Joy despite Trials

 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (James 1: 2-3)

Consider it absolutely God’s favor and grace given to you, showing that He loves you enough to grow and strengthen you in your faith by allowing trials to come against you. God loves you and wants you to grow to be more like Jesus, who is righteous/pure. So, let God purify you in the fires of trials, like gold is purified through fire.

The growth of your faith from trials will build perseverance. This perseverance is God making you able to endure under challenges He allows in your life. It can be a cheerful endurance because you know God is FOR you. He does not give you more than you can endure, for He is faithful to you. And when you experience trials and temptations, God will show you a way through it so you can patiently bear and endure (1Corinthians 10:13).

You will grow stronger with God. Perseverance is a gift from God because He loves you. So, consider trials as joy because God is with you and is growing you.

You will be victorious with God’s guidance, power, and strength as you confront temptations and evil.

You can persevere with God.

Consider it joy that God loves you and grows you to be like Jesus and to be a victor over evil, temptations, and trials in life.

Consider it Joy that God is FOR you, not against you.

Consider it JOY that you are

Chosen

Saved

Loved

Fruit or Fire

 

“He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.” John 15:2

This metaphor of pruning branches that Jesus used has an overarching idea most people would understand. God removes unfruitful people. He grows fruitful people so they will become more fruitful. God enables fruitful people to advance His purposes more.

To understand this verse better, we must understand why a fruit farmer would cut tree branches. Jesus plainly explained the first reason. Farmers cut off dead branches from a tree to cause healthy growth of the rest of the tree. Without cutting off the dead branch, the tree will continue to send nutrients toward the dead branch instead of extending its nutrients to parts of the tree that will grow. Cutting off dead branches leads to more growth in other parts of the tree. This illustrates the metaphor's beginning.

Pruning the healthy parts of a fruit tree has several benefits. First, it strengthens the tree. Where before the tree’s sap was to grow fruit, pruning allows the tree sap to make the branch harder and stronger. Instead of sap going to grow fruit, it goes toward growing the branch. Going through hardships can cause a person to grow stronger in his faith and relationship with God.

Second, pruning a healthy branch can improve fruit production and fruit quality. Pruning stimulates new growth—offshoots—so more branches grow. As a result, each of those branches produces fruit instead of just the unpruned branch growing fruit. God’s pruning of His child causes that person to grow in many areas, so new spiritual fruit and Christian offspring grow from that believer. Pruning grows a person’s relationship with God. The deeper relationship with God causes growth of spiritual fruit, like patience, wisdom, compassion, joy, and peace. The deeper relationship with God grows the quality of that fruit, causing a deeper faith, greater peace, etc. Growth from a closer relationship with God leads to sharing the gospel and a personal testimony about God more. These lead to other people believing in Jesus and His saving them. Pruning may cause brief pain mental, heart, and/or physical. This pain is worth it to see more people saved by Jesus and experience a deeper relationship with God.

Third, pruning a branch helps a tree become more pest and disease resistant. Pruning causes growth in strength and resilience. Like a person’s health, outside influences can cause a tree to grow stronger so the tree can withstand forces that would cause it to shrivel, produce less fruit, and/or die. God allows a person to confront challenges for growth, not destruction. By going through trials, like the burnishing of metals, God removes impurities from His children. His strength alone is how they withstand adversity. Christians can progress despite adversity. James, Peter, and Paul wrote about perseverance, endurance, testing, patience, and building Christian character in James 1, 1 Peter 1, and Romans 5:3-5. Trials, though unwanted, have benefits just like pruning healthy branches has benefits.

Fourth, pruning trees opens the tree canopy so sunlight can reach more limbs and fruit. For this reason, fruit trees are wide and not very tall. More sun causes more fruit to grow on the tree. Also, by pruning the canopy, fruit does not grow higher in the tree. This makes it easier to reach all fruit during harvest season. A person who knows the Bible can only withstand some storms or temptations. A person whom Jesus saves and who grows in his relationship with God through daily prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship, and obedience to Him has a faith that has grown deep and wide. Temptations, trials, storms, and disease might assail a believer and might cause him to stall in his growth, but these can cause growth in his relationship with and faith in God. These occurrences can strengthen a believer, cause new growth on branches, and result in the growth of new and larger fruit. The outcome of God's gospel is evident in one's life. People see the gospel’s impact on people around the strengthening and growing Christian as he shares his testimony and God’s gospel.

