All Entries Tagged With: "trials"

James 1:2

Welcome to Online Bible Studies

Today’s Bible verse is
James 1:2 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

Let’s read the verse in context:
James 1:2-12 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 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 man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Today’s Quiet Time with God

Today’s verse is very challenging. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” How are we supposed to consider facing trials of many kinds as joy? It has to do with perspective. We have this underlying idea that life should be easy. It is one of the false beliefs that most of us hang on to. Life should be easy; everything should work out the way I want it to. The truth is that life is difficult. Instead of embracing the truth that life is difficult, we choose to complain about our problems, as if they represent some unique kind of affliction that is only visited upon us or our families. Life is difficult. We live in a fallen world on a broken planet. Life in a fallen world presents us with a series of problems. Sometimes we think that experiencing problems means we are being punished. God isn’t happy with us and therefore He is causing us problems. He isn’t. He uses problems but He isn’t causing them. Problems come from living in a fallen world, from being an imperfect human being and living with other imperfect human beings, and sometimes from a very real enemy. Here is the amazing thing, once you reject the false belief that life should be easy, and accept the truth that life is difficult, then, life is no longer difficult. Because you are no longer struggling against the false belief, the reality that life is difficult isn’t such a huge issue. Take some time today to ask God to help you get His perspective, you will be blessed as you do!

Check out Fifteen Minutes With God

Check out our latest feature on God’s Daytimer, Fifteen Minutes With God. This is an opportunity for you to spend fifteen minutes with God by following the Lord’s Prayer as a model. Click here to go to the Fifteen Minutes With God page. This will help you to develop a consistent daily prayer time.

Check out Christian World News

As you end your quiet time don’t forget to check out what’s happening in the world. Click here to go to the Christian World News stories page. This will help you to direct your prayers more effectively.

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Come back tomorrow for another edition of Online Bible Studies. You should also sign up for either the Free RSS subscription or if you aren’t familiar with RSS, sign up for the free email subscription. That way whenever a new Bible Study is posted you will be notified. You can sign up at the top right of the page.

Check out the Christian Book Club

The Christian Book Club is a great site where you can get involved in an online Christian Book Club. A new book and discussion are started the 1st of every month. Come and join us for this month’s book. Click here to go to the Christian Book Club site.

Check out Internet Pastor Online

Internet Pastor Online is an interesting site where you can find answers to questions about the Bible and some advice for Christian living.

Check out Church Growth Consulting

Church Growth Consulting is a site for Pastors and Ministry Leaders about ways to advance the Kingdom of God and help to grow the Church.

Check out My Newbie Blog

If you would like to learn how to create a blog of your own then this would be a good site for you.

James 1:2

Welcome to Online Bible Studies

Today’s Bible verse is
James 1:2 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

Let’s read the verse in context:
James 1:2-18 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 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 man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Today’s Quiet Time with God

I have always thought today’s verse was extremely interesting. “Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds”. Really? Pure joy? I would have to say that pure joy is not my initial reaction to trials. The verse only begins to make sense in context. We can embrace trials because the testing of our faith develops perseverance. As we persevere we grow, mature, and become complete. This developing maturity allows us to seek God for wisdom with a faith that knows that He will give it to us. This developing maturity allows us to know that God will always provide a way of escape when we are tempted. I love the promise in Romans 8:28:

Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Take some time today to thank God for His amazing love for us. You will be blessed as you do!

Check out Fifteen Minutes With God

Check out our latest feature on God’s Daytimer, Fifteen Minutes With God. This is an opportunity for you to spend fifteen minutes with God by following the Lord’s Prayer as a model. Click here to go to the Fifteen Minutes With God page. This will help you to develop a consistent daily prayer time.

Check out Christian World News

As you end your quiet time don’t forget to check out what’s happening in the world. Click here to go to the Christian World News stories page. This will help you to direct your prayers more effectively.

Get a Free Subscription to God’s Daytimer

Come back tomorrow for another edition of Online Bible Studies. You should also sign up for either the Free RSS subscription or if you aren’t familiar with RSS, sign up for the free email subscription. That way whenever a new Bible Study is posted you will be notified. You can sign up at the top right of the page.

Check out the Christian Book Club

The Christian Book Club is a great site where you can get involved in an online Christian Book Club. A new book and discussion are started the 1st of every month. Come and join us for this month’s book. Click here to go to the Christian Book Club site.

Check out Internet Pastor Online

Internet Pastor Online is an interesting site where you can find answers to questions about the Bible and some advice for Christian living.

Check out Church Growth Consulting

Church Growth Consulting is a site for Pastors and Ministry Leaders about ways to advance the Kingdom of God and help to grow the Church.

Check out My Newbie Blog

If you would like to learn how to create a blog of your own then this would be a good site for you.

James 1:2-4

Welcome to Online Bible Studies

Today’s Bible verse is:
James 1:2-4 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Let’s read the verse in context:
James 1:2-12 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 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 man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Today’s Quiet Time with God

Todays’ verse is what I sometimes call a “yeah right” verse. Seriously, “consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds”? My normal first reaction in facing trials of many kinds is not considering it pure joy. I consider it a lot of other things first. But then I begin to realize, that God is able to do amazing things with the trials in my life. He doesn’t cause them, but He uses them for good. In church the other day I talked about the old TV show MacGyver. I talked about how MacGyver could take everyday things and turn them into something useful. A sock, a rock, and dental floss = catapult. A packet of ketchup, mustard and pickle juice = super glue. You get the idea. He could make something useful out of regular things. What I told everybody at church was this, “God is better than MacGyver”. God can take all of our problem and use them for good. This verse tells us that He uses them to help us to grow and mature so that we will be complete. Our character is the primary concern with God. We are generally more concerned about our comfort, but with God it’s character. In the trials that you are going through right now, take heart, for God will use them to help you to grow. He is so much better that MacGyver. Spend a few moments now thinking about all the times that God has seen you through. You will be blessed as you do!

Check out Christian World News

As you end your quiet time don’t forget to check out what’s happening in the world. Click here to go to the Christian World News stories page. This will help you to direct your prayers more effectively.

Get a Free Subscription to God’s Daytimer

Come back tomorrow for another edition of Online Bible Studies. You should also sign up for either the Free RSS subscription or if you aren’t familiar with RSS, sign up for the free email subscription. That way whenever a new Bible Study is posted you will be notified. You can sign up at the top right of the page.

Check out the Christian Book Club

The Christian Book Club is a great site where you can get involved in an online Christian Book Club. A new book and discussion are started the 1st of every month. Come and join us for this month’s book. Click here to go to the Christian Book Club site.

Check out Internet Pastor Online

Internet Pastor Online is an interesting site where you can find answers to questions about the Bible and some advice for Christian living.

Check out Church Growth Consulting

Church Growth Consulting is a site for Pastors and Ministry Leaders about ways to advance the Kingdom of God and help to grow the Church.

Check out My Newbie Blog

If you would like to learn how to create a blog of your own then this would be a good site for you.