21st. July. 2020. Daily Devotion
James 1:2-8
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
When we think of trials in our lives, we tend to focus on the large life changing challenges which can sometimes affect us. But it is not necessarily those which mature us most in our faith. I found this comment on today’s reading helpful:
The passage speaks of developing “patience,” but the word is also translated as “endurance” or “perseverance.” Our faith is tested every day in countless ways. We judge others automatically by some little bit in our brain, something about the way they look or how they act. We get angry and curse other drivers in traffic or people waiting in line at the post office or bank. We are given opportunities to witness to our faith and let them pass.
Often, we don’t know what to do. We have been promised, however, that if we have steady faith, we can ask God for wisdom and He will give it to us. Most of us handle situations better if we have time to pray and meditate about them, setting aside emotional or intellectual turmoil and letting God’s wisdom guide us. And if our faith is steady, God will supply wisdom.
James seems to anticipate some long-term growth as we mature. But how many older people do you know, who have actually persisted in faith through various trials that their faith has become complete? So often, I hear older people complain about the young, because they “do not want to listen,” when it is the speaker who lacks (or has lost) the facility of listening to others! So, let us resolve to become more mature spiritually, as we become more mature in years.
~ Mason Barge
Prayer for the Morning
Heavenly Lord, you have brought me to the beginning of a new day. As the world is renewed fresh and clean, so I ask you to renew my heart with your strength and purpose. Forgive me the errors of yesterday and bless me to walk closer in your way today. This is the day I begin my life anew; shine through me so that every person I meet may feel your presence in my soul. Take my hand, precious Lord, for I cannot make it by myself.
Almighty God, thank you for the work my hand may find this day. May I find gladness in all its toil and difficulty, its pleasure and success, and even in its failure and sorrow. I would look always away from myself, and behold the glory and the need of the world, that I may have the will and the strength to bring the gift of gladness to others; that with them I stand to bear the burden and heat of the day and offer you my work, as well as I may accomplish it, as praise. Through Christ I pray and live, Amen
