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footprints sandGood People. Fine Christians. Bible believing faith people. How could this tragedy happen to them? James 3:16 gives us insight into how anyone, even “faith people” can open the door to evil in their lives.

“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (James 3:16)

Every evil work would certainly apply to death, disease, or tragedy wouldn’t it? Words of envy and strife can set confusion in motion and cause problems to multiply and attract likeminded angry people and situations. If not consciously released, the pressure continues to build, often seething beneath the surface. Then when the problems and tragedy come, they cry out to God: “Oh, God, why in the world did this come to pass? God, why did you allow it?” But God had nothing to do with it. They violated the laws of God by allowing strife to control their lives.

Where there is strife, there is confusion and every evil work. The New Living Translation says “…There you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” (James 3:16) Christians let satan into their lives through strife. Paul said we are to give him no place. We are in charge. We can keep satan out or give him a place to work. Don’t give him any place! Don’t give place to anger, blame and contention.

Ephesians 4:26 says, “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” One minister friend said, “Many times I have had to break the speed limit to get home before the sun went down to tell my wife, Honey, you were wrong, but I forgive you anyway!”

Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath. Why? Because where there is strife, there is confusion and every evil work. Strife in the home is an open door to satan. If not corrected, it will bring tragedy to your marriage and to your home. Strife in your business or work place will hinder or even stop your growth and prosperity.

Continual strife, unforgiveness, and anger will eventually cause physical illness in your body and affect others around you. There are many Christians who start out in love, but end up in strife with others.

Instead of forgiving and acting in love, they open the door wide to the devil. It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong, love and forgiveness releases you from the power of satan, confusion and his evil works.

I John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.”

When it says “abides in death,” it does not mean you are eternally lost. It means you are walking under the law of sin and death, and that law will be working on you. It can even cost you your life. If you are abiding under that law, you have given the devil a place in your life. Unforgiveness and strife cause tragedy in Christian families and anyone living in unforgiveness or strife is operating in the energy or power of death. Paul said, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

If you walk in love and fellowship with Jesus, you are walking under the law of the Spirit of life and you have engaged the energy and power of life that abides in God! John wrote, “For this is the love of God, not the love of man.” We get God’s love and man’s love mixed up sometimes. Human love is based on feelings. The God kind of love is based on obedience to His Word.

This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. (I John 5:3)

Love is A Decision, Not a Feeling

Do you always feel like keeping God’s commandments? Do you always get up in the morning and feel like going to work? No. You know it is the thing to do, so you make a decision to do it. We are told that the love of God is keeping His commandments. This is a decision we must make, not a feeling.

This is where many Christians get confused. They think, “I just can’t feel right toward that individual.” When you make the decision to walk in love toward that person, your feelings will change. To say, “When I have a good feeling, then I will forgive and love them” is like saying to the fireplace, “Send me some heat and I’ll put in some wood.” It does not work that way! When you decide to walk in love, your feelings will change, but until you make that decision it will not work for you.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (I John 5:4-5)

You can operate in this love because faith works by love, and you must use your faith to walk in love! This is why the faith of some does nothing for them. They are not walking in love. They get upset and “lose their cool.” When you are not walking in love, your faith is ineffective. Love is something you decide to do.

A Decision

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (I John 4:7)

God is love. If you are born of God, you are born of love. You may say, “But I just can’t love that one person.” Love is not something you always feel like doing. Love is something you decide to do. It is an action and a behavior. The love that John is talking about is the love of God. Do you think God felt like giving His Son for the ungodly? Do you think God had to have a certain feeling to give His Son? No. He did not feel like it. He decided to do it! Love is a decision, not a feeling.

How can you love God if you are not going to love the creation which is created in the image of God? Keep in mind, I did not say you would feel the same way about them as you do about your best friend; but you decide to love the unlovely. This is God’s love.

Make the decision to walk in love right now!


Copyright © Capps Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Author Biography

Charles Capps
Web site: Charles Capps Ministries
 
Charles Capps is a retired farmer, land developer, and Bible teacher who has traveled extensively throughout the United States and several foreign countries sharing the truths of God's Word. He has taught Bible seminars for over 35 years, emphasizing the authority of the believer, faith and the power of words. We celebrated Charles' promotion to heaven at 5:15 pm Sunday, February 23, 2014. Charles Capps was a man of integrity, a man of his word and he got what he said. He called those things that be not as though they were.
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