Verse of the Day 3/8

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.    New King James Version (NKJV)

Today's verses came from James 1 which many refer to as the Proverbs of the New Testament.  The book is full of practical Christian wisdom.  Not all of it is easy to grasp, easy to accept.  Many times when facing a trial we'd like to have the easy button handed to us.  Unfortunately, life doesn't offer easy buttons.  You most go through those "various trials" which come in all shapes and colors.

The heading for the passage in the NKJV is "profiting from trials" and from The Message (below), "faith under pressure".  Quite often the true colors of our faith will show in and through the trials of life.  As they build and as we survive them through the course of our lives they help to mold, to shape us and  in the long run to benefit us, often in ways that we won't totally understand in this life.  Still, we hold on in faith and persevere.  Notice in verse 2 it says "when" you face various trials, not if.  They will come our way.

Andrew Murray writes, "In time of trouble say:

First—God brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place. In that I will rest.

Next—He will keep me in His love and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.

Then—He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.

Last—In His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows.

I am here—by God's appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time."

If we can face the trials in life with this attitude we will be be better equipped for the next one that comes and be able to count it as joy or "a sheer gift"  (The Message).  Verse 3 ends with the fruit of this attitude, the various translations use the words "patience", "steadfastness" and "endurance".

"Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting." - A. W. Tozer

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

James 1:2-4The Message (MSG)

Faith Under Pressure

^2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.