James 1:2-4 NIV
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Suffering, especially when it first comes upon us, is not
usually joyful. It hurts. And it may hurt a lot. Paul once described the
suffering of himself and of his fellow workers this way:
“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” 2 Co 1:8-9 NIV
And we read in Hebrews 12 about how God disciplines us for
our good in order that we may share in his holiness (Heb 12:1-11). It says in
v. 11:
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
So, when we go through trials and tribulations, they most likely
are going to be painful, and they may involve a time of grief and sorrow, but
they serve a good purpose in us.
God is making us holy, and he is conforming us to his
likeness, and to his righteousness. He is teaching us to rely on him and not on
ourselves. And he is developing within us perseverance so that we may become
mature and complete in him. And for that we can be joyful.
James 1:12 NIV
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Many of us have been going through a time of testing this
past year. Our faith in our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ has been put to
the test. For some of us, the trials have been minimal, while others have
undergone much more severe testing. But whether big or small, a trial is still
a trial. And it tests our faith.
Many of us have come to realize that there is a diabolical plot
at work here to overtake us as the people of nations on the earth and as
Christians who are walking in obedience to our Lord and in daily fellowship
with him. We understand that prophecy of Scripture is being fulfilled before
our eyes.
We have watched as news stories have unfolded and then as
other news stories appear to debunk the original stories and to show how what
we thought was real is really fake. And this appears to be a continual theme of
giving out news stories only to have others prove (or attempt to prove) that
the official narrative is not accurate or that it is a planned falsehood.
And so, the people are tossed back and forth between what
they think is truth only to have that “truth” be brought into question, and
then to have to wonder if there is anything that is “real” anymore, for so much
can be and is being faked. But the Bible said this would take place, so this
should not surprise us that this is where we are (See Rev 2-3; Rev 12-18).
There are still many people, though, who believe everything
they see, read, or hear if it comes from a particular person, or a precise
political party, or a specific news source, or from a certain church
denomination or pastor, etc. And they buy into the narrative that anything that
contradicts the official narrative is false (fake news, conspiracy theories),
and thus not to be trusted.
But for believers in Jesus, we are not to put our trust in
human beings. We should especially not give our undying loyalty and devotion
and trust to any human being, no matter who he/she is. It doesn’t matter what
their platform is, or who they say they are, or what they say they have done
for us. Humans are not to have our absolute trust and loyalty.
Why do you think that Scripture teaches us so much to be
wise, discerning, mature, sensible and to not put our trust in humans, and that
we are to test every spirit to see if it is of God? And we are to test those
who call themselves prophets, evangelists, preachers, or leaders in the
government, too? It is because humans will lie to us and deceive us.
So, don’t take everything you read, hear, or think you see
at face value. Don’t assume it is real just because it looks real. Anything can
be faked. Hollywood does it all the time. Anything can be made to look real. Anything
can be staged. And it can be made to look as though it is happening one place
where it might be somewhere else altogether.
I am not saying that everything is a lie, but that we live
in a time of great deception so we should not take anything at face value and
assume it is real just because it looks real. We need to step back from these
seemingly crisis situations, some of which may be real or partially real, and
we need to pray and ask the Lord to help us to discern reality from fantasy.
I believe more trials are on the way, and that fakery may be
used to produce these trials. On our end, the trials will be real, because we
will reap the results of them. Even if the circumstances leading up to our
trials are faked, they can use their fake scenarios to put all kinds of burdens
and restrictions on our lives. They do it all the time, I believe.
So, part of standing the test of our trials is also praying
and asking the Lord for discernment and wisdom to understand what is really
going on. And then ask him how we are to respond to our difficult
circumstances. And then we need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in
doing what our Lord says.
I believe, too, that the Lord is allowing these trials in
our lives because many Christians have wandered off from their pure devotion to
the Lord to follow man and the flesh, and because there are so many false
professions of faith in Jesus Christ and thus so many “Christians” who are
living no differently than those who make no profession of faith in Jesus
Christ.
And so, he is disciplining his church for their good to
bring them back to him and to make them holy and to continue to make holy those
who are already walking in faithfulness to him before he returns. He is making
his bride ready for her wedding to her husband when our salvation will be
complete.
So, while we still have the breath of life and time on this
earth, we need to be making the most of it for the glory of God. We need to be
loving one another with his love, and we need to be discerning of all evil so
that we can reject the evil and cling only to the good. And, instead of
Christians fighting among themselves, we all need to unite with the mind of Christ
and live in harmony with one another, for the days are short.
In
Harmony
An
Original Work / September 2, 2012
Based
off Ro. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-17
Love each other truly.
Cling to what is good.
Hate all that is evil.
Never lack in zeal.
Serve the Lord with fervor.
Joyful in hope be;
Patient in affliction;
Praying faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.
Share with all God’s people
Who are found in need.
Do not be conceited.
Sympathetic be.
Love, and show compassion
In humility.
Keep your tongue from evil.
Peaceful you must be.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.
God sees who are righteous;
Listens to their prayers.
But He’s against evil –
Is His to avenge.
Do not fear what they fear.
Suffer patiently.
In your hearts, make Christ Lord.
Serve Him faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.
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