He Jealously Longs For The Spirit In Us

Beginning James Chapter 4 - James 4:1-6

Have you thought, when reading the Bible or being around other people, that God is mean? Is He just upset that we aren't following a list of "religious" do's and dont’s? Why do you think that God cares so much for us? I realize that I am starting this with several questions for all of my readers, but these are good points to stop and think about. You may have not done this before. I have read this passage many times and until today, what stood out to me the most was not only the things I do that are wrong and why I do them, but the very point that He jealously longs for us! Verse five actually says "Do you think Scripture says without reason that He jealously longs for the spirit He has caused to dwell in us?" He desires our spirit and wants this relationship with us!

Key Verses

 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[c]

James 4:1-6