lifted us up on our feet with his forgiveness but where are we to stand now? James tells us: “Submit yourselves, then, to God” (James 4:7a). “Line up under God!” says James. Does that sound like a new kind of slavery? Let me ask you this: did the forgiven son in the parable wake up the morning after his welcome-home banquet and groan as he looked about his room? Did that room in his father’s house seem like a jail cell? Did he wish he was back in that foreign country feeding pigs? Of course not! He woke up with a huge smile on his face, for he was home. He was safe. His father’s loving care was all around him! He was looking forward to serving his father like he never had. We also benefit when we submit to God, for we come home and are safe surrounded by God’s loving care. James explained that truth when he said: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

This verse reminded me of a winter driving lesson my brother and I learned during a blizzard in South Dakota. We pulled up behind a slow-moving snow plough and because we were impatient, decided to pass. But as soon as we swung out into the lane of oncoming traffic, we started spinning and slipping until we drove into the ditch. When we got back on the road we made sure to stick behind the snow plough. Sure, we were driving well below the posted speed limit but that was the best place to be in a blizzard. The plough was clearing the snow and laying down sand ensuring that our car would stay on the highway so that we did reach our destination.

In the same way when James tells us to submit to God, he’s really saying, “Stand behind God’s protecting power.” Don’t think life would be a whole lot more fast and exciting if you swung out on your own. You’re just going to end up slipping on Satan’s temptations and end up somewhere worse than a ditch. No, submit to God. Take your will, your intellect, take all that you have and all that you are and park it behind God’s protecting wisdom and care. Positioned there not even Satan can defy you, for God shoves him aside as easily as a plough will shrug snow from a highway. Only in this way will you reach your destination: heaven.

I don’t know how Prince Alwaleed amassed his fortune but I don’t think he went from rags-to-riches like Oprah who spent her early years in poverty on her grandmother’s farm in Mississippi. With grit and determination Oprah has made it to where she is today – or at least that’s the story. But the truth is if you want to get on your feet forever, and I mean forever, then fall on your knees before the Lord. Don’t make excuses for your sins. Don’t blame your upbringing, your impossible boss, your lack of sleep, or your siblings for your outbursts. Be sad at how you have abused your heavenly Father’s trust and have misused his gifts. And then by God’s grace cling to the forgiveness he has given to you in Jesus. This is the only way to get on your feet. And stay on your feet by submitting to your loving heavenly Father as you daily listen to and put into practice his Word. Amen.