Vol 2 No 15 THEO'S DEVOS
James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything .NLT
Ok so there are one or two verses in the Bible that I don't have a great reaction to. James 1:2 is one of them. It would be nice if we could just live a trouble free life but that is not going to happen and isn't even in God's plan for us. I think the thing that bothers me is that when I go to the gym (I don't as often as I should) I am prepared for the pain. You know: No Pain, No Gain? But the problem with life is that these troubles come when you least expect them and often at the worst possible time.
That is where reading and studying scripture is so key. If you had never read James exhortation to welcome trouble you would never expect it and it would always strike you as wrong and illustrative of the apparent fact that God may not love you. However, in reading what James has to say it changes everything and actually prepares you for some of the most productive things that can happen to you.
Listen, if you know that troubles are coming. And you know the reason for them as is spelled out in verses 3 and 4 then you will not be overcome with surprise and can react, or I should say, respond, correctly. If you wake up every day expecting the worst and hoping for the best you will never be disappointed. In expecting the worst you are saying that you are ready to be tested and to grow strong in the faith and in character. Someone has said: :”If it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger.” I am not sure that I totally agree with that statement but it is, quite often true. And this I do know: When troubles come, and they will, God will use them to produce in you the kind of character that He is looking for.
I know that some of you have gone through some very difficult things and I have prayed for you about them. I also know that God has used those things to make you who you are today. If you responded correctly, you are stronger for it and, if you responded incorrectly, you may still be struggling and God may have to hand you some more trouble to help you grow.
Look my problem is that none of us like trouble. I think we can all agree with that. However, if I am willing to follow God's lead then I need not fear trouble. I can look it in the face and let God guide me through it. Remember David in Psalm 23 when he said “Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid...” He could say that because not even the valley of death threatens us. If you truly believe that God is in control, it will help you sleep at night. It will allow you to move forward no matter what the circumstance. You will establish a testimony for God that has no parallel. That is my prayer for you: that you would never fear. That you would walk tall and hold you head up no matter what life troughs at you. God is at your side whether you know it or not. He will not abandon you. He will always give you strength. Never forget that.
You are a believer/priest for the King of Kings. Live like it!
I got the inspiration for this devo from a prayer letter sent out by my daughter Debbie. If any of you would like more information about the youth ministry that she is with please drop her a note at deb@oakpointe.org I am sure that she would love to add you to her prayer letter.
Theo
Sunday, April 13, 2008
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