Without removing dead limbs on a tree, diseases and/or pests kill the tree or cause it to become stunted and produce minimal fruit. By pruning healthy branches, trees become stronger and produce more and better fruit. Pruning stops the spread of diseases and pests that could harm the fruit or the sap (testimony) in the tree. It allows more sunlight, which causes more fruit to grow and makes the branches more accessible to harvesters.

When we face trials and hardships, we can grow stronger and produce more and better fruit. Instead of growing stronger through trials, we can freeze up and then get hurt or killed. God prefers us to grow stronger and bear more and better fruit. He allows or causes things to grow our relationship with Him and our trust in Him. God allows hardships to confront us to prune the dead branches from our lives. We should aim to grow, so we ask God what He wants us to learn from our situations. God wants us to grow to trust Him more, to have a deeper relationship with Him, and to become more Christlike. He will send you through fires to remove impurities and strengthen you. When strengthened by God, you, too, can say, “No weapon formed against us will prosper” (Isaiah 54:17).

Fruit or Fire.

Faith or Fruitlessness.

Which do you choose? I pray you choose to grow in your relationship with God and to produce more and better fruit within you that leads to more fruit—Christians—for God’s kingdom.

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)

 (Bible verse picture from You Version Bible app)

Unity or Discord

 

“Now may the God, who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement, grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,”

— Romans 15:5

 

My Interpretation of this verse after reading the Greek words is:

“Now May God, who gives you His strength to persevere and who inspires you, give each of you together the same mind, according to Christ Jesus, who made you one in mind (not discordant), with Him through the salvation He gave you.”

 

Notice that God gives His strength to persevere and His inspiration for how to be and live. 

 

Notice, also, Jesus gave the believers salvation and gave them the ability to be of the same mindset, not in opposition. 

 

What did Paul say the Roman Christians were to do? Choose to be of the same mind with other believers. Choose to seek and receive from God the strength to live in unity like Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Choose to live life as God divinely inspires. Choose to be united/harmonious with the other Christians.  Recognize the three main verbs—choose. 

 

Being in harmony with other people is a matter of your will. Will you choose to be like the Son, Father, and Spirit, to be unified? Will you accept and use the strength God offers His children? Will you choose to live your life as God inspires and guides you? 

 

Jesus chose to follow the will of the Godhead, of which He is a part. He gave up His human will of preservation of self. He chose to follow the divine will of offering Himself as the holy sacrifice needed to redeem people from their sins and the guilt of their sins. He gives believers the power over temptation with His strength.

 

Jesus chose to be united with God. Their love for humanity, though unlovely we are, led them to provide this sacrifice. Jesus willed for each of us to be united with God, to be in harmony with Him. 

 

Do you choose to be in harmony with God?

Will you choose to have the mind of Christ? 

Will you be united with God and other believers in mind and purpose?

 

Consider Philippians 2:5-11:

 

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason, also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name, which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Will you choose unity with God or discordant chaos of life and mind?

 

Romans 15:6 gives us the reason we should be in unity. It says, “so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (AMP).

 

You have a choice to make today.

Hope Beyond Reason

 

 

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

-Romans 15:4 NASB

 

This instruction came from the written teaching of God through His appointed men and women that are included in the Bible. This instruction was and should still be the teaching of Christian doctrine that extends to lifestyle application. 

 

Applying what God says in the Bible as learned from Him through the reading and studying of the Bible and listening to sound teaching and preaching on it keeps a Christian steady in his or her loyalty to faith and godliness, even when going through the biggest trials of life. Applying Christian doctrine from the Bible provides comfort and encouragement because of God calling and speaking peace to the believers through His Spirit dwelling in them. This steadfastness of faith and encouragement, both gifts given by the Spirit, provide hope during trials and reminds us of our ultimate and unchanging hope of being children of God through salvation. 

 

This hope goes beyond human understanding and surpasses any trial or tribulation of the believer. It is greater than the laws of nature and beyond human rationale. It is holding on to what is sure. 

 

When a large hole is in the hull of a ship and hope sways to despair, believers can continue to hold onto God at that moment and for the future. They can receive encouragement and perseverance so they don’t lose hope. Even when our lives seem to have a gaping hole and is foundering, we have hope that God has a plan for that moment, a plan of imminent and ultimate rescue because we are His children. God still carries us in His hands. He never leaves or forsakes us. So have hope. Have faith. God is with you; His Spirit dwells in you. Trust Him.

