In Robert J. Morgan's book, 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart, he would have us follow these verses up with next week's verse being James 1:5. It is another great verse, but I feel we need to continue in our study of joy and will substitute another verse. But....I do love what Morgan says about the linkage between James 1:3 and James 1:5 (which is exactly where we are!)...
I say, "no matter how good or how bad" because sometimes when things are going so very well, we have a tendency to become apprehensive about what might be around the corner. We've lived long enough to realize that good times don't last forever here on planet earth, so anxiety can set in about what may lie ahead. But we have no cause for anxiousness when we trust in our God for His provision and His care.
I also love the phrase that Morgan included above, "He not only redeems our souls from sin but our circumstances from despair." We always hear that while God forgives, He does not always lift the consequence of our sin, that there are results that have to be reckoned with. But He redeems those circumstances from despair when we can see His hand working through those consequences to mold us into a more Christ-like being, learning from the consequences and circumstances that we are going through, and knowing that "next time" we will not fall for the same ploy of Satan to pull us off God's designed path for our lives.
We have cause for joy because we have a God who loves us through thick and thin. He uses our mistakes to grow us when we lay them at His feet and ask for His forgiveness. He brings to us His wisdom when we ask for it. For that's what James 1:2, 3 & 4 lead us to...James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him."
James tells us that when we bring our brokenness and our ignorance to God and ask Him, "What do I do now?", He is ready to answer us with His absolute wisdom, without criticizing, (don't you love that!), ready to set our feet on the solid ground of His path for us. Working our way through the circumstances and consequences of wherever our path of error has taken us, we know that He is walking right beside us, encouraging us to stay strong and to endure, and to keep walking home.
This verse is a link in the chain connecting our worries (v.3) with God's wisdom (v.5). When facing trials of various kinds, we shouldn't view them as bad luck or as random misfortunes. They may be consequences of regrettable decisions or unavoidable debacles. They may appear as tragic accidents or be sent by Satan. But there is a Savior who embraced all our struggles while stretched on the crossbar of Calvary. He not only redeems our souls from sin but our circumstances from despair. He promises to wrest everything into conformity to His will and turn all things for good in our lives.Now those words cause me to have great joy!! When I can look at my current situation, no matter how good or how bad, and know that no matter what comes, God is on my side working things together for my good, then I have no reason for discouragement.
I say, "no matter how good or how bad" because sometimes when things are going so very well, we have a tendency to become apprehensive about what might be around the corner. We've lived long enough to realize that good times don't last forever here on planet earth, so anxiety can set in about what may lie ahead. But we have no cause for anxiousness when we trust in our God for His provision and His care.
I also love the phrase that Morgan included above, "He not only redeems our souls from sin but our circumstances from despair." We always hear that while God forgives, He does not always lift the consequence of our sin, that there are results that have to be reckoned with. But He redeems those circumstances from despair when we can see His hand working through those consequences to mold us into a more Christ-like being, learning from the consequences and circumstances that we are going through, and knowing that "next time" we will not fall for the same ploy of Satan to pull us off God's designed path for our lives.
We have cause for joy because we have a God who loves us through thick and thin. He uses our mistakes to grow us when we lay them at His feet and ask for His forgiveness. He brings to us His wisdom when we ask for it. For that's what James 1:2, 3 & 4 lead us to...James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him."
James tells us that when we bring our brokenness and our ignorance to God and ask Him, "What do I do now?", He is ready to answer us with His absolute wisdom, without criticizing, (don't you love that!), ready to set our feet on the solid ground of His path for us. Working our way through the circumstances and consequences of wherever our path of error has taken us, we know that He is walking right beside us, encouraging us to stay strong and to endure, and to keep walking home.
1 comment:
Our life is our walk home to Christ Jesus. He walks along side us helping us to lead lives of Christian love and endurance. It is a long and winding road home. I am thankful for my friend, Jesus Christ, my Lord.
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