Verse of the Day 10/25

Verse of the Day 10/25

James 1:12   Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Our men's Bible study began a study in the book of James this week.  One of the key verses was verse 2 which stated "count it all joy" or as The Message puts it below, "consider it a sheer gift" when you face various trials or "when tests and challenges come at you from all sides".  It is not an easy thing to do, we don't have an easy button to push to remove us from difficult, challenging situations.  It doesn't come naturally and it is and it is why we must "consider", change the way we would normally think, change the way that we normally look at trials.

I've heard it said and taught and taught it myself in studies that a key word in the passage is "when".  James doesn't say "if" trials come it is when.  Things may be going well, perhaps for a long stretch of time, but trials will come and when they do we should be prepared for them and how we will view them.  Why?  The same word "when" shows up again at the end of the passage and in today's verse "when" we have stood the test, remained steady, steadfast in our faith in and through the trials we will receive "the crown of life".  The victor's crown of all time for all time.  It is the picture of the victory wreath placed upon the head of an Olympic champion back in the original Olympics.

Andrew Murray shares some good advice on how we should face these "various trials" that come at us from all sides.

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."  

"When" we do this He will see us through and at the end of this race we will receive the crown, one that will never wear out.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  English Standard Version (ESV)

--   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 1:2-12The 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.

^5-8 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

^9-11 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

¹² Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.