Key to Reward

Have you ever moved to a new home, opened a drawer, and seen a keyring with an abundance of keys on it? Did it cause you to wonder which door, cabinet, or tool shed they opened? After finding them, you found your curiosity awakened and began walking around your home, garage, and garden trying one key after another. Very often you found a key that did not pair with any lock, but you kept it anyway. Sometimes a key fit a lock, but when you unlocked the object, you found a bunch of someone’s junk. If you were very lucky, a key would fit a lock on a door or object, like a keepsake box, then you found a bounty of someone’s treasures through which to peruse, keep and share. This devotional tells us about a church who found the key that opens the door to something of more value than all of creation combined.

In Revelation 3:7-13, Jesus spoke to the church at Philadelphia. This messenger from Jesus spoke for Him. He told them, as John wrote, several things. First, He said, “I know all the things you do.” (vs. 8) No one can hide from God what they’ve said, done, or thought. God is everywhere at the same time and knows all things. Jesus continued speaking by saying, “I have opened a door no one can shut.” (vs. 7-8 [NLT]) Which door would this be? Let’s continue reading to gain an understanding to where it leads. Jesus said to the Philadelphians, “You have little strength (you are mere mortals, this writer’s interpretation), yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me.” (vs 8) Jesus knew them, and He had a reward for them because of their obedience to Him and not denying being His follower. By which door will the reward come?

In Revelation 3:10, Jesus continued telling the church at Philadelphia what He would do for them. He said, “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world” (to test those who refuse to trust in Jesus as the Messiah). Jesus commended these believers of Philadelphia and made a promise to them because of their obedience to Him and perseverance in keeping His commands. Jesus promised protection. There’s more to protection that hiding, shutting doors and gates, or defending yourself. Why is He promising to protect them? Who does He promise to protect?

Verse twelve gives more details about Jesus’ reward to the believers of Philadelphia. It held more than protection; it held a promise for eternity. Jesus told the church of Philadelphia of the door opened to them that cannot be shut and how they would persevere in obedience to Him and His words even though they were mortals. He said in Revelation 3:12 [NLT],

“All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens of the city of God-the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.”

Jesus said He is the door (vs 8) [the which is the answer to who] to the temple of God. By Him, each person who believes and perseveres to continue to obey and not deny Him despite persecutions and temptations, is victorious. [The who He promises to protect.] Believers will become pillars in the temple of God [the how]. These persevering believers as pillars would have a firm and abiding place in God’s temple and will never have to leave it. As pillars in the churches on earth, these saints uphold other believers by encouraging, teaching, and praying for those who go through trying times. On these pillars, when they enter through Christ God’s temple in God’s kingdom, Christ will write the name of God on them, similar to His writing His laws on the hearts and minds of His people in Hebrews 10:16. Once people become His disciples, remain obedient to Him, and do not deny Him, then enter God’s temple in His kingdom, they will always be citizens of the city of God, the new Jerusalem. God protects believers eternally in His kingdom and as His children live on earth since Jesus is the head of the church on earth. (Colossians 1:18)

These promises give hope, but they should lead each person to ask, “What is the key to receiving these rewards?” This question is answered by the Who. Jesus, the Son of God, who is wholly God and was wholly man, is the key. Isaiah 53 tells us about this Son of God. Isaiah 53:11 tells us God’s words to His prophet. He said, “As a result of the anguish of His (God’s) soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge, the Righteous One, My servant, will justify man, as He will bear their iniquities.” [NASB]

Jesus makes each believer in Him just/righteous [the how] so they can be in His presence and have a relationship with Him eternally [the why]. He is our door into God’s presence. (John 10:9 [ESV]) Jesus is the key to salvation and the kingdom of God. He will welcome each believer into God’s temple to be pillars, strongholds and towers of strength. The next question is how does Jesus do this for us?

