Submit to Jesus, and not only will Satan flee, but God will draw near to you. Forgo self-promotion and let God exalt you in your humility. Rather than judging others as if we're God, even dehumanizing our enemies, we should pray for their salvation!

The problem with the human race is our hearts, and the treatment is humility! Satan doesn't fear us; he fears God. Submit yourself to God as your creator and master, and Satan will flee! We are to be joyful but mourn our sinful state.

We must call out sin when we see it, holding each other accountable, but only when we ourselves are right with God! Our approach must come from humble obedience.

As Christians, we must be "all in"-- with both feet in the Kingdom of God, not one foot in the world. God is jealous for us! He also commands us to be joyful. As we satisfy ourselves only in him, our joy increases. So we must die to ourselves daily!

Hedonism, the focus on making yourself happy, is never the path to peace; it leads to disorder and every vile practice. When we give our lives to him, we don't lose our life, but gain it. The closer we get to Christ, the more our joy is made full.

In "Christian hedonism," God is most glorified when we're most satisfied in him! Pursuing worldly pleasures leads to dissatisfaction; in heaven, it just keeps getting better! We'll eternally grow in satisfaction.

Note: the Scripture passage for today is James 4:1-5 (not 1-12 as shown in the graphics of the video).

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 

The most misunderstood of the 7 sayings of Jesus on the cross. He lived perfectly, loving the Father with all his heart, soul and mind! Yet even he suffered the feeling of spiritual separation on the cross.

Because of this, he knows the pain we feel when we are in a spiritually dry season, separated from the Father.

Do you really believe that God's sovereignty is enough, that he's truly on the throne? Those who trust in the Lord can be assured of their Father's delight in them! Everything Jesus did on the cross was because of his great love for every last one of his people. How can we withhold anything from him?

Jesus suffered just like us; he understands and has compassion for us. Everything was taken from him on the cross, but his enemies knew the truth, labeling him King of the Jews. The two thieves parallel Jerusalem and Rome: only one accepted Jesus as King.

The third saying of Jesus on the cross:

(To Mary), "Woman, behold your son!"

(To John), "Behold your mother!"

On the cross, Jesus had compassion for his mother, but didn't neglect his duty to God's people. Despite his pain, he pressed on. Here, he forms a new family out of Mary and John, as well as the family of God.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The bare minimum to enter heaven is fear of the Lord. Jesus will always have a personal love for you. The world needs to know this, and that the "man on the middle cross" can save them! His words on the cross are incorruptible; they cannot be taken from us.

Paul talks about how to walk in a worthy, spirit-filled manner. We are all one Body, so rather than fight, we work hard at peace and unity with one another. We're all baptized in the same water, into the same family with the same Father!