Bible League: Living His Word Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.In verses 2-4 of the first chapter of James we are told that the testing of our faith is a cause for joy because it can lead to our maturity and completeness in the faith. Our verse for today, on the other hand, tells us that the testing of our faith can lead to a reward – the "crown of life." The testing of our faith is an inevitable aspect of life in the present era. The times we live in are full of sin and evil and our faith in God is tested as a result. No one likes tests, but James' point in Chapter 1 is that we should like them better than we do because of the great good that can come from them. First, we can become patient, mature, complete persons of faith, and second, we can receive the crown of life. In order to receive these two very good things, however, there is a stipulation. We must persevere, remain faithful, and pass the test. Simply going through the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life is not sufficient to receive the good that can come from them. What really counts is the manner in which we go through them. If we go through them with patience, if we go through them and remain faithful, then we receive the good that can come from them – personal maturity in the faith in the present era and the crown of life in the future. What is the "crown of life?" the Greek word translated as "crown" refers to the wreath of leaves that was placed on the heads of those who were victorious in athletic contests. James used the word as a metaphor for the reward believers receive in the next life. The crown of life that the Lord promised to those who love Him and remain faithful to Him during the times of testing is eternal life. The Apostle John put it this way, "see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us--eternal life" (I John 2:24-25). Stand firm in the faith with a patient attitude during the times of testing, for the rewards are very great. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEsther 7-10 Esther 7 -- Esther Accuses Haman; Haman Is Hanged NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Esther 8 -- Mordecai is advanced; Xerxes allows the Jews to Defend Themselves NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Esther 9 -- The Jews Slay Their Enemies; Purim Instituted NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Esther 10 -- Xerxes' Tribute to Mordecai NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 6 Acts 6 -- The Seven Chosen; Stephen Seized NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.Insight Worldly worries, the false sense of security brought on by prosperity, and the desire for things plagued first-century disciples as they do us today. Challenge How easy it is for our daily routines to become overcrowded. A life packed with materialistic pursuits deafens us to God's Word. Stay free so you can hear God when he speaks. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Hosea 7:8 Ephraim is a cake not turned.A cake not turned is uncooked on one side; and so Ephraim was, in many respects, untouched by divine grace: though there was some partial obedience, there was very much rebellion left. My soul, I charge thee, see whether this be thy case. Art thou thorough in the things of God? Has grace gone through the very centre of thy being so as to be felt in its divine operations in all thy powers, thy actions, thy words, and thy thoughts? To be sanctified, spirit, soul, and body, should be thine aim and prayer; and although sanctification may not be perfect in thee anywhere in degree, yet it must be universal in its action; there must not be the appearance of holiness in one place and reigning sin in another, else thou, too, wilt be a cake not turned. A cake not turned is soon burnt on the side nearest the fire, and although no man can have too much religion, there are some who seem burnt black with bigoted zeal for that part of truth which they have received, or are charred to a cinder with a vainglorious Pharisaic ostentation of those religious performances which suit their humour. The assumed appearance of superior sanctity frequently accompanies a total absence of all vital godliness. The saint in public is a devil in private. He deals in flour by day and in soot by night. The cake which is burned on one side, is dough on the other. If it be so with me, O Lord, turn me! Turn my unsanctified nature to the fire of thy love and let it feel the sacred glow, and let my burnt side cool a little while I learn my own weakness and want of heat when I am removed from thy heavenly flame. Let me not be found a double-minded man, but one entirely under the powerful influence of reigning grace; for well I know if I am left like a cake unturned, and am not on both sides the subject of thy grace, I must be consumed forever amid everlasting burnings. Daily Light on the Daily Path John 14:16,17 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; • that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.John 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5 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. 1 John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 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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