For some, hardships may make them bitter and cause them to run away from God. However, for the Christ follower the trials in life cause us to depend on God more, crying out to Him day and night, and seeking Him with all your heart. When we rely on the strength and hope of God’s wonderful truths, even though our circumstances have not changed, we find joy and peace knowing that God will protect and deliver us in due time. We all have to go through the purging holy fire of God, so that He can cleanse us of all unrighteousness, setting us free from the sins that so easily entangle us, and removing all of self. Only in this way can we be perfected and complete being fulling adorned in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We will have all that we need to do His will. Therefore, let us welcome the fiery trials to draw closer to our Lord and become more like Him. Let us press on and not give up because God has promised that He will always be with us. Through the trials, God removes the thorns, the stumbling blocks, the character flaws so that nothing in us stands against His will but aligns with His truth. Just as street sweepers keep our roads and highways clean, God is the “soul sweeper” of our heart to keep us pure.
Isaiah 7:9 says, “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” Faith anchors us to God’s truth, and when we believe that God will answer us when we pray, He will be pleased to give us what we ask. The Bible says, the prayers of a righteous man is powerful and effective; it’s like an arrow hitting the target. This visual of verse 6 is like Matthew 8:24-26: “There arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves, but He (Jesus) was asleep. And they went and woke Him, saying, ‘“Save us, Lord: we are perishing!”’ And He said to them, ‘“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”’ Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
When we are gripped with fear, it prevents us and paralyzes us from doing the will of our Father. There is no fear in perfect love, and if we remain in Him as He is in us, there is no limit to what God can do through us. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He said we would do all that He has done in His ministry on earth, and we will do even greater things because His time on earth was short. However, we have an entire life-time to do the work of the Lord. We must have a sensitive spirit to hear His voice because His sheep hear His voice and answers His call. Let us seek God with all our heart and put faith into action. Then we can move mountains through our prayers as Jesus had done while we serve the Lord.
The desire of a man’s heart can become so evil if it is not brought under the reign of Christ Jesus our Lord. In Genesis, God had destroyed mankind through the flood because “every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only continually evil” (Genesis 6:5). Throughout scripture, God tells us to rule over our sinful desires, to keep our hearts pure, to take our thoughts captive and make it obedient to Christ. We are not to “conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind,” so that we can test and approve God’s good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2). We must be careful not to walk in the wide path that leads to destruction, but follow the narrow path where Jesus is leading us. Let our prayer be a cry for God to search our hearts continually to test our thoughts and see if there is any wicked way in us. Let us be holy as God is holy.
God’s word is meant to be acted upon through daily practice. With application, His word solidifies in our heart and mind, and we gain a deeper understanding of His truths. By putting His word to action, we will be blessed not only because our work will be excellent in the sight of God and men, but our attitude also will be Christ-like, attracting people to the light of Christ. Most importantly, we should not let the world leave their imprint on us. As the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 1:10, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” We don’t need man’s stamp of approval because we serve the Almighty God who commissioned us for His good work. Let us keep ourselves pure rejecting the desires of our sinful nature and seeking to please God, who is our Creator and Redeemer, that we may leave as lasting imprint of Christ’s love to the world.
Jesus treats us as sons, daughters and as friends, and our treatment of others should be an example of Christ’s love and sacrifice. Whether rich or poor, sick or healthy, rejected or accepted, we need to love our neighbors as Christ loves the Church. In the eyes of God, we were all created equal and should not exalt someone who is rich and famous regarding them with the highest honor while treating someone who is poor and lowly with disrespect and ignorance. We never know if we are entertaining angels. Those who live high on their pedestals will be humbled, but the poor in spirit will be lifted up to glory. Favoritism is a sin, and we should not take any part in this evil practice. We must treat others according to the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matt 7:12, Luke 6:31)
As children of God and believers of Christ, we are not judged by the law because we are covered in God’s mercy, the blood of Jesus. However, we should speak and act as if we were to be judged by the law because the law was created for our good and to help us understand right from wrong. Without the law there would be complete chaos and no standard to guide our path toward upright living. If we obey God’s commands it will go well with us, and the knowledge of God’s laws will help us avoid compromising the truth. We are to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 3:14) and we must be sanctified in His truth just as Jesus prayed for all His disciples before He was crucified. He said that we are not of the world and He consecrated Himself so that we would have His joy fulfilled in us (John 17:13-19). Because of our high calling, we must not live as the world does but be set apart in holiness and righteous living to please our Heavenly Father.
Philippians 2:12 says that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. I think many Christians have a fear of serving because of their own insecurities and choose to stay in their comfort zone and only be at the receiving end of God’s blessings. However, it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). There is an indescribable joy when we serve others and our joy is made complete. This was Jesus’s prayer for all His disciples that His joy be fulfilled in us, but it doesn’t happen unless we go into all the world making disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Holy Trinity and teaching them all that Jesus commanded (Matt 25:19-20).
We work in the name of our Lord Jesus not because we have something to offer from ourselves, but we are giving Jesus to the world, and by this we are justified and sanctified, giving glory to the Father. Jesus knew we could not do this alone, and that is why He promised that He would always be with us until the end of the age. When His power manifests in us, a great shaking takes place in the heavenlies and on earth. Therefore, let us allow the Holy Spirit to work through us as pure vessels in order to further the kingdom of God. To God be all the glory!
The words that come out of your mouth come from your heart, which defiles you (Matt 15:11, 18). “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person” (Prov 27:19 NLT), for a man speaks out of the abundance of his heart (Luke 6:45). If you cannot tame your tongue, you will bring destruction to your whole body and others around you. However, if you can think before you speak and hold your tongue, you will be perfected and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Our tongue should be used to produce righteousness, to bless God and men for the glory of God. Those who are controlled by the Spirit will do what the Holy Spirit desires instead of being ruled by the flesh. How is it all possible? With God all things are possible as long as we submit ourselves to Him and let Him become greater and we become less. Therefore, let us speak with wisdom and discernment that God may use our lips as His mouthpiece for the glory of His name.
In verse 15 (“This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”), James tells us that the wisdom of the world comes from the devil. It is carnal, causing jealousy, strife and divisions (1 Cor 3:3) because the focus is on self instead of God. When we choose to be spirit-filled obeying the laws of God, then we experience the fullness of Christ’s sacrifice fulfilling the righteous requirement of the law. Those who live according to the Spirit also set their minds on the things of the Spirit, which is life and peace, and this is pleasing to God (Romans 8:3-9). If we are led by the Spirit, then we are truly children of God (Rom 8:14). By focusing on the flesh, self becomes an idol and we become enemies of God. Let us allow God to constantly search our hearts to see if there be any wicked way in us. May we seek to be pure and holy, full of peace and mercy, humbly submitting ourselves to God so that we can bear good fruit for the kingdom of God and for His glory.
Many people make plans and goals to help themselves succeed in life, but unless God is in it, their plans will be in vain. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Similar verses are found in Proverbs 20:24 (“A man’s steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way?”), Psalm 37:23 (“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.”), and Jeremiah 10:23 (“O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”) Our lives are in God’s hands and He has numbered our days. While we still have the gift of life, we must live it for the glory of God. Therefore, we don’t need to worry about tomorrow because God’s got our back. He knows the plans He has for us; plans of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope (Jer 29:11). The great thing about God’s plans is that it cannot be thwarted by man or Satan. This is God’s truth and it says so in Acts 5:38-39, “For if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it – unless you even be found to fight against God.” God’s ways will prevail, so let our lives be aligned to His will.
The Scriptures clearly tell us that the Lord our God is one, and He is a jealous God. He commanded us not to worship any other idols because by doing that, it is no different than breaking our marriage vows. We are one with God because He is our Creator, who breathed life into us. As children of God we are in a covenant relationship with Him. Every time we desire something of this world and seek after its pleasures, we become unfaithful to our Bridegroom. If we neglect our relationship with our Lord and Savior, then we become enemies of God but friends with the world. However, the more we are meditating on God’s words, it becomes easier to set ourselves apart from the world. Why? Because the conviction to obey God becomes greater than the temptation, and He helps us when we are weak. Our relationship with our Lord and King must be treated as a marriage covenant to be faithful for richer or for poorer, in sickness or in health, for better or for worse. We must promise to love God at all times.
We are often quick to criticize and gossip about others, and sometimes even condemning them, but we are commanded to remove the plank out of our own eye first before we take out the speck from our brother’s eye (Matt 7:3-5). If we have the gall to speak ill of our brother or sister, then there is a greater work to be done in our own character and heart. God is the Lawgiver and the Judge, and He puts us through His fire of testing to refine us, removing all the dross of this world and the sin that so easily entangles us. Before we speak, we need to look at our own heart. What would it benefit an immature believer if he or she is torn down from a harsh rebuke or judgment from a fellow child of God? The mature Christians are to lead the immature in the correct path with all gentleness. However, we are all imperfect and “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are to work out our salvation with patience and love, encouraging and building each other up with the grace of God that all men would know we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:35).
No injustice is hidden from God and He does not remain silent; He is our avenger (1 Thess 4:5). He will punish those who hurt His children, the poor and the needy. He said, “Vengeance is mine and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them (Deut 32:35). God is also the one who restores. He promised in Joel 2:25-26, “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wonderously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame.” These are God’s unfailing promises for us. Those who mistreat us, God will deal with them severely and bring justice. Therefore, we do not need to fret about evil men because their time will come. We do not need to be afraid because God upholds those He loves in His righteous right hand, and He will be our ever-present Helper (Isaiah 41:10).
God allowed Job’s faith to be tested, and it was surely like fire because everything he owned and all his children were taken almost instantly except for his wife. Although his life was spared, he suffered from a terrible skin disease. Yet through all this painful and sorrowful ordeal, he never once cursed God. He still worshiped and honored God, and asked God to forgive him of any wickedness that he may have done. God does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Cor 10:13). He knew that Job could persevere through this painful trial and suffering. In the end when Job overcame, God richly rewarded him double his inheritance, and He gave him another 7 sons and 3 beautiful daughters.
We might not receive our rewards while living on earth, but God will certainly bless us when He takes us to our eternal home to dwell in His presence forever. No matter what trials come our way, we must endure and become faithful overcomers for His grace is sufficient for us and His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9).
As Moses interceded often for the Israelites, so we too should follow in his example and pray for sinners, the disobedient, and the sick. Through our faith we stand as a bridge for those who need to be connected with God. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we should openly confess our weaknesses and sins, so that Satan would not have any foothold in our lives. It is the hidden sins that cause us to stumble, so we must be transparent before God and our trusted friends of the faith that they may lift us up in prayer. As we pray for one another, not only does our faith increase but also the bond of love and unity becomes strengthened.
In Galatians 6:1-2, God commands us to bear one another’s burdens, and help restore our brothers and sisters from their sin with all gentleness. We are not running our own race where one person is the winner. In Christ’s race, we must lift up the family of God who have fallen by the wayside when sin has overtaken them. This race in life was meant for us to run together, and we are to cross the finish line holding hands, giving praise and glory to our heavenly Father. This is not a one-man show, and we are not to do it alone as Mr. Incredible once said in the beginning of his superhero career. The body of Christ needs each other because together we are strong.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:25-26, “…that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” Our duty is to love one another because love covers over a multitude of sins. The increase of lawlessness causes the love to grow cold, but Christ’s love and His fire should never die out.