As we read more of Isaiah 53, we recognize how Jesus did this for all people. Isaiah 53:10, tells us Jesus made it possible for us to enter the door into God’s kingdom. It says, “But the LORD (God) was pleased to crush Him, putting him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper His hand.” [NASB] Do not read this as God was happy at His Son’s death by men. Sin caused Jesus’ crushing because those men in their fear and jealousy begged Pontius Pilate to sentence Him to death. Still, God was happy His Son was crushed because it was His plan to redeem humankind from their sins. Each person who trusts Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross as the substitute for his/her own sin penalty and confesses his/her sin, will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

All humans have sinned since the time of Adam and Eve. God gives freewill to people. Adam and Eve were the first humans God created and were the first to sin. Because of God’s love, He gives freewill. Yet, He knew before He created humans they would rebel against Him, they would sin. So, He planned for their redemption before the first sin occurred. Redemption is paying the price required to redeem a person’s life from someone/something that enslaves him or her. Each person will die. They, each, are sinners and who sin against God. Their sins condemn them to die an eternal death of separation from God. So, a sufficient sacrifice to redeem sinners from the eternal death of separation from God is death, the sacrifice of greater value. Because of this, God sent His Son to earth to be born in human form, to live a sinless life, and to die a sinner’s death to release from the bondage of sin and death each person who trusts He is the Son of God and repents and confesses his or her sins. For this reason, “The LORD was pleased to crush Him (Jesus), putting Him to grief” as the guilt offering. (vs 10) As the guilt offering, the Messiah would see His offspring, those begotten by the redeeming sacrifice Jesus gave. Because of the anguish of Jesus’ soul for the weight of the sins of the world He carried upon Him into death, the Righteous One, My (the LORD’s) servant (Jesus) would justify the many. (vs. 11) Why did God plan for humanity’s redemption and why did Jesus choose to die for humanity? God loves each person. John wrote in his gospel, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 [NASB]_

Isaiah 53:10-12 answers the questions of Revelation 3:8, 10, & 12. It tells us by which door we will get our reward. It tells us why we will get a reward, because of obedience to Jesus and not denying Him since we accepted God’s love gift given through Jesus. Revelation 3:12 tells who will get this reward from God. The big question remained about how this can be since we humans are willful, rebellious, and sin-stained. Isaiah 53:10-12 tells us how Jesus redeems and saves us.  

• Are you one for whom Jesus will open the door to God’s kingdom that no one can shut?
• Have you used the strength God gives each believer to obey Him and not deny Him?
• Are you one whom Jesus calls victorious in Revelation 3:12?
• What will it take for you to become one of the chosen children of God?

Believe Jesus is the Son of God and confess that belief with your mouth. Confess and repent of your sins. You do not have to do good works, lead a good life, ask your ancestors to speak a good word on your behalf to God, or try to hide your sins. Nothing you do, say, or think is hidden from God. Nothing you do, say, or thing can earn you salvation from your sins and the penalty of those sins, eternal separation from Him. Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.” (John 11:25)

Just like the Christians of Philadelphia had plenty of keys in life from which to choose but chose Jesus as their key, you have that same opportunity. Throw away the other options about how to have a happy life. Those keys only lead to dirty places, dusty options, and dying hopes. Instead, accept the key Jesus gives you and let Him open the door to life in God’s temple in His new Jerusalem. Who needs a keyring with a bunch of keys that lead to nothing but decay and emptiness? We each need a key that leads us to hope, peace, love, and eternal life with God.

Now is your time to examine your heart.

Now is the time to decide if you will believe Jesus is the Son of God, your Savior.

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21 [NIV])

Lord, I know I do not deserve the price You paid just for You to redeem and save me from my rebelliousness towards you and other people. There is no way You deserved to die in my place. Please forgive me for being stubborn and willful. Forgive me for refusing to believe in Jesus Christ as Your Son and my Savior. Lord, I want to be Your child. I want to walk through the door Jesus opened for me and that He unlocked for me because of His sinless death and resurrection. I am not worthy, but I confess Jesus is Your Son and repent and confess of all my many sins. Please, Lord, look upon me with Your grace and mercy. Forgive me, redeem and cleanse me, and make me righteous so I can be Your child and be a pillar in Your temple in Your new Jerusalem. Thank you for your over-abounding love, patience, and forgiveness. Amen.

Ego and Glory

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 [NLT])

Many people look at these two verses and read, “God is faithful and won’t give you more than you can handle.” That is all they recall. I believe that is what Satan wants them to recall. But there is more to this passage. We must begin at the beginning of the chapter to understand fully what God wrote through Paul.

