North Queensferry Church

4th. July. 2020. Daily Devotion

Some more wisdom from James.

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.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.

10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation – since they will pass away like a wildflower.

11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. James 1:2-11

This 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 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.

Prayer for a Spirit of Prayer

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh Lord. Let your Holy Spirit guide me in my prayer and in thought and grant me the grace to listen and hear your Word. Soften my heart, that I may be directed by your truth, and not the devices of my body and mind. In the name of Christ, I ask this, Amen.

Father, thank you for bringing me into your family. May I never disappoint you in the way I treat others. Teach me to show love, patience, and acceptance to all who come to me; let me show peace of soul and firm conviction that your will governs all. And I pray that others may see in me the qualities of character that can only be attributed to your presence in my life. Make my life a window for your light to shine through and a mirror to reflect your love to all I meet. To you be the glory and the honour, forever and ever, through Jesus my Lord. Amen.

God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to all
who wait or work in uncertainty.

Bring hope that you will make them the equal
of whatever lies ahead.

Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.

Each new day
we celebrate what it is to be free –
to live our lives in fullness.
This is the eternal gift of God.

But freedom and fullness live in the simple
⁃ in each breath we take
⁃ in knowing we have a roof over our heads
⁃ in the love of family and community
⁃ all the things we might usually take for granted…

Freedom also invites the gift of generosity
⁃ to continue to give where we can
⁃ to support one another as we are able and go the extra mile
⁃ to offer a welcome smile and forget the more formal handshake of yesterday
⁃ to be what we have always been called to be – human.

This is not a Church crisis, a worship crisis, nor a financial crisis
⁃ this is about the gift of life, which is for all, irrespective of birth, status or circumstances.

As we remember the most simple of these things, may we be inspired to renew calm, peace and hope in every new day.

For in the midst of all storms a Presence is found, and freedom in Christ remains.

Amen.