Tuesday, March 16, 2010

March 17 "Better or Bitter?" Read: James 1


Key Verses: James 1:2 -4
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

A trial may come resulting from a severe health problem, a car accident, financial difficulties, or a job lay off. Did you know that unbelievers watch us when we go through trials? Unbelievers want to see what kind of God we are serving...

James addresses going through trials. The early believers had lost their possessions and had been separated from their loved ones as they were scattered throughout Asia Minor during a time of persecution. They were tempted to become bitter and rebel against God. James speaks directly to the point..."count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations."

Why joy? The reason is simple..."knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience"...remember our devotion on "Practicing Patience?" Without it, our spiritual growth will never be mature or complete.

The only way we can learn patience is through trials, so James encourages us when he writes, "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
Trials rightly faced should makes us better, not bitter. We should try to have the right response when wrong things happen, and rely on what God would have us do, not what we want to do.

I have thanked God over and over today for the trials that He allowed me to go through these past weeks. During the time it seemed very hard, I wanted to quit, to give up, but God was going right through it with me, and when I came out on the other side, I then, was able to look back and see what God saw, and I grew more from it.

If you have allowed bitterness to come into your life toward God or anyone, confess it to Him as sin and ask God to help you do better in the next trial you face together.

Thank God for the hard times. He is perfecting us & getting us rapture ready!

Love in Christ,
Dave Gindlesperger
CMBC FACEBOOK MODERATOR

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