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 John 5:13 He that was healed wist not who it was.Years are short to the happy and healthy; but thirty-eight years of disease must have dragged a very weary length along the life of the poor impotent man. When Jesus, therefore, healed him by a word, while he lay at the pool of Bethesda, he was delightfully sensible of a change. Even so the sinner who has for weeks and months been paralyzed with despair, and has wearily sighed for salvation, is very conscious of the change when the Lord Jesus speaks the word of power, and gives joy and peace in believing. The evil removed is too great to be removed without our discerning it; the life imparted is too remarkable to be possessed and remain inoperative; and the change wrought is too marvellous not to be perceived. Yet the poor man was ignorant of the author of his cure; he knew not the sacredness of his person, the offices which he sustained, or the errand which brought him among men. Much ignorance of Jesus may remain in hearts which yet feel the power of his blood. We must not hastily condemn men for lack of knowledge; but where we can see the faith which saves the soul, we must believe that salvation has been bestowed. The Holy Spirit makes men penitents long before he makes them divines; and he who believes what he knows, shall soon know more clearly what he believes. Ignorance is, however, an evil; for this poor man was much tantalized by the Pharisees, and was quite unable to cope with them. It is good to be able to answer gainsayers; but we cannot do so if we know not the Lord Jesus clearly and with understanding. The cure of his ignorance, however, soon followed the cure of his infirmity, for he was visited by the Lord in the temple; and after that gracious manifestation, he was found testifying that "it was Jesus who had made him whole." Lord, if thou hast saved me, show me thyself, that I may declare thee to the sons of men. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 53:10 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.John 12:27,28 "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour '? But for this purpose I came to this hour. • "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." Luke 22:42,43 saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." • Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. Philippians 2:8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. John 10:17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 18:11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?" John 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." Matthew 3:17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Isaiah 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. 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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