In the first eleven verses of this chapter, Paul reminded the Corinthians of the Israelites’ history. He reminded them how God had guided them by a cloud and how He had parted the sea so they could walk on dry ground to escape Pharaoh’s army. Paul recalled for them how the Israelites ate and drank the food and water God sent for them each day. Then he explained anew how these same people whom God rescued displeased God. The Israelites worshipped idols, complained about food and drink, celebrated with feasting and drinking and pagan revelry that included sexual immorality. God responded to these people with faithfulness and disciplined them and removed the ones who led others astray. He sent snakes to bite the sinners and the angel of death to remove them from among the Israelites.

The point Paul made with this recollection of the history of Israel is they put God to the test. He told the Corinthians they should not put Christ to the test. They should not test God’s patience and faithfulness to us just as those who died from snakebites did. What God did to the Israelites for discipline purposes were examples to the Corinthians and us so we would not challenge God with our rebellion. Paul said in verse eleven, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.”

Of what does this warn us? Paul explained this in the rest of the chapter, but he gives the how in verses twelve and thirteen. In verses fourteen through thirty, he said not to give offense to others who possibly are weaker in the faith or who are not Christians by your actions. Don’t create temptations for yourself by the freedom Christ gave you and so put your guard down when you eat things that you knew people offered as sacrifices to idols. And don’t anger God by your freedom by saying “all things are permissible.” (vs. 23) Paul warned the Corinthians and us of this. You notice in these three things, each action would affect a relationship - yours with others, yours with yourself, and yours with God.

With this understanding, Paul told them how to withstand temptation. Before we understand that, we need to understand human ego. Most people think they are strong enough to stand against temptation, but if that were so, all the addicts over the history of time and wouldn’t be addicts, whether addicts of alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, porn, abuse, food, shopping, or whatever. Yet, if we truly look at human history and ourselves, we recognize, we are not strong enough to stand against all temptations. We are not Christ who stood strong against Satan’s temptations in the desert. Humans eventually collapse when faced with certain temptations in their lives. We each have weaknesses. Our egos tell us we are strong enough and can do this or that without failing, and sometimes we can. Most of the times, though, we cannot.

At this point is where Paul’s statement in verses twelve and thirteen come to play. He said, “If you think you are standing strong,” when often we are not standing strong. Paul knew humanity’s weaknesses because he recognized his own weaknesses. He had been a self-righteous Pharisee. “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” Paul knew at some point each person succumbs to temptation and warns them not to think too highly of themselves and their capabilities. Again, with verse thirteen, he reminded them that the failures of others we see around us, their weaknesses and falling to temptations, could be us, too. We are like every other person who walked the earth. We are weak and cannot stand up to every temptation.

Paul didn’t stop at that point and cause the Corinthians or us to despair. He reminded us about God and His characteristics. Paul continued, “God is faithful. He will not allow temptation to be more than you can stand.” Notice, God is the One who is all-knowing, always faithful, and all-powerful. Paul reminded the readers of this letter they are no stronger than any other person who’s lived, but God is stronger, is strongest, is faithful, and loves us. Because of God’s faithfulness, love, and knowledge of each of us, “He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.” Don’t stop at that point, though. If you do, you will interpret this passage as many secular Christians and non-Christians do, with an off-the-cuff faith. It’s like the saying you hear from people, “God’s got my back.” It requires no faith in God is required to say that. That saying doesn’t give you the strength to walk through a situation. It’s just a saying, like when people say, “God won’t allow me to experience more than I can handle.” With those statements by people, no faith or covenant with God is required to say it. Paul reminds us instead that God’s wisdom, strength, faithfulness, and love, His covenant with us as His children, that sees us through the situation.

Paul completed his thoughts on this with, “When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” God is the One who makes a way. He won’t give you more than you can handle, and He will show you the way out so you can endure. The ability to withstand temptation is all about God. Paul made sure we understood that. He showed the frailties and weaknesses of humanity in verse twelve. We bring nothing to the table by which we can go through difficulties other than our faith in God, our covenant relationship with Him. God brings everything to the table for us to get through these times. He brings His knowledge, power, wisdom, love, and faithfulness that gets us through hard times. God is faithful to His covenant with His children. He will show us how to get through situations in our lives. What we bring to the table in these situations is our faith in Him and our obedience to His direction. We have no power and wisdom to get us through every trial.

