Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

TUESDAY MARCH 17


UNWELCOME VISITORS

READ:
James 1:2-3
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My brethren, count
it all joy when you
fall into various
trials, knowing
that the testing of
your faith produces
patience.
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Recently my wife, Marlene, and I received a panicky phone call from our son and his wife. The night before, they had found two bats in their house. I know bats are an important part of the ecosystem, but they are not my favorite among God's creatures, especially when they are flying around inside.

Yet Marlene and I were thankful we could go over to our kids' house and help. We helped them to plug the holes that might have been used by these unwelcome visitors to enter their house.

Another unwelcome visitor that often intrudes into our lives is suffering. When trials come, we can easily panic or lose heart. But these difficult circumstances can become the instruments our loving heavenly Father uses to make us more like Christ. That's why James wrote, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work" (JAMES 5:1:2-4).

We are not expected to enjoy trials or to celebrate suffering. But when these unwelcome visitors arrive, we can look for God's hand in them and trust that He can use them to make us more like His Son.

Thank You, Father, that You give to us each day what You know is best.
We're thankful that we can trust Your heart, which is kind beyond all measure.
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Trials may visit us, but our God is always with us.

*************************Today's Bible Reading __ James 1:2-12*************************
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.

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 fades away in
his pursuits.

17 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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The epistle of James, one of the earliest New
Testament writings (AD 46-47), was believed to be written by James,
a half-brother of Jesus (MATT 1355). James didn't believe Jesus was
the Messiah until Jesus appeared to him after His resurrection
JOHN 7:5; 1 COR 15:7). Eventually becoming a key leader of the church
in Jerusalem (GAL 2:9), James wrote this letter to encourage Jewish
Christians dispersed by persecution and undergoing severe
hardships to persevere and remain steadfast in the Lord (V. 12).