Not Even the Worst Persecution

1 Peter 1:7-9 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

What was the proof of these early Christians' love for Jesus? Although many may not have seen Him physically, they were willing to live for Him, even if it meant losing their lives. It is so easy to say we love someone, but a completely different story to prove it by our actions. God did not just say that He loves us, He proved it first, then recorded it for us in the pages of the Bible. Are we loving Him in the same manner? In John 14:15 He told us that if we love Him, we must keep His commandments. How are we doing at living in obedience to God's Word? For these Christians, who were predominantly Jewish, the fact that they were willing to die for their faith speaks volumes. Why? Because the Jews were waiting for a Messiah who would deliver them physically from their oppression at the hands of the Romans. Instead, they put their faith in One they had not seen, who was now allowing them to suffer, once again; but believed that there was a greater reward...the salvation of their soul. Do we have that kind of love and faith today? Have we become way too comfortable in our salvation? Let us step back today and ask God to help us examine our faith and love for Jesus. Are we loving Jesus as we say we do? Is the evidence of that love being displayed by our obedience? Is our obedience to His word only evident when there is no danger of persecution? Is our love for Jesus based on what He has done for us, and based on the faith and hope we have in the life to come; or is it more because of what we hope to gain physically here on earth? If our joy and ability to rejoice is grounded in true faith, and a real love for Jesus, then not even the worst persecution will be able to shake our faith or desire to serve Him. I guess the real test will be when fiery persecution finally arrives...and one day it will.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

His Faithfulness

His Faithfulness

1 Peter 1:7-8 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

As we read these verses, we need to stop and ask ourselves, "Are the trials that God allows in my life about me?" The short answer to that question is a resounding, "No!" Yes, we are the ones who have to walk through them, and yes, they help us to grow and learn to trust the Lord; but ultimately our trials are really about the Lord Himself. I have said this before, that when we read about the life of Abraham, Noah, David, or any other person in the Bible, it is really not about them, but about God and how He deals with them and their circumstances. It is no different for us. How things turn out in our life, in each circumstance, is about God and what He does. It is about how God deals with us, and how He shows Himself faithful, even when we are unfaithful. It is about how God molds us and shapes us, with the outcome being praise, honor and glory for Him. In the end it also shows whether or not we are truly loving the Lord. In the midst of the testing of our faith, are we really demonstrating a true love for Jesus? At this point you might say, "Wait, I thought you said this wasn't about us!" Well, it isn't. Yes, trials do test our love for God, but when we demonstrate our love for God, by obeying His commands, and applying His truth, even in the midst of difficulties, He develops a testimony in us, for His glory, that opens doors for us to tell others about Him. Sadly, we often take those opportunities to brag about ourselves and tell others about how much we have grown, rather than tell them about the faithful God who never failed us, even though we gave up, and failed Him. The testing of our faith, by fire, is an opportunity to tell others that God still walks with us through fiery times, as He did with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The testing of our faith is not about us...it is about Jesus and His faithfulness.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Far More Precious than Gold

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

As born again followers of Jesus, we need to change our perspective in respect to life on earth. Keeping in mind that we are pilgrims and strangers, and that this place is not our home, we need to view our circumstances from Heaven's perspective. With that said, why are our trials more precious than gold? Well, let's stop and consider this...what if we were allowed to gather as much gold as we wanted, while here on earth? At the end of our life, regardless of how many years the Lord allows us to have, can we take any of it with us? If after just a few months of having that gold, we are suddenly diagnosed with an incurable disease, will it matter how much gold we gathered? If we were told that by accepting the offer of gathering that gold, we forfeited our salvation, would it be worth it? Now stop and consider this...we are suddenly faced with trials and persecution, and in the midst of it we choose to trust the Lord. As a result, we bring our concerns to Him, and He gives us the peace that passes all understanding. Now we begin to rejoice in the midst of our troubles, and make ourselves available to serve and bless others. While we do all this, the Spirit works in us to make us more like Jesus in our response to life and dealing with others; all the while gaining more and more heavenly reward, as we win others to Christ, love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and continue to walk by faith. At the end of our life, as we live out our final moments, would we be willing then to trade what we are about to gain, for the perishable gold the world offers? I personally would not even give it a moment of consideration. Yet, this is exactly what we do. We trade heavenly reward, in the midst of tribulations, because we fail to trust God, and instead seek worldly solutions to challenging times here on earth. The rewards that come from enduring trials, with Heaven in view, are that we end up with something of eternal value to look forward to, but while we are still here we live a life that brings praise, honor, and glory to the Lord. That