October 21, 2025 | Be God's Family
Friendship with the World
Scripture: James 4:4-6(NIV)
4 You adulterous people, 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? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
Devotional
William Shakespeare once wrote, “The world is mine oyster, which I with sword will open.”
A century later, Shakespeare’s fellow Englishman John Wesley said, “The world is my parish… I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation.”
The world is my oyster. You can be anyone, do anything, go anywhere you want. The world is yours for the taking.
The world is my parish. You can be anyone, do anything, go anywhere God wants. The world is yours for the blessing.
One requires unbridled pride.
One requires unbounded humility.
Be careful which you choose. “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Here is the larger quote from the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. Think about your own life as you reflect on this and today’s Scripture. Here it is:
“I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. This is the work which I know God has called me to; and sure I am that His blessing attends it.”
Poem
Avoiding Poison
Proverbs 15
The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
Proverbs 15:9
Today I am grateful for all who went before me
Sampling herb and fruit, mushroom and meat
Only to discover its poison source
Dying, leaving wisdom to warn me
Beware! The crossbones sign, a warning
Danger! Do not swallow or consume
Spit out, regurgitate if ingested
Live! God’s precepts declaring
And so, how foolish to kick against the goads of wisdom
Instead, deny friendship with the world
Its wickedness avoid, spit out
‘Lest death consumes and God detests
