Been awhile. (Yeah, I know, predictable as the tides; What can I say?)
Sorry I haven't updated much lately. I'd like to say that, with summer coming up, I'll have more opportunities to write. Likely, however, I'll be just as much a slacker then.
Anyway, the semester's almost over. I've got final exams May 1st through 3rd, and I'll be delivering a sermon for graduation banquet on May 5th. I'd appreciate any prayers you wouldn't mind saying on my behalf; this time of the year is especially stressful and difficult.
After that...two years down, two to go before I finally get my BA in Bible & Theology. It's amazing how quickly time flies
***
I'd like to write, today, about James 1:1-4:
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
God, and God's plan for human existence, is paradoxical at its core. Human understanding would ask, "What must I do to be saved?" But God says, "You can do nothing do be saved. It must come by my free gift. Your works will only condemn you." Human understanding would say, "God, you show me yourself, and I'll believe." But God says, "Believe in me, and then I'll show you myself." And human understanding would say, "Rejoice in the good times, and despair in the bad." While God says, "Rejoice in the trials and tribulations...be extremely wary in the good, that you enter not into temptation."
It's backwards. By nature, we dislike trials. They aren't very much fun. Yet God tells us to count them "pure joy." Pure joy! That sounds absurd! But God, as always, is right. When we experience abundant blessings, perpetual wealth, perfect health, and a problemless life, we do not rely on him. And failure to rely on him produces pride, which produces corruption. The inevitable result is sin, and the perils sin brings are far worse than any trial God would ever send our way.
I'm going through something of a trial right now. Because of the different people involved and the private nature of certain aspects of said trial, I really can't share the details with you. But believe me when I say that it is hard. How are we supposed to do an unnatural thing like rejoicing in the midst of confusion and suffering? Only by the grace of God, and his Holy revealed Word.
I am convinced that it is only when we understand that God is with us that trials are able to be endured with joy and thanksgiving. Consider the words of Psalm 23:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names' sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
The Lord God, Jesus Christ, is with us. Always. He will never leave us, or forsake us. Indeed, he is "with us always, to the end of the world." (Mat. 28:20) The implications of that should be both obvious and staggering! Jesus Christ, the creator of all things and the omnipotent savior...is with us, in a personal, caring, sherpherd-like way. He is the good shepherd, and we know that, if God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31) He overcomes all things because he made all things. And when we are in fellowship with God, we know that he will never let lasting harm come to us. "...we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28)
It is when we finally come to fully understand this basic concept of God's omnipresence, and his inseparable unity with the believer in Christ, that we can face trials not only without fear, but with joy, knowing that God will work it all out for good. It is only then that we can recognize how "the trying of our faith worketh patience," and "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." (Rom. 5:3-4) And when we come to that place, we can truly give thanks to him for everything, the good and the bad, knowing that "goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
God, and God's plan for human existence, is paradoxical at its core. Human understanding would ask, "What must I do to be saved?" But God says, "You can do nothing do be saved. It must come by my free gift. Your works will only condemn you." Human understanding would say, "God, you show me yourself, and I'll believe." But God says, "Believe in me, and then I'll show you myself." And human understanding would say, "Rejoice in the good times, and despair in the bad." While God says, "Rejoice in the trials and tribulations...be extremely wary in the good, that you enter not into temptation."
It's backwards. By nature, we dislike trials. They aren't very much fun. Yet God tells us to count them "pure joy." Pure joy! That sounds absurd! But God, as always, is right. When we experience abundant blessings, perpetual wealth, perfect health, and a problemless life, we do not rely on him. And failure to rely on him produces pride, which produces corruption. The inevitable result is sin, and the perils sin brings are far worse than any trial God would ever send our way.
I'm going through something of a trial right now. Because of the different people involved and the private nature of certain aspects of said trial, I really can't share the details with you. But believe me when I say that it is hard. How are we supposed to do an unnatural thing like rejoicing in the midst of confusion and suffering? Only by the grace of God, and his Holy revealed Word.
I am convinced that it is only when we understand that God is with us that trials are able to be endured with joy and thanksgiving. Consider the words of Psalm 23:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names' sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
The Lord God, Jesus Christ, is with us. Always. He will never leave us, or forsake us. Indeed, he is "with us always, to the end of the world." (Mat. 28:20) The implications of that should be both obvious and staggering! Jesus Christ, the creator of all things and the omnipotent savior...is with us, in a personal, caring, sherpherd-like way. He is the good shepherd, and we know that, if God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31) He overcomes all things because he made all things. And when we are in fellowship with God, we know that he will never let lasting harm come to us. "...we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28)
It is when we finally come to fully understand this basic concept of God's omnipresence, and his inseparable unity with the believer in Christ, that we can face trials not only without fear, but with joy, knowing that God will work it all out for good. It is only then that we can recognize how "the trying of our faith worketh patience," and "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." (Rom. 5:3-4) And when we come to that place, we can truly give thanks to him for everything, the good and the bad, knowing that "goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
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