God’s covenant with His children and their covenant with Him affects their relationship, and it affects their relationships with the people around them, and their relationship with themselves. Paul made sure the Corinthians and later readers understood this. When we stand strong because of God and give Him the glory, it strengthens our resolve and grows us to be more like Christ. It affects the people around us who see our trials and watch how we walk through them. When you testify and live a life of testimony to God, others grow, too. Our relationship with that person grows. This is the overarching learning point for the Corinthian Christians. Their lives should be a living testimony to the people watching them. This is what Paul meant when he said in verses thirty-one and thirty-two, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.” Live a life of testimony giving God the glory for everything you do and all that He does in your life and it will affect other believers, non-believers, and your own life.

Paul ended this chapter with, “I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.” (vs. 33b) Satan wants to make us think we are unable to do things or that we can face things without God’s help. Satan lies.

Be faithful to God. Be true to your covenant with Him. He is always faithful to you. He will not allow a temptation to be more than you can stand and will always show you a way out so you can endure.

Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

If you are not yet a child of Yahweh God, you can be by believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Admit you are a sinner. Believe in Jesus Christ. Confess your sins to Him. God loves you and wants to save you from your sins and death. He wants to have an eternal relationship with you.

Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9 [NLT])

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:9 [NLT])

Lord, so often I just push through a difficulty in my own strength and forget to ask You for Your wisdom and help. I think, “I’ve got this!” In that thinking, I have rebelled against You. Please forgive me for thinking better of myself than I am. Help me remember, You are the reason I live and am saved from sin and death. Not of my own strength, intellect, or reasoning have I survived, but only because of You. Help me to seek You and then to give You all the glory. Help me to remain totaled devoted to You. Use me to share about Your love and faithfulness to people around me. Amen.

Take Courage

"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28 [NASB]

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples and followers. He had just told them about what would happen before His return to earth. It began with telling them the stones of the temple would be torn down. The things they called beautiful would be no more.

What Jesus told His disciples and followers distressed them and they questioned Him about the signs of when these things would happen. Jesus listed several things that would occur before His return in Luke 21. He said people would come proclaiming they are the Christ. Nations and kingdoms would battle. Great earthquakes, plagues, and famines would rock the people of the earth. Terrors and signs from heaven would happen. People they knew and people they loved would persecute them. Some believers would die because of people who hate Jesus’ name. Armies would surround Jerusalem. The Gentiles would trample Jerusalem under their feet until their “time is fulfilled.”

Each of these horrible things are enough to scare most people. To hear them all put together as a string of things that would happen before Christ returns is horrifying and would have been even more so for the believers of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the city of God, Zion. To fathom the city of God as being laid ruin was hard for them to imagine.

Today, we experience or hear of things hard to fathom. Why would a friend say slanderous things about you at work? Why would a family member betray you and say you mean nothing to them? How can our nation be so much under the influence of Satan? What is happening with the world? So many places are in ruins because of wars and terrorists. Why must I live in fear wondering if a bomb will explode near me or my family while at work, school, worship, or play?

“What is happening to our world?” you may wonder. Jesus explained it in Luke 21. He said,

There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:25-27 [NASB]

Because these things occur, does that mean we should be afraid, run, and hide? That is the natural instinct of at least a third of the people, according to psychologists. They say people either fight, flee, or freeze when confronted with something horrible/scary. Jesus did not tell people to do that. What He said gives us courage and hope. Jesus said, “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28) The reaction Jesus told His disciples and followers to have completely contradicts what psychologists consider normal. Straightening up requires having courage in the face of difficulties. Jesus’ followers could have courage because Jesus is the overwhelming conqueror of the world-over Satan, sin, and death. These things Jesus said would happen before His return to earth are what He conquered. Satan causes them and, thus, Jesus is the Conqueror. Believer’s in Jesus Christ can have hope because our redemption is near. As believers, Jesus redeemed us from slavery to sin and death when we confessed Him as our Lord and Savior. He will redeem us when He returns to earth to take us to His heavenly kingdom.

