2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
People of faith sometimes think it's strange that they have problems and others perhaps do not. The Bible gives enough evidence that it doesn't need to seem so strange. This questioning comes up often enough in the Psalms (10:1), and then there's the story of Job.
James has some advice that turns it all around: "Count it all joy." How is that possible? For anyone who's been camping, you might have a few stories to tell of various disasters that not only can you laugh about now, but they were also kind of funny at the time! Or in a more serious light, think of Jesus at the Cross (Heb. 12:2), with the "joy" set before Him. For us, pain is pain, but behind every cloud...
So what is it that tries your faith? There are many problems we can think of involving children, sickness, finances, various failures. Sometimes just life in general. All are real problems, but our faith can endure and our joy can be real. "And 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).
James declares in verse 3 that the trial of faith results in patience, which, as we're involved in these real life issues, can indeed "have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (1:4). That's a good result, progress on the way. Faith doesn't need to waver (1:6); we can hang on, and become stronger in our faith. That's really the whole point!
God sustains us through prayer (Phil. 4:6), the word (Rom. 10:17), and by His care (1 Pt. 5:7), just to name a few of the many ways. And in this chapter of James (1:5), God offers wisdom to those who ask it of Him.
So, your faith is on trial. Don't despair! Recognize it, look to God, handle things as best as you can in a spiritual way, and let your faith help you endure everything. It's helpful now and it will be stronger next time.
Showing posts with label testing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label testing. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Counting the Cost (Luke 14:25-35)
1916
By G. H. Morrison
The fact is, that in all the highest courage there is the element of quiet calculation. The truest heroism always counts the cost. The bravery of passions is not a shining virtue. I think that any ordinary man could storm a rampart, if he were a soldier. They tell us there is a wild forgetfulness of self in that last rush that would fire the blood and thrill the most timid. The test of courage is the long night march, under the fire of invisible guns; it is the sentry duty in the darkness, when the shadows and silence might shatter the strongest nerve; I think that the man that deliberately faces that, who goes through it quietly because it is his duty is just as worthy of the Victoria Cross as the man who has won it in some more splendid moment.
Do not forget that when Jesus says, "Count the Cost," he is really sounding the note of the heroic. He does not want any one on false pretenses. He will not issue any lying prospectus. He comes to you and says, You are a thinking man, with powers that will take eternity to ripen, look life in the face. Look death in the face. Sum it all up, measure the value of things. And if you do that quietly and earnestly, with sincere prayer to God to enlighten you, my claims, Christ means, shall tower above all others.
I have been struck too, in studying the Scriptures, to note how the great men there learned how to count the cost. They were not suddenly dragged into the service. There was no unthinking and unreasoning excitement. God gave to every one of them a time of silence before their high endeavor. It was as if He had laid down His hand upon them and said, "My child, go apart for a little, and count the cost." Moses was for forty days alone. Paul, touched by the finger of Lord whom he had persecuted, took counsel of no flesh, but departed into the loneliness of Arabia. Moses, Elijah, Paul — yes, even Simon Peter going out into the night — were learning the deep lesson of our parable.
And whenever I read of the temptations of Jesus and how the spirit of God drove him apart, and how Satan came and showed him all the kingdoms, and taught him a less costly way to sovereignty than by the sweat of Gethsemane and the water and the blood of Calvary — whenever I read that and recall how he stood fast, I feel that our Savior has counted the cost himself. We shall never understand the calm persistence of the glorious company of martyrs and of saints until we go back to that quiet hour at the beginning when they faced every difficulty, weighed every cross, forecast the future, looked at life whole, and then, having counted the cost, like reasonable men, took up their stand upon the side of God. — Western Recorder.
By G. H. Morrison
The fact is, that in all the highest courage there is the element of quiet calculation. The truest heroism always counts the cost. The bravery of passions is not a shining virtue. I think that any ordinary man could storm a rampart, if he were a soldier. They tell us there is a wild forgetfulness of self in that last rush that would fire the blood and thrill the most timid. The test of courage is the long night march, under the fire of invisible guns; it is the sentry duty in the darkness, when the shadows and silence might shatter the strongest nerve; I think that the man that deliberately faces that, who goes through it quietly because it is his duty is just as worthy of the Victoria Cross as the man who has won it in some more splendid moment.
Do not forget that when Jesus says, "Count the Cost," he is really sounding the note of the heroic. He does not want any one on false pretenses. He will not issue any lying prospectus. He comes to you and says, You are a thinking man, with powers that will take eternity to ripen, look life in the face. Look death in the face. Sum it all up, measure the value of things. And if you do that quietly and earnestly, with sincere prayer to God to enlighten you, my claims, Christ means, shall tower above all others.
I have been struck too, in studying the Scriptures, to note how the great men there learned how to count the cost. They were not suddenly dragged into the service. There was no unthinking and unreasoning excitement. God gave to every one of them a time of silence before their high endeavor. It was as if He had laid down His hand upon them and said, "My child, go apart for a little, and count the cost." Moses was for forty days alone. Paul, touched by the finger of Lord whom he had persecuted, took counsel of no flesh, but departed into the loneliness of Arabia. Moses, Elijah, Paul — yes, even Simon Peter going out into the night — were learning the deep lesson of our parable.
And whenever I read of the temptations of Jesus and how the spirit of God drove him apart, and how Satan came and showed him all the kingdoms, and taught him a less costly way to sovereignty than by the sweat of Gethsemane and the water and the blood of Calvary — whenever I read that and recall how he stood fast, I feel that our Savior has counted the cost himself. We shall never understand the calm persistence of the glorious company of martyrs and of saints until we go back to that quiet hour at the beginning when they faced every difficulty, weighed every cross, forecast the future, looked at life whole, and then, having counted the cost, like reasonable men, took up their stand upon the side of God. — Western Recorder.
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