James 4 - You Know What To Do

James 4:17 (HCSB), "So, for the person who knows to do good and doesn't do it, it is a sin."

You may be looking at that verse and asking, where do I take refuge in that?

God chastised Cain when he was upset that God did not accept his offering: Genesis 4:7b (HCSB), "...But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Paul expressed his remorse over it in Romans 7:19 (HCSB), "For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do."

All of us as believers struggle with the desire to do things that we ought not to do and the frustration when we don't do what we know we should. But, rejoice! If we didn't have the Spirit to prompt us as we seek to life holy lives, how would we know what is good and what is not? God provided a way for us to know good. God sent an encourager to prompt us to do good. And God has promised over and over to bless those who follow His ways.

It began with the old covenant and His promise to Abraham to bless him and multiply his offspring. It continues with the new covenant where God allows His own Son to make a way for use through His sacrifice. God has always provided a way for us to be empowered to "do good" even when we don't see it in ourselves.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (HCSB), "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it." We face the temptation every day to avoid doing what we know we should do. But God has given us the grace to push on through the temptation and live triumphantly in His power.

Take Refuge, my friend. When you know what to do and you struggle not wanting to do it, you have a Helper and a Savior who will come along side you and encourage you to do what you know you should.