Today we face horrible things. Bombings occur often around the world. Countries antagonize each other and prepare for war. Children rise against parents and parents against children. Friends betray friends to religious activists to save themselves from torture and death. Famines, plagues, floods, and earthquakes happen more than in history. These things make people wonder if the end of the world will happen soon. They cause fear to rise in the hearts and minds of millions of people. As Christians, we can remember Jesus’ words. We can gain courage and hope in Him, and “straighten up and lift up our heads” because He told us these things would happen and that He would come to redeem us. The day of His coming is nearer with each day. Hold on to hope. Keep the faith. Find joy in knowing Jesus knew these things, is Conqueror, and is coming to take you with Him.

Consider what Jesus said as recorded in John 16:33.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulations but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Take courage. Have Hope. Lift up your heads. Jesus is coming.

Lord, forgive me. I get lost in my personal storms and forget to look to You. I allow the trials, setbacks, and disappointments, in my days to distract me and I take my eyes off You. That is when the storms become too violent in my mind and I cannot see where to go or what to do, then I give up. Please help me keep my eyes on You, my Savior, and not on my storms. Help me straighten up and hold my head up because You are my Hope, my Redeemer, and the overwhelming Conqueror of the world. Give me the strength, perseverance, and faith to keep walking with You when I feel blinded by the day’s trials. Guide me through those days, Lord. Help me not to faint and stand back, but to keep holding Your hand and looking at You. Nothing can overwhelm me when I keep my eyes on You. Thank you for being God and being greater than anything that comes against me. Thank you for loving me.

Perseverance: A Choice of LIFE

James, the brother of Jesus and a major leader of the Christian church in Jerusalem, wrote his letter to the first century Christians spread out in the Roman Empire. You note this when he addresses his letter to the “twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad.” This letter speaks on how to be a Christian. James jumped straight into this task.

            James began his word of instruction with verse two and drew the reader and hearer to the realities of being a Christian: the testing of your faith. Before this, though, he reminded us to that which Christians are to cling: joy. James said in verse 2, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.” A question arises upon hearing/reading this: how and why would you experience joy when you are facing difficult times? The answer James gave was that it produces endurance (vs.2). In case someone asks why anyone would want to produce endurance, James provided that answer in verse 4. He said, “so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” In verse 12, he reiterated this, “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.” Verse 18 goes even further in explaining why God allows hard times to happen to us. It says, “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” James said, through these trials and tests God allows you to go through them to grow you and make you stronger in your faith. This growth brings you closer each time to being more Christlike. This is why you can count it all joy; you are being made more like Christ. In addition, you acknowledge that your end on earth, as a Christian, is not your eternal end. God is your Father and promised you eternal life in His kingdom.

            Before we get ahead of ourselves though, we must return to verse two. James said we must endure or persevere so that we may be perfect and complete. Peter said in 2 Peter 1:5-7 perseverance comes from diligence, faith, moral excellence, knowledge, and self-control. We must grow from our diligence in believing to apply the lessons of Christ in our lives so that we become moral, knowledgeable, and self-controlled. Perseverance comes from knowing the Lord, following His commands, and living by allowing the Holy Spirit to control our words and actions. Without God’s commands and promises and without the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot persevere. We must allow God to be our life first before we can achieve endurance. Let us understand the definition of endurance/perseverance. In the Greek, perseverance is hupomone. According to Strong’s New Testament Greek Lexicon, hupomone is the characteristic of a person who is not swerved from his or her deliberate purpose and his or her loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. Perseverance is a patient, steadfast waiting and stance.

We must answer questions about perseverance now. What is it? Why do we have to go through trials? Why should we persevere? How do we get the strength to persevere? Why do people joyfully persevere? Strong's shows the answer to what is perseverance in his definition. A biblical reference is Revelation 14:12. This passage tells us, “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” Saints, Christians, are those people who keep the commandments of God and keep their faith in Jesus. That is what James said in chapter 1:5 when He spoke of asking for wisdom. Peter spoke of it in 1 Peter 1:5 when he said to add goodness and knowledge to your faith. Faith is great; faith in Jesus Christ is what saves you and keeps you, but you must add to it goodness, knowledge, and wisdom. These come from the commandments of the Godhead through Jesus’ life - words and actions. Without a firm faith in Jesus, bolstered by His teachings on inner attitudes and outer actions, we cannot stand strong and persevere through trials.

