Sunday, June 4, 2006
James 1:2-8
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (ESV)
by Victoria Shephard
Do we consider trials as “joy”? I know I have a hard time rejoicing when I am suffering. Yet here God says that we should rejoice, that trials are good for our spiritual health because they produce endurance (v. 3), helping us to withstand every trial that comes after. Have there been times in your life when you’ve questioned your faith? What was the final result? For me, the result has always been a stronger faith. In fact, I’ve grown more in these “down” times than the easy times when life is going well.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
