Bible League: Living His Word You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering.?If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be. — James 1:3-4 ERV No one that I know likes to suffer persecution. When the trials and tests of our faith come our way, we may be tempted to walk away from Jesus. Don't do it! There is a greater purpose that we can fathom behind those trials and tests. We are learning to patiently endure so that character and maturity may be developed within us. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote to the first century church that to suffer persecution because of Christ is a cause for joy (James 1:2). The first century church endured terrible persecution at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans. The Apostle Paul, perhaps Christ's greatest missionary, had once persecuted those who would later become his brothers and sisters in faith. The Romans were especially cruel toward Christians in those days. Christians were fed to lions, used as human torches, and executed in horrific fashion just because they bore the name of Jesus and would not bow to Caesar. I'm certain that as word spread of increasing persecution, many were tempted to walk away from the faith. "Who needs this?!" they may have asked. That's when the Lord's brother, James, a leader in the church in Jerusalem, reminded them to patiently endure the suffering they were experiencing. Suffering patiently leads to being "all that God wants you to be," he said. As the return of our Lord Jesus draws nigh, Scripture is clear—persecution and suffering will increase for those who bear the name of Christ. Persecution is not a possibility for the Lord's people. It is a certainty. In many parts of the world today, it is a reality. Here in America, persecution is not nearly as severe as in other parts of the globe, but that doesn't mean it won't become our reality, too. May the Lord prepare us for what is coming sooner than we realize. For our brothers and sisters around the world who are experiencing severe persecution, may the words of James encourage you. Your faith is being more than tested. It is being refined. God is deepening your faith in Him so that you can be all that He wants you to be. Be patient in the face of suffering and persecution. God will not leave you nor forsake you. He will, through His Holy Spirit, give you the courage to patiently endure until the end, when a crown of righteousness will be bestowed upon you. Endure patiently through it all, for on that day you will hear the Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done." By Shawn Cornett, Bible League International staff, Indiana U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Kings 16, 17, 18 1 Kings 16 -- Jehu's Prophecy; Kings of Israel: Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Kings 17 -- Elijah Prays for drought, Fed by Ravens; The Widow at Zarephath NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Kings 18 -- Elijah and Baal's Prophets on Mount Carmel; Elijah's Prayer NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 1:29-51 John 1 -- In the beginning was the Word; The Testimony of John; Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, Philip and Nathanael NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sakeand will never think of them again. Insight How tempting it is to remind someone of a past offense! But when God forgives our sins he totally forgets them. Challenge We never have to fear that he will remind us of them later. Because God forgives our sin, we need to forgive others. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Job 22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him.If we would rightly "acquaint ourselves with God, and be at peace," we must know him as he has revealed himself, not only in the unity of his essence and subsistence, but also in the plurality of his persons. God said, "Let us make man in our own image"--let not man be content until he knows something of the "us" from whom his being was derived. Endeavour to know the Father; bury your head in his bosom in deep repentance, and confess that you are not worthy to be called his son; receive the kiss of his love; let the ring which is the token of his eternal faithfulness be on your finger; sit at his table and let your heart make merry in his grace. Then press forward and seek to know much of the Son of God who is the brightness of his Father's glory, and yet in unspeakable condescension of grace became man for our sakes; know him in the singular complexity of his nature: eternal God, and yet suffering, finite man; follow him as he walks the waters with the tread of deity, and as he sits upon the well in the weariness of humanity. Be not satisfied unless you know much of Jesus Christ as your Friend, your Brother, your Husband, your all. Forget not the Holy Spirit; endeavour to obtain a clear view of his nature and character, his attributes, and his works. Behold that Spirit of the Lord, who first of all moved upon chaos, and brought forth order; who now visits the chaos of your soul, and creates the order of holiness. Behold him as the Lord and giver of spiritual life, the Illuminator, the Instructor, the Comforter, and the Sanctifier. Behold him as, like holy unction, he descends upon the head of Jesus, and then afterwards rests upon you who are as the skirts of his garments. Such an intelligent, scriptural, and experimental belief in the Trinity in Unity is yours if you truly know God; and such knowledge brings peace indeed. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 62:6 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves;Romans 5:9,10 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. • For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Numbers 10:8,9 "The priestly sons of Aaron, moreover, shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations. • "When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies. Isaiah 45:19 "I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in a waste place'; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are upright. 2 Chronicles 30:27 Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven. Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry. James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Psalm 40:17 Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God. 2 Peter 3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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