12-11-2022 Devotion: Living Faith

 Persevering through trials is proof of a living faith. James identifies those who persevere as people who love God. James 1: 12 says: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." If you love the Lord Jesus Christ, you will persevere until the end. This is a comforting thought. Don't make the mistake of believing you can be saved this week and going to hell the next week. This is not "once saved always saved." That doctrine says that once you are saved, you can live anyway you want and still go to heaven. NO!!! That is a lie. However the truth is that if you are genuinely born again you will make it through trials because of your living faith. You don't have to be worried that you can lose your salvation, you can't. True Christians persevere until the end.

NOTE: This does not imply that one can not apostatize, that is renounce your faith. However that is a different subject from perseverance of the faith. 

12-10-2022 Devotion: More Blessings

 We continue looking at James 1: 12: ``Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." This verse speaks of patiently and triumphantly enduring. We learn that perseverance is a result of being in a trial. The person who emerges triumphant from trials is the one who never gives up his faith or abandons God. He proves genuine, and all genuine Christains will receive the crown of life. Many people come to church, make a decision for Christ, even get baptized, yet when trouble comes calling, they leave the faith, sometimes permanently. The trial could be a personal relationship, death of a loved one, sickness, or financial woes, and they blame God and walk away, convinced that Christianity doesn't work. Let's be clear, I don't believe these people were ever born-again. They did an "add-on" and put a little religion in their life like checking a box. The truly converted person will not walk away from God just because life gets challenging. To the real Christian, trials bring forth perseverance. As we learned yesterday, that brings forth a blessing.

12-9-2022 Devotion: Blessed

 One of the results of trials is being blessed. James ends his words on trials in chapter 1 verse 12: ``Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 5: 11 reiterates the same thought: "We count those blessed who endured." James is not saying blessing comes in freedom from trials, but rather in victory over them. It is not some shallow joy of the mere spectator, it is the exuberance of the participant who fought hard and won. It is important to understand the respective roles of the parties involved. God is your ultimate Source to stand against trials, however that does not mean you can have a laissez faire (literally, "leave it alone") attitude. While salvation is a solo action by God, sanctification is a joint effort. In the sanctification process God and you work together to make you more into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. While that effort will never be complete in this life, I believe it will be in the next one. Today, make an effort to yield to the Holy Spirit and His working on your heart and life to cause you to be the best ambassador for the Kingdom that you can be.

12-8-2022 Devotion: Reason

 I want you to think about the reason for trials. If my faith endures only when I'm doing well on the mountaintop, then it is of little practical value. True faith sustains me when everything goes wrong. True faith will show itself when immersed in a trial. That is a reason why in the book of James, he introduces the test of trials: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." The Greek word translated as "various" means "many colored." This emphasizes not the quantity but the diversity of trouble that can come our way. The word translated "trials" refers to that which breaks the pattern of tranquility or happiness. We don't know the specific trial James referenced, but his words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, provide sound advice for any trial we might encounter. Your faith is able to take you through whatever you experience in life. Be joyful in the midst of trials! That is what genuine faith looks like.

12-7-2022 Devotion: Help

 Trials reveal what you consider your greatest help. We all like to have nice things. In fact, people instinctively reach out to worldly goods and pleasures for security, comfort, or meaning in the midst of difficult circumstances. Psalm 20: 6-8 reads, "Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright." In a time of extreme crisis, what is your primary resource you turn to? Is it the Word or the world? Think about Psalm 34, praising the One who is "near to the brokenhearted" and who rescues the righteous from their afflictions (vv. 18-19) I can testify that in times of greatest distress, it is the Lord God Almighty that will see you through. That is not an excuse for laziness on our part, but rather a commitment to always keep the True Source of your deliverance always on your mind and in your heart.

12-6-2022 Devotion: Strength

 Trials can produce endurance and strength. Thomas Manton, a 1600s Puritan, had this to say about living a life without trials: "While all things are quiet and comfortable, we live by a sense rather than by faith." Think about a soldier's worth; when do you think he or she is most valuable in times of peace or war? Certainly, they are more valuable in times of conflict. God purposes through trials to give us greater strength. Each trial exercises and trains your spiritual muscles, i.e. your faith, for the next trial. Consider this, you can't earn strong muscles with just one trip to the gym. It is a process one goes through. The next time you are in a trial, remember God's purpose for you. It will enable you to lift a bit more.

12-5-2022 Devotion: Helping

 Trials enable us to help others in their suffering. Sometimes we suffer mainly so we can better serve others in their own suffering. Jesus told Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22: 31-32).  Second Corinthians 1: 3-4 tells us that we undergo trials so we can comfort others with the comfort we have received. By God's grace He allows us to learn by experience and use that experience to help others in their time of need. When you are in the midst of a trial, I encourage you to pray to ask God to enable you to learn everything you need to learn to help someone in a similar situation. Notice, when you do this, the focus is not on you but on God and others. Good combination.