Our next question arises. Why do we have to go through trials and temptations? There are two reasons, positive and negative. First, we go through trials because we are followers of Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22, "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved” [NASB]. In John 15:18 & 20, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you…Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also” [NASB]. Because we are followers of Jesus, people persecute and try us. People who are not believers do not understand and will mock and try us. On the positive side, our privilege is to go through trials because we have our reward in heaven. We know where we will be when God’s kingdom comes. Luke 6:22-23 says, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets” [NASB]. We have a reward, which nothing and no one can take from us, and we can persevere through trials and temptations knowing this.

This leads us to our next question: Why should we persevere? Luke 6:22-23 above gives us the best reason. We should persevere because we have a reward in heaven. James 1:12 tells us, “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” [NASB]. This crown of life is that which Paul spoke of when athletes run the race (1 Corinthians 9:25). The crown will not be a crown of laurel in imitation of the crown of gold an earthly king wears, but it will be an imperishable crown because it comes from the immortal God. This is the crown given to each of God’s children in heaven when He commends them as the master in the parable did when he said, “Well done my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23, [NASB]). Hebrews 10:36 tells us why, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” [NASB]. We need to persevere to be approved by God, to receive our crown in God’s kingdom, and to be seen as Jesus’ followers.

How do we get the strength to persevere in the face of trials and temptations? Second Peter 1:5-6 tells us, as stated in the last paragraph. We persevere through faith, knowledge, moral excellence, and self-control. The people who have these are the good soil of which Luke spoke in Luke 8:15. They will endure because they “heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance” [NASB]. This says those who go through these hard times have faith, moral excellence, and they are growing in the Word, bearing fruit. Hebrews says, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (12:1 [NASB]). We must give up anything that keeps us from following Jesus closely and we must not succumb to sin so that we can run the race with endurance. This chapter also encourages us to endure because so many faithful followers have run the race before us, endured, and await us in heaven for our reward.

How do people joyfully persevere? James said to “consider it all joy” when the testing of your faith produces endurance (1:2). Luke 21:19 says, “By your endurance you will gain your lives” [NASB]. Paul said in Romans 5:2b-5, “We exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” [NASB]. Paul stated further in 1 Corinthians 6:4 & 10, “…in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses… as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things” [NASB]. Hope and perseverance are tied together, thus, joy is tied to perseverance. Joy comes from God. It comes in knowing God is in control and we are His children. How can we joyfully persevere? We do this by recognizing God is all-powerful and in control. Nothing can remove us from His hands, protection, or strength.

Let us return to James 1. James said,

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials (and temptations), knowing that the testing (the proving or trying) of your faith (your conviction of truth, Christ is the Son of God) produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect (mature/virtuous) and complete (free from sin, faultless), lacking in nothing, (5) But if any of you lacks wisdom (the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living), let him ask of God who gives to all generously and without reproach (without finding fault), and it will be given. (6) But, he must ask in faith, without any doubting, (a repetition for emphasis; with a hope that is grounded in who God is), for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. (7) For that man (human being) ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord (8) being a double-minded (doubting, hesitating) man, unstable (inconstant, restless) in all his ways (course of conduct). (12) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial and temptation; for once he has been approved (passed the test; accepting, pleasing); he will receive the crown of life (immortality and a more perfect body). (Italics and bold type are my emphasis.) (James 1:2-7, 12 [NASB])

Perseverance comes through faith, knowledge of God the Father and Jesus, and their commands, and hope. Without the strength of almighty God keeping us strong through His Holy Spirit who dwells in us as Christians, we would falter and maybe fail to endure. We endure because Jesus endured persecution. We endure because He told His disciples the world hated Him and they would hate us, His disciples. We endure because God promises us hope of eternal life, a better life, in His kingdom. We persevere joyfully because God holds us up; we are not standing alone. We persevere joyfully because God is faithful to His promises. We persevere because we know God and recall His word in Romans 8:35-39, which says:

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." 37 But in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [NASB]

Perseverance comes through knowledge, wisdom, faith, and self-control, which comes from God. Perseverance ultimately comes from God because we know, as Paul stated in Romans 8, nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Now, we have to ask ourselves a question. Do we believe in Jesus and know we can rely fully upon Him for the strength to endure? If you are not yet a Jesus-follower, now is the time to acknowledge Him as God’s Son, believe that He died to save you from your sins, and confess your sins to Him accepting His forgiveness and gift of eternal life. God will give you the faith to believe if you ask Him. It is up to you if you want to believe and choose to live life with Jesus as your Lord and Savior.