In His Word 1-10-11

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:2-8 (NLT)

When you ask God for something, do you ask for personal benefit or for the good of the kingdom? I think it is time we get our priorities straight. I was looking through the scriptures because I keep hearing that this is a year of Opportunities. So of course I went to study the Word’s version of what this is. Most of the scriptures I read talked about taking the opportunity to speak the Gospel. Then I remembered my pastor using this scripture and talking about our faith being tested with the troubles that come our way. It is a time of opportunity. When troubles come we need to remember that God is with us and that these things happen to increase our faith in Him.

We are to accept things as they come and be content with what we have to suffer through. Then we need to realize that it is a test of our faith that we are enduring. We need to allow our faith to grow stronger so that we may be used for His Glory. Wow! Think about it. When we have to go through a test of our will it’s a good thing, not a bad thing. Oh sure, at the time it can feel like too much, but God knows what will come out of it. He knows how much we can take.

A while back when we were having car problems, I lost it. For a few moments I had to just cry, to my hubby first and then to my Lord. I could not take anymore! God knew how much I could really handle and He stepped in and took over. How awesome He is at that! He gave me my husband to comfort me and encourage me through his words, and His Word as well.

I learned to accept what I had to endure and figured out how to get the correct kid to the right place at the right time and everyone made it to their play, class, or test on time. God is so good that He gave me a sound mind and strength in my body so that I could keep up with everyone’s schedules. Imagine how crazy the world would be without a loving, caring, organizing God to help us through each day.

Just like the scripture says; when you need wisdom, ask God. Whether it is wisdom to figure out what school to send your child to, or wisdom to eat right, or to get everyone where they need to go, God will give it to you if you will only ask Him. Remember from last week - the fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding. Asking for wisdom from Him means you are humbling yourself to His greatness. That gives Him the reverence, the "fear of the Lord" kind of respect that God deserves. In asking for help from God, we show Him that we know we can’t do it all by ourselves. When he put us on the earth it was with a plan, His plan. He has show us through His word that we can’t do it all by ourselves and we need to fully rely on God to get through our lives.

Needing God to lean on is a good thing. It shows Him that we know that we are weaker and He is stronger. He wants to be our guide, director, teacher, Lord and king! So putting things in right perspective; what are we doing to share the opportunity to know Him this year? How are we making this our year of opportunity? Are we taking the opportunities that He has given us to share Jesus with those around us? Will we be ready for the ones ahead?

Let’s plan to take every opportunity to share the Gospel each day. Let’s make this a day, a week, a year, a lifetime of opportunities to share Jesus by loving one another and sharing that love with those around us. Instead of being cranky about things not getting done, be full of joy! Instead of shaking your fist or pointing at the motorcycle that cuts in front of you, pray for his safety. Accept that the things that are going wrong will pass and better days will come. Count as joy the things that come against you because once they are gone you will be stronger, and will have brought others to follow the path of Christ by the example of strength they saw in you.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to stand and not fall. Help us to stand with You as we come up against all the trials we have ahead of us this year. Help us to be strong each day as we take every opportunity to worship, share Your love with others, and tell them your story. In Jesus' name, amen.

Suggested reading: James 1:1-27; Ephesians 5:1-33; Colossians 4:1-18 and Galatians 6:1-18.

In His Word 1-3-11

Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know—do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand. Jeremiah 33:3 (Amplified Version)

This is the beginning of a new year on the calendar. What does that matter in our walk with Christ? It means that we can start again, making a new promise to ourselves to follow closely to His word. He has provided us with so many versions of “Read in a Year” Bibles, we can study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the word of truth.

But what can we do if we do not understand what we are reading? There is a lot in the Bible that is difficult to understand, and to gain the knowledge we have to understand it. The Word today in Jeremiah 33 said to call to Him and He will answer us and give us the understanding that we seek. He will open our eyes and ears to the knowledge that will bring us through this year and many more.

We need to remember, though, that calling on the Lord is just one step. We also need to fear the Lord God because that is the beginning of understanding!

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright; He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2:1-8

So the more we learn, the more we find out about how great God is to us. He leads us, guides us, and helps us find the treasures in wisdom and understanding.

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:4-5

What if you have not studied the Word of God up to this point? Get started now and follow the direction that God sets up for you. If God provides you with a scholar, follow him or her to learn what He has for you. If he provided a Bible study on a night that you are free to attend, then you need to attend it and grow in Christ. Sometimes you are sent to attend a class that will provide what God has been trying to show you in your daily Bible reading. Sometimes you are there to keep the lesson on track, or to interject some insight where a younger Christian may need help. We have to remember that it is not an ending story. We continue to learn, grow and gain access to the knowledge Jesus Christ has brought to us.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9

He has it all set up. He plans our steps and all we have to do is follow in them. Do the study; read the Word; gain access to God and His knowledge. There is a list in 2 Peter of things to add on to our faith, and it all starts with our knowledge of Him. I could go all day examining the words there, but for the sake of time I will sum it up in this: take the time to make the time to do the time with God.

Make that your daily plan. Make that your daily goal. Make time to gain ground in God’s kingdom so that you may stand before Him someday and hear him say, “Well done…”

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to grow closer to you this year and help us to stay focused on your plans, your Word and your desires for our lives. In Jesus' name, amen.

Suggested Reading: Psalm 33:1-22; Proverbs 2:1-22; 2 Peter 1:1-21; and 2 Peter 3: 1-17.