Verse 2 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops through perseverance."
This is probably not what the people were expecting to hear this day. They were struggling, feeling down, wondering if it is all worth it, fearful - and they are told to be joyful.
What trials do we face - unemployment, divorce, debt, addictions, illness - and we are to find a spirit of joy as we go through this things? How do we do this? By putting our faith in Christ. By treasuring our salvation through Christ. By seeking His comfort, His wisdom, His will - for our lives.
This verse supports the ideal that God is more concerned with our character than our comfort. And we need to remember....it is a lifelong process.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Peseverance MUST finish it's work, so that you DON'T LACK anything but are MATURE and COMPLETE. We are GOD's handiwork. He goes out ahead of us and tests the roads for us.
We have to remember that the bible tells us that we are not in a battle of flesh and blood, but a spiritual battle. Satan wants us. But as it says in Jeremiah 32:17 ~ Lord God ! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by YOUR great power and by YOUR outstretched arm ! Nothing is too difficult for you !!
Without a STRONG faith in God, we will become easy targets for Satan. Proverbs 3:5-7 gives us a simple principle that we can use to avoid getting trapped: Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and DO NOT lean on YOUR OWN understanding. IN ALL thy ways acknowledge him, and HE WILL make your paths straight. (Read that again... HE WILL make ALL your paths straight). Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Okay, something went wrong and you're in that fire...Now what ??? Remember that God is refining you. He is allowing the problems to crush you, to turn you into a sparkling diamond to attract others to you and to him. He may not agree or support what you did to get in that fire, but HE NEVER stops loving you. And when you turn back to HIM, HE FORGIVES and restores the relationship you share with HIM as your Savior, Lord and LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER.
What you need to remember now, is that you are in the Fire, and ALL eyes are upon you. This is your chance to GLORIFY God, while God changes you. Now is your chance to learn all of GOD's Names and positions, teacher, comforter, provider, healer...the list goes on and on. Remember God has his hand on that thermostat and his eyes on his watch. He will never allow you to go thru it longer than you can handle. GOD has stepped out ahead of you, HE is all knowing, because he went thru it first. God knows what you need to get thru this, question is... Are you willing to ask for the help to do so, or are you too stubborn and are saying God I will go this alone without your help.
Most of us are toddlers, still stumbling and falling, but God's there with hands stretched out to help us up. There's a scripture in the bible that says the righteous will fall 7 times and get up, but the unsaved will just fall. We get back up, because God helps us. Learn to trust on, Lean on and Depend on HIM. He is YOUR Father, and knows what's best for you.
If you are an a Father or Mother, you know what I'm saying. How many times do you say to your child, trust me, I've done this before. Now it's God telling you...trust me, I've done this before.
Father...Forgive us, for we are children still learning, and still making mistakes. Help us to grow and to learn in your wisdom and knowledge. Give us the boldness and the courage needed to share your words and ways with others. Give us the encouragement, and the strength to endure these trials so that we may perservere to the end and Glorify You. Thru Jesus most precious name...amen !!
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:18)
I, too, love verses 2-4 of this chapter because it reminds me to "stay the course" in times of struggle. Verse 18 tells us that through the word of truth we may become ones who bear fruit for others to see. Looking back, I can see the times that I persevered despite great anguish. Why? What made me strong during times of great trials? Choosing to believe the truth of the Word. Emmersing myself in scripture and despite my circumstances, believing in God's promises. And why me? Why would the Holy Spirit guide me to the scriptures I most needed in difficult times? So that in those moments of greatest doubt and fear, the Lord could speak to me. And that when I stay the course, when I persever during trials, because I choose to believe the truth of God, I bear fruit for others to see the glory of GOd's work in my life . . . and that is why "God chose to give us birth . . ." So that others could see his glorious works and discover the truth of his word in their own lives.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
It's easy for me to sit and listen to a sermon on a Sunday morning and respond with an affirmative nod. The tricky part is for me to take what I learned and act on it outside of the church.
Lord, Help me to do a better job acting upon your word.
Charter Oak Church is a family of Jesus followers who want to reach out to those who are searching and equip believers to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
Verse 2 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops through perseverance."
ReplyDeleteThis is probably not what the people were expecting to hear this day. They were struggling, feeling down, wondering if it is all worth it, fearful - and they are told to be joyful.
What trials do we face - unemployment, divorce, debt, addictions, illness - and we are to find a spirit of joy as we go through this things? How do we do this? By putting our faith in Christ. By treasuring our salvation through Christ. By seeking His comfort, His wisdom, His will - for our lives.
This verse supports the ideal that God is more concerned with our character than our comfort.
And we need to remember....it is a lifelong process.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
ReplyDelete4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Peseverance MUST finish it's work, so that you DON'T LACK anything but are MATURE and COMPLETE. We are GOD's handiwork. He goes out ahead of us and tests the roads for us.
We have to remember that the bible tells us that we are not in a battle of flesh and blood, but a spiritual battle. Satan wants us. But as it says in Jeremiah 32:17 ~ Lord God ! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by YOUR great power and by YOUR outstretched arm ! Nothing is too difficult for you !!
Without a STRONG faith in God, we will become easy targets for Satan. Proverbs 3:5-7 gives us a simple principle that we can use to avoid getting trapped:
Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and DO NOT lean on YOUR OWN understanding. IN ALL thy ways acknowledge him, and HE WILL make your paths straight. (Read that again... HE WILL make ALL your paths straight). Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Okay, something went wrong and you're in that fire...Now what ??? Remember that God is refining you. He is allowing the problems to crush you, to turn you into a sparkling diamond to attract others to you and to him. He may not agree or support what you did to get in that fire, but HE NEVER stops loving you. And when you turn back to HIM, HE FORGIVES and restores the relationship you share with HIM as your Savior, Lord and LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER.
What you need to remember now, is that you are in the Fire, and ALL eyes are upon you. This is your chance to GLORIFY God, while God changes you. Now is your chance to learn all of GOD's Names and positions, teacher, comforter, provider, healer...the list goes on and on. Remember God has his hand on that thermostat and his eyes on his watch. He will never allow you to go thru it longer than you can handle. GOD has stepped out ahead of you, HE is all knowing, because he went thru it first. God knows what you need to get thru this, question is... Are you willing to ask for the help to do so, or are you too stubborn and are saying God I will go this alone without your help.
Most of us are toddlers, still stumbling and falling, but God's there with hands stretched out to help us up. There's a scripture in the bible that says the righteous will fall 7 times and get up, but the unsaved will just fall. We get back up, because God helps us. Learn to trust on, Lean on and Depend on HIM. He is YOUR Father, and knows what's best for you.
If you are an a Father or Mother, you know what I'm saying. How many times do you say to your child, trust me, I've done this before. Now it's God telling you...trust me, I've done this before.
Father...Forgive us, for we are children still learning, and still making mistakes. Help us to grow and to learn in your wisdom and knowledge. Give us the boldness and the courage needed to share your words and ways with others. Give us the encouragement, and the strength to endure these trials so that we may perservere to the end and Glorify You. Thru Jesus most precious name...amen !!
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:18)
ReplyDeleteI, too, love verses 2-4 of this chapter because it reminds me to "stay the course" in times of struggle. Verse 18 tells us that through the word of truth we may become ones who bear fruit for others to see. Looking back, I can see the times that I persevered despite great anguish. Why? What made me strong during times of great trials? Choosing to believe the truth of the Word. Emmersing myself in scripture and despite my circumstances, believing in God's promises. And why me? Why would the Holy Spirit guide me to the scriptures I most needed in difficult times? So that in those moments of greatest doubt and fear, the Lord could speak to me. And that when I stay the course, when I persever during trials, because I choose to believe the truth of God, I bear fruit for others to see the glory of GOd's work in my life . . . and that is why "God chose to give us birth . . ." So that others could see his glorious works and discover the truth of his word in their own lives.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy for me to sit and listen to a sermon on a Sunday morning and respond with an affirmative nod. The tricky part is for me to take what I learned and act on it outside of the church.
Lord, Help me to do a better job acting upon your word.