“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.” – James 1:12
How do you feel when you face trials and tribulations?
When was the last time you said,
“Whoo hoo! Looks like I’m going to be facing some trials today!!”
or
“Man, that was hard, but I can’t wait for the next time I struggle through life!”
None of us like going through difficult times, but even though they are…well…difficult, we are blessed to know that we do not face them alone and they are not the last word.
In Christ, we have the promise not only of eternal life with God but an abundant life here on earth. That abundant life doesn’t mean there won’t be struggles. In fact, those struggles are part of the abundant life. They are for our good.
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” – Romans 5:3-5
In the midst of those struggles, God is with us.
He is strengthening us, drawing us to Him, helping us to persevere and keep the faith, and He is causing us to grow in the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23
Most importantly, we can know that no matter how difficult it gets, we know that Christ has the ultimate victory.
What a great blessing!!
Heavenly Father,
There are times in life that are very hard. Please be with me in those times and at all times. Strengthen me and help me to look to You and trust that You will provide what I need when I need it. Forgive me for those times when I didn’t trust You were there for me.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14
Has your day or your plans ever seemed to start to fall apart before they begin?
What do you do?
Check out this amazing video:
The video above is amazing. Aaron Gwin is a mountain biker in a competition and what you might think would be one of the worst things that could happen to him, he breaks the chain of his bike right out of the gate.
That can happen to us.
Right as we set off towards a great goal, something goes wrong and it seems everything is ruined.
In Philippians 3, Paul is talking about the righteousness and the hope that we have in Christ; how our righteousness comes from faith in Christ, not from our “religious works”. He is looking ahead to the resurrection he will have in Christ because of being made perfectly righteous through faith in Christ.
Yet, he also realizes that he isn’t perfect.
He sins. Indeed the sins of Paul’s past (persecuting the church) are great. However, he presses onward. He forgets what’s in his past, both the sin and even the “great works” he has done, and clings to faith in Christ no matter what, knowing the prize (eternal life) that lays ahead is worth it.
As we live our lives of faith, we will face those times when we falter and even fall.
We start off our day saying,
“God I’m going to live this day for you,”
and it seems just after those words come out of our mouths, something goes wrong. Maybe it’s something that happens to you (car breaks down, receive bad news, etc.) or something you do wrong and all a sudden the chain is off the bike. What do you do? Is the day ruined?
Press Onward The chain may have come off, but like Aaron in the video or Paul in our Bible passage, you press on in faith; not because of what you can do, but because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Keep pressing on. For Aaron Gwin, his victory was unsure. For you, however, Christ has already won and your victory in His is secure!
Heavenly Father,
I want to serve You, but things always seem to go wrong. Whether it’s bad things happening to me or even my own sin, the chain always seems to fall off. Help me to remember that all my peddling isn’t what will win the race in the end, but rather what You have done on the cross. Forgive me for my sins and help me press on trusting not in my own works, but in You.
“But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,
“Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” – Hebrews 10:32-39
What are you willing to tolerate for your faith?
In our passage for today, the writer of Hebrews is commending, warning, and encouraging the church all at the same time.
Well Done – The church is commended for enduring hardship and suffering.
Be Ware – The church is warned not to shrink back and give up their faith in the face of further hardship and pressure.
Have Confidence – The church is encouraged that Christ will return and they will endure in the faith and be preserved.
Pressure and Suffering Ahead For a long time, Christians have enjoyed freedom and majority status in the U.S. Even people who weren’t particularly spiritual would join a church and speak about God because it was expected. Those days are gone.
Whether we will ever have days like that again in America is unknown; but if the current trend continues, we will face increased pressure to give up our faith or at least be quiet about it. We will probably also have to endure suffering.
We don’t like to hear it, but we should not hide from the truth.
Do Not Shrink Back The message from Hebrews is becoming more and more relevant to our lives with each passing year. Already, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction and it is only increasing.
Do not give up.
Pray, stay in the Word, and continue to gather with each other for both your sake the sake of those around you. Our Lord is faithful. He has already won the victory and He will return. Our hope is not in the things of this world. By the power of Christ, we can endure. We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Don’t shrink away, lean into Jesus.
If that time of suffering comes, remember Christ’s promises and join in Paul in saying,
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
and
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:35-39
Heavenly Father,
The life You have given me through faith is greater than anything this world can offer and worth any suffering I may face. Be with me. Keep me in the faith. Make me ever bolder in that faith. When the pressure mounts to give up my faith, draw me even closer to You that I may endure.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2
Have you ever run an endurance race?
If you’ve ever run an endurance race, you know that it is a challenging endeavor. It takes training, proper equipment, encouragement, and mental focus to run well.
The life of a Christian is compared to an endurance race several times in the Bible. The endurance referred to is keeping the faith. Faith is a gift and salvation is assured for all who have faith. So, we are warned not to give up the faith and walk away from the salvation that is ours. There will be struggles and temptations along the way, thus it’s a spiritual endurance race.
Much like a physical endurance race, there are certain things that can help us with our spiritual endurance race which God has provided:
Encouragement – Not only do we have our brothers and sisters in the church, but a history’s worth of witnesses to the goodness and salvation of God.
Untangle – It’s hard to run with strings and cords wrapped around to trip us. God can free us from being entangled in sin. Prayer, confession, Scripture, and help from others in the church are very helpful.
Unburden – Can you imagine running with a 100 lb weight tied to you? Jesus has cut the burden of the Law and works righteousness so that we can run freely in grace.
Focus – Christ gives us a new mind to think of the things of God rather than those of the world. He also provides many things to help keep you focused, like prayer, Scripture, worship, etc.
Look to the Goal – Distractions and pain will come. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He created (authored) your faith and He will perfect it to the end.
So, lace up your running shoes. It’s a good race and a great prize for finishing. Jesus will run it with and give you the strength to finish. I’ll see you on the race track…and at the finish line.
Heavenly Father,
It is by Your grace that I have been entered into this race of faith and it is by Your grace that I will finish it. Encourage me, free me from sin, give me the rest of grace, and help me to always stay focused on You, the author and perfector of my faith. Keep me in the faith until I cross that finish line.
“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,” – Philippians 1:29
When you think of the blessings of God, what do you think of?
This is a tough verse, today, isn’t it? Do you ever really think of suffering as a blessing?
If I were to have the choice, I would always select the blessings that feel good. I’d pass by the suffering options. Yet, we are blessed to not only believe but participate in Christ’s suffering. Let’s take a look at James 1:2-3.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.“
That’s pretty hard. When everything is going wrong or I’m being mistreated, joy usually isn’t the first thing I think of. Sometimes I find it helpful to imagine Jesus preparing to become incarnate, thinking of having to live for 30 years in our sinful mess, be rejected by His own creation, and then go through unimaginable pain and suffering.
Yet, Hebrews 12:2 tells us that He thought about the joy that was to come, the salvation of mankind and redemption of all creation, and set His face towards the cross. He endured the suffering knowing the joy that was to come.
Like the “suffering” of physical therapy or intense exercise, suffering and testing produce endurance and perseverance. It’s good for us. Often, it also turns out to be good for others who see us willing to suffer for Christ and continue to cling to Him. It can help to look beyond the suffering to the joy that is to come, the endurance in Christ and eternal life with Him.
Does this change your perspective on anything you are going through, now?
Dear Jesus,
When I start to complain of my suffering, remind me of Yours. When I start to get weary, remind me of the joy to come. When I get weak, remind me that when I am weak, you are strong and help me to lean on You.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” – James 1:12
What trials and tests are you facing right now?
When life’s trials come at us, it can be easy to get mad at God for causing it or letting it happen. We focus on what hurts and offends us. We forget our sin and its consequences and we forget the great mercy and grace God has shown us. As we get angry, we turn away from Him.
With each attack on our faith, we are called to endure, to turn to God rather than away from Him.
I’m reminded of Peter in John 6:68. Jesus had been teaching and some of His teachings offended the people. They walked away saying Jesus’ teachings were too hard. Jesus asked the disciples if they would leave, too.
“Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,”
Between the economy, the virus, and politics, you are likely feeling under attack right now. What better time to turn to God? What better time to lean into His arms and seek His strength and peace? He will strengthen you and raise you up on wings like an eagle. He will not leave you. He will carry you through.
Read Psalm 91:1-16.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— 10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”