Good morning all!
Father, we know that we can always count on You. Count on You for guidance, for understanding, for mercy and most of all Your love. We pray Lord, whatever we face we know You are always with us and we should can count each day as a blessing. I pray we express Your goodness with Your word on our mind, praise on our lips and joy in our heart, Amen. Have you ever heard the expression, some days you get the bear and some days the bear gets you? You can either count the heartache or count the joy? What will you count?
James 1
Jas 1:1 KJV – James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James true disciple that serves God and Christ, speaks to all 12 tribes that are scattered everywhere…greetings.
Jas 1:2 KJV – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
My brothers, you’re going to face tough times in life and when you do count it ALL joy.
Jas 1:3 KJV – Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Because we know the trials we face is to try our faith so live through it with patience.
Jas 1:4 KJV – But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
And when you are patient through the trial it will produce a complete work in you, you will be complete and whole in Christ our only true desire and want nothing else.
Jas 1:5 KJV – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
And when you’re unsure about life circumstances and you have to do is ask God, He responds to ALL that seek Him, and will NOT reject anyone; and He will give you revelation.
Bottom line
You know why we don’t call everything joy that we face in life? Cuz we don’t FEEL like it! Feelings are usually based on our circumstances, joy is based on a faith filled life. We face tough times and don’t like the way we FEEL so we usually think God failed us, that’s why we don’t ask Him for help and try to resolve the issue without Him…good luck with that. Verse one tells me the problem with the 12 tribes…they were scattered. Why were they scattered? Psa 92:9 KJV – For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. Who are the workers of iniquity? Well, they don’t serve God instead they serve the law, that’s what makes them a worker instead of a servant. You know the difference between a worker and a servant? A worker expects payment and the servant serves because he loves. Are you scattered? Are you a worker?
Rom 7:6 KJV – But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. The worker thinks they have to work to receive their forgiveness and so in turn when they have been offended you have to work to receive forgiveness…worker of iniquity. Remember, James is speaking to the scattered…he’s also the halfbrother of Jesus Christ. Now, where do you think he might have gotten the idea that they were scattered?
Mat 26:31 NLT – On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ You know how we desert Jesus? We’re just like Peter, we deny Him. Oh, not by our words and not in church attendance…no, no, no…we go to church and we tell the world we’re a Christian. We deny Jesus Christ as Lord and savior of our life because we don’t live in the newness of spirit, we’re just like the worker of iniquity and require the world to pay for their sin. And now we have become scattered and we’re just like everyone living life according to what we think is right, according to what they feel is right. Is that what God expects?
Psa 119:133 KJV – Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Faith is more than a feeling, it’s a commitment to living our life according to scripture regardless of what we face or what we feel…yeah, we count ALL things joy! Newsflash, God told you to have patience for a reason…can you handle a wrong in your life for more than 5 seconds before you rip someone’s head off or God forbid, assume to worse of someone…just me? So how does the word of God order our steps today?
1Co 13:4 KJV – Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Oh boy, do you see that this morning church? Love suffers quickly? Love suffers briefly? Love suffers LONG!!! How long? Well God does dwell in eternity so I’m going with His definition on this one. Love doesn’t quit, it doesn’t give up, it’s not nasty, it doesn’t look to exalt its own feelings and it shows no pride because it loves…it just loves and expects nothing in return. How many times have the men and women in the bible gone through trials? All of them including Jesus Christ Himself, nobody gets a pass on this one. And how did they overcome? Jesus overcame everyone one of His trials by declaring the word of God in His life, He wasn’t moved, deterred or thrown of course. He overcame by one thing and one thing only…
Luk 4:4 KJV – And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. You want joy in all you face? God’s word and nothing else, anything else is a cheap substitute.
Point to Ponder
How do overcome the trial? Rev 3:10 NIV – Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. Do you inhabit the earth? Then you might want to keep His commands and endure what you face with patience and while you’re at it…smile and bring the world some joy!
Let’s count it all joy, In Him Phil
Faith – Family – Friends
