James 1:12

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promises to those who love Him." -James 1:12

I find the bold/italicized words especially interesting.

Under trial - bearing the weight of it. Not necessarily putting effort into anything but being a recipient of its weight or its burden.

Stood the test - more than bearing its weight, to stand takes muscle activity and strength, putting a great deal of effort to lift both one's own body weight, and the weight of his or her burden.

There is an enormous difference in 'bearing weight' and 'lifting weight.' For instance, when me and Brennen are around a lot of kids, we tend to play and wrestle around with them. It never fails that either myself or him winds up on the floor with five or six kids directly on top. For me, it is easy to lay on the ground while having the weight of five children on my back. It is much more difficult to put effort into standing up, lifting all of my own weight and all of theirs.

"Blessed is the man … who is UNDER trial. … he will receive the crown of life that God promises … when he has STOOD the test."

How heavy are the things being laid on you? Surely, to overcome these obstacles in life, it will take a great deal more pain and effort to overcome them than it will take to 'get through' them. Face it! it is useless to rely on your own strength to overcome life and its obstacles.

How heavy IS your yoke? Do you know what a 'yoke' is? Not the egg yoke. A 'yoke' is like a trailer hitch used in the old days. Instead of a truck, they used horses, and instead of a metal trailer, they used carriages to carry people, or wooden trailers to carry food and probably other stuff. When a horse would pull things like carriages or trailers, the yoke was a wooden device that was placed on the back of the horse (or the horses). It was connected to the trailer or carriage so that most of the weight that was put onto the trailer or carriage was held up by the horse. A lot of times, this 'yoke' was a very heavy burden to hold up while walking/running.

How heavy is your yoke? How heavy are the burdens inside of your 'trailer of life' that you are trying to pull?

I'm not sure that everyone can see the true weight of life's burdens upon their lives. However, let me assure to you this truth in my life: the yoke in my life that is so much bigger than me, and seems much too heavy for me to BEAR (survive), let alone CARRY (overcome). To anyone who realizes this as truth in his or her own life, here are the spoken words of Christ:

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." -Matthew 11:30

I am no match for my circumstances when I do not allow Christ to carry my burdens. I have no ability to overcome or to get the best of circumstances when I am on my own. However, when I PUT EFFORT into prayer and reading the Holy Word(s) of the LORD, the strength of The Almighty suddenly embodies me, the hope and light of Christ Jesus become my vision, the Holy Spirit convicts me and keeps my mind, and I find myself looking forward to the carrying out of James 1:12 in my own life. Here it is again:

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promises to those who love Him." -James 1:12

May you be overwhelmed with the LORD, and allow His mighty hand to do good things inside of you. Carry out those good things inside of you in your life. (If you have a light in your heart act on the convictions of that light to share its radiance with the world.)

The Smallest Of Things Can Cause The Greatest Concern

I posted a short thought not long ago about Casting Crown's "Slow Fade." Well, this post is sort of a second version of that. Slow fade says that WHO we are in character is developed by a series of actions over a long amount of time. Well, this post is more about those actions and less about the amount of time. Here goes:

Get this, even within the context of a tiny particle, there are microscopical particles. Just like a piece of dust in Who-Ville, the town which is floating upon a snowflake. What I find most amazing about these extremly small particles is that they are, perhaps, MOST harmful to our bodies.

What decisions are so miniscule that you are very rarely mindful of them? For me, my use of time and my use of the mind are two things that I am never constantly aware of. I notice that these are weighing me down, and I want to gain control of them. They can act like an unending domino effect: the lack of mindful (or of wise, beneficial, good) thinking may be causing poor use of time; on the contrary, the poor use of time may be causing my mind to become (or to remain) lazy. When in the end, I want to use time effeciently in order to grow nearer to the heart of God, do well in classes, and to have some hope of a social life.

Scripture (James 4:17) says, concerning the person who knows the good that he or she ought to do, if he or she does not do it, for that person, it is sin. Be aware of your decisions! Both obvious ones and ones that generally are not a concerned; the decisions that seem to be too small to even be a worry (be assured that some decisions may not matter to many, but each one makes a difference to all). The Lord sees all sin equally. He sees the intent of our hearts (which is not always the same). Is not our heart's intent different when we 'ignore' doing good from when we mindfully reject temptation (James 4:14-26)? We can be free of lying for a lifetime, but even the man or woman who keeps from committing lies will not feel content or at peace until every decision to be made by them is under careful control. We must not do the things that the Bible communicates that we shouldn't do. We must do the things that the Bible communicates we ought to do!

To follow in Christ steps the best that we are able to we must be constantly mindful of our lives, Jesus' place in the center of them, and our place in the will of God

• Every Word - to speak with truth and intensity, and not with hollow words to fill in time. That is, in the cafeteria, at work, in a hallway, in walmart, AT HOME. We must be constantly mindful of our lives, Jesus' place in the center of them, and our place in the will of God.
  
• Every Thought - instead of staring lazily into the lighted buttons or floor numbers while on an elevator, be mindful about even your state of mind. Recite Scripture in your mind, think a prayer to God. Be free to wonder, and allow God to bless you and convict you by ways of imagination, and by some simple thoughts. We must be constantly mindful of our lives, Jesus' place in the center of them, and our place in the will of God.

Our everyday decisions are much like the smallest of small particles. The smallest decisions, which we have no choice but to confront, often-times have the most extreme results in our lives, both mentally and spiritually. Further, many people (maybe you) are not aware of these decisions. Chemists know the very detailed information on the 'particle' issue, but the general knowledge that normal people have of chemistry, I assume, is very ignorant to the danger of the tiny particles. Likewise, those of us who are seeking Christ diligently have a conviction to devote our WHOLE lives as living sacrifices to God. See Romans 12. Looking upon the general church of the day, including The Salvation Army, not too many have this knowledge of the danger in 'small' decisions. Not too many people take into account the seriousness of the matter, atleast. Holiness is a rare quality among the people who know and profess to believe that it is something worth striving toward.

Who are you? God knows us Completely (Psalm 139). He has one very powerful microscope.. what sorts of things will He see when He focuses in on the most miniscule particles of your life? I ask myself: how can I better make use of my mind, and time? In what ways can you better make use of those things which you have recently forgotten all about?

Finally, will you do it? Please share your thoughts.

James 1:9-11

James 1:9-11 (NRSV)
"Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will dissappear like a flower in the field. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away."


James 1:9-11 (NIV)
"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.
In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business."


I've been wrestling to understand the comment about the rich. If being brought low, for the rich, means that they will 'pass away like a wild flower,' 'its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed,' 'the rich man will fade away even while he goes aboubt his business...' BUT the rich should boast in being brought low. The difficulty a rich man has entering Heaven is spoken about in Scripture. Is that what this passage is saying? That the trials of a rich person will be for them like the scorching sun upon a flower? Why does this verse foretell the destruction of the rich man as if the temptations of pride and selfishness are not something he can overcome? "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Is it the arrogant of which this passage speaks? Proverbs 20:18 says that God will richly bless the obedient, but the one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

Insights, anyone?

faith, trust, and believing in God's promises

James 1:2 talks about how we should have joy in times of trials 'of many kinds.' Verse 3 continues with the words "because you know."

In verse two, what question do you think James is trying to answer? I can imagine the dialogue going something like this...

James: "Consider it nothing but joy, brothers, when you face trials and hard times of many kinds."

(Because James is speaking to other Christians, I think they would assume 'why' they should consider it joy. It is natural assumption of a Christian to do ANYTHING for the glory of God.)

People: How?

James: Have trust in God and faith in the truth that you know.
(You already know "that the testing of your faith develops perserverance.." You can have joy in any circumstance when you BELIEVE in the hope that Christ brings you.)


Think of the things God has promised you..

Psalm 91:1: "Those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." - If you are one to dwell in the Word of the Lord, and in Prayer, than He promises that you will rest in 'His shadow!' Trust in His promise!

Psalm 125:1 "The Lord's people are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever." - If you take hold of the new life Christ offers you, than the only harm that may come upon you is to your body, which has no effect on your spirit. That is, if you BELIEVE that God will keep His promise.

Jeremiah 29:11-14a "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me, and will come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord."

You will never cease to have purpose on this earth, Heavenly purpose, if you Trust in the Lord, and have faith that He will keep His promises.

Broken and made strong :)

How refreshing to know that God doesn't need me. How amazing to find that He still wants me. (I think this is from a Casting Crowns song)

Brokenness is my only strength: It forces me to put more and more trust in God. It forces me to realize how I am ever decreasing in strength and in quality when I begin to take matters, great and small, into my own hands.

Far be it from me, O LORD, in my endeavor to follow in Jesus' footsteps, to not rely wholly on You alone; No! Not even in one effort.

I love you!

christopher

Celebrate good times . . . come on!!

This title doesn't really have anything to do with the post :)

We had Celebration in the quad last night. Celebration is a worship gathering of all Malone students who want to come. It was a great time. Great worship! Awesome songs, and a wonderful sermon. One thing bothered me all night long and it wasn't the lack of sincerety in everybody's hearts; I believe they were sincere. It was said that satan was working, trying to distract. It was mentioned that people were struggling last night because of it. It bothered me that the devil's attempt to distract us actually distracted us!

How faithless we are, if when we are gathered together with the multitude to sing praises to God we become distracted by the weakest link.

My question was: "what should we expect the devil to try tomorrow?" If he can distract us when we are together as one, what is he capable of when we part to our seperate lives the next morning? Excuse me, let us not emphasize the meaesure of satan's ability, rather, let us emphasize the lack on our part.

"Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken, but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people. Both now and forevermore." Psalm 125:1-2

Where is our faith? Where is our trust?

This was not addressed last night. This idea was not mentioned. People walked away seeking the light of Christ; however, they remain BLIND to the darkness that surrounds them. Surely, they are satisfied too easily . . . so as to be happy in seeing a mere flicker of the light.

Pray with me for the generations. People as such are seeking revival, proclaiming that the revolution has begun. Truly, if there should ever be revival, it must first occur in the hearts of these people.

And it will show through the bruises on their knees.

Backward Thinking - Bible Logic

• Society says to desire praise and honor
• We naturally desire praise and honor
• The Bible says to desire praising and honoring God - and not ourselves. Paul actually says in 1st Corinthians 12:
  

7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Thank You, Jesus, for putting a thorn, also, in my side. Thank you for crushing me! Forbit it from me to ever become prideful in Your strength, as if it were my own. Now, I know what boasting in the LORD is. Now, I will brag about You!

Psalm 51:
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.