Today in God's Word—July 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
July 8, James 1
This little scene has probably played out in all our lives a few times. Maybe you’ve lived long enough to have appeared in both roles.
Child: I feel terrible.
Parent: Take this medicine. It will make you feel
better.
Child: I don’t want to take the medicine. It tastes awful.
Parent: I know, but it’s good for you. Here we go.
Child: No! I don’t like it.
Parent: I know you don’t want it, but it will help you. Open wide. Go on. Swallow it. That’s good. You’ll feel better soon.
Some things that are good for us or serve a good purpose are not always pleasant. Most of us don’t enjoy taking medicine. Many of us don’t enjoy working out, eating our leafy green vegetables or balancing the checkbook. But we know such things are good for us.
It’s not always easy to find joy in trials. When we find ourselves in difficult or painful circumstances, joy may not be the first emotion that courses through our minds and hearts. Temptations and tests bring additional stress to life, and it’s hard to rejoice under pressure. But we’re counseled in this portion to count it all joy when we meet various kinds of trials.
Knowing the reason why or appreciating the result that comes from enduring a trial helps us discover the joy in it. James said the trials we encounter in life produce steadfastness and maturity in us, and ultimately lead to a crown of life from the Lord. Like a patient who wants to get better, we find the necessary process unpleasant but not unbearable, because we want the promised results.
When trials come wrapped as temptations, it’s important to know the source and methodology behind the temptation. It’s good to know God is not the one who’s putting temptations in our
path. He permits it and can bring good out of it, but he is not the author of the temptation. We’re enticed to do wrong by opportunities that appeal to desires within us. When we take the bait, we sin. Sin leads to death. God explains the technique so we can short-circuit the process. We may need to develop wholesome, godly desires. We may have to avoid situations where the opportunity to do wrong would arise.
Our loving Father gives us every good thing we have. He teaches us what we need to know to overcome temptation, strengthens us to resist it, and loves us so much that he’s still willing to forgive us when we fall for it. Because God wants what is best for us, he wants us to do what he says. The blessing comes from doing what God says. Will we obey God who wants to bless and save us, or Satan who wants to kill and destroy us? Even when it’s not easy to do the right thing, it’s still best for us to do it. Knowing that helps us find the joy.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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