My Trials and Temptations

Hello, sorry so long since the last post, I have been spending much time in thoughtful prayer and contemplation. I have had many trials and temptations as of late and really, I was trying to make sense of them all. I have been just confused and mystified at all the things that seem to come up and get in the way of my relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Then I stopped trying to figure it out and listened to Brother Larry’s sermon. Let me just mention how thankful I am for Bro. Larry, Sister Patsy and their family. Not only are they priceless role models for Christian living but also they are truly compassionate Christians! Sometimes these qualities are just hard to find. I am thankful that God’s perfect path for my life included them, I am. Even if I do not see the path as perfect and I do not agree that the dips and curves are joyous and a smile is not always on my little face, I realize God’s perfect will I am to thankful to obey.
For the past 3 weeks now, our patient Pastor has been preaching out of James 1. I am one of those who do mark in her Bible the dates and yes the “cliff notes” if you will to summarize if ever I need to go there for a quick reference. Last week when I realized that we were on the same chapter and verse I was a bit confused. Then this past Sunday when we were again on the same chapter and verse I was a bit shocked, until it came to me. I got it! Not that I did not already know, but maybe with all the stuff that is life I have forgotten or just took for granted the “living word” the Bible! The power of this chapter and verses in James just about felt like a slap to the face.
I have noticed the frustration on Brother Larry’s face and in his voice while preaching to a sometimes not so enthusiastic crowd . And again I wondered what are we missing? What is it that he is trying to get across to us that we apparently are missing? And I read and I researched and I asked and I did not get it! Guess we were trying his patience. Now I am not speaking for the whole of our church, for I am positive that there are many in our congregation who understood and “got” his meaning behind this. I am just speaking for myself. But I feel sure there are a few other than myself who might have felt the same!
And this is the chapter and verse, read through them they are enlightening as all God’s words are!

James 1
Greeting to the Twelve Tribes
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.
Profiting from Trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
The Perspective of Rich and Poor

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Loving God Under Trials

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Qualities Needed in Trials

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Doers—Not Hearers Only

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

So, what do you think? I cannot pretend to know another’s heart or the reasons for their actions. I cannot even assume that I might understand why others act or say what they do. However, I do know my own heart and reasons for my actions. I do know and understand this.

I know that the BIBLE is the LIVING WORD OF GOD. And that there is power on those pages that are life altering. For me understanding this makes all the difference in my daily walk with Christ!

Each and every time I heard these verses I gained a bit more knowledge and understanding than I had before. Each and every time I heard Brother Larry read through the whole chapter(yes he did every Sunday for the past 3 weeks!)I realized that my previous understanding developed the ground work for what I needed to grasp.

My conclusion:

Trials are a gift from God. He places them in our lives in order that we might receive a blessing from them. However, temptations are not of God but from satan. The evil of this world wants nothing more than to rob us from receiving God’s blessings by placing events in our lives that will put an obstacle or stumbling block in our relationship with our Lord. And tries to keep us from sharing God's joy and love to others. When we give in to temptations we fail the test God has set before us, and we must go through the trial again. When we overcome the temptations we will receive God’s blessings.
And the BIBLE, THE LIVING WORD is our game plan (our source of reference for wisdom, knowledge and understanding) another gift from God! All I have to do is read it! Any situation that comes my way the instructions on how it should be handled are there!

Always... 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1)

I will search my heart, I will read my Bible, I will pray to my Lord for direction, I will rely on His instruction, I will endure my trials with a thankful heart, I will gain wisdom from all God’s perfect gifts and works, I will avoid temptations and stumbling blocks (but when they come I will keep my focus on Just Serving Jesus) I will not let the evil of this world invade my relationship with God, I shall be steadfast in His love (for He loves me so!).

Thank you for Your patience God!