Finding joy...

(James 1:2)  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds… 

Finding joy in the trial of life is one of the ultimate calls for the Christian; I wonder how many have arrived or even understood this call and the reason for this particular hardship? It’s the bibles teachings that brings us the correct understanding and the necessity of these tests. Without God’s Word we would be swallowed up by the enemy and his thwarted attempt to silence the Holy Bibles teachings. It has been God’s choice and purpose to use dialog to chance the design of that which was once dead and then bring it to life. In the beginning “God said” and it happened. Then Jesus was born and he grew, using his voice to proclaim the will of his heavenly Father, obviously backing up what he said by his actions. It was his words that changed the world, confirming his authenticity by many signs and wonders. Like the mighty miracle of Lazarus, a man dead with his body already starting to turn from decay and with an audience in earshot, he cried out, “Lazarus come forth”, it is God’s voice that brings forth life. In the beginning God created all of creation by his command, the Lord Jesus used words to forgive sinners for their sins and the bible is where we find the tools and what needs to be said so that others may also be saved. “It is by the foolishness of preaching that a man is to be saved.” We must never overlook the WORD OF GOD or make light of it, it is that important!     

Everything we go through has its purpose, there is nothing in the design of our lives that cannot bring benefit when viewed correctly. This however is divergent to our natures and yet when viewed through the eyes of the Spirit we see something totally different. With God’s help in our lives we learn that the testing of our faith brings about steadfastness, endurance is critical in today’s day and age. But regardless of the historical time clock, it’s always operated under the same premise; the just shall live by faith! Without the challenging of one’s faith we will never find faithfulness to overcome when it really matters. Once steadfastness has taken full effect in a believer’s life, the Apostle James teaches that the doer will be “perfect and complete lacking nothing”, wow! What an enthralling thought. But do we believe it, really believe it?

How many people actually preach or teach such a message? That we must count it all joy when we confront the trial of life, it’s crucial for us to become better Christians and end up living a life that will please our heavenly Father and this is where the positive transformation will come from; "counting it all joy" when we fall privy to the trial of life and then finding the grace of God to endure and overcome. We needn’t look much further that the cross of Calvary, God never requires anything from us that He was not willing to do, bridging the gap between God, man and our salvation. His thoughts become my thoughts, it’s the Christ in us that will complete the task at hand. He will receive all the glory and not the one who decided to bring their own righteousness to the seamstress. This is the bridge that can be rather daunting to cross, Christ works in us and it critical that we become obedience to His voice in all areas of our lives.

However we must never overlook this lesson, nor where our strength comes from, which is easily lost if we do not pay it watchful attention.  

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me." — (Psalm 138:8)

“Most manifestly the confidence which the Psalmist here expressed was a divine confidence. He did not say, "I have grace enough to perfect that which concerneth me-my faith is so steady that it will not stagger-my love is so warm that it will never grow cold-my resolution is so firm that nothing can move it; no, his dependence was on the Lord alone. If we indulge in any confidence which is not grounded on the Rock of ages, our confidence is worse than a dream, it will fall upon us, and cover us with its ruins, to our sorrow and confusion. All that Nature spins time will unravel, to the eternal confusion of all who are clothed therein. The Psalmist was wise, he rested upon nothing short of the Lord's work. It is the Lord who has begun the good work within us; it is he who has carried it on; and if he does not finish it, it never will be complete. If there be one stitch in the celestial garment of our righteousness which we are to insert ourselves, then we are lost; but this is our confidence, the Lord who began will perfect. He has done it all, must do it all, and will do it all. Our confidence must not be in what we have done, nor in what we have resolved to do, but entirely in what the Lord will do. Unbelief insinuates – "You will never be able to stand. Look at the evil of your heart, you can never conquer sin; remember the sinful pleasures and temptations of the world that beset you, you will be certainly allured by them and led astray." Ah! yes, we should indeed perish if left to our own strength. If we had alone to navigate our frail vessels over so rough a sea, we might well give up the voyage in despair; but, thanks be to God, he will perfect that which concerneth us, and bring us to the desired haven. We can never be too confident when we confide in him alone, and never too much concerned to have such a trust.” (Charles Spurgeon)

  

Signing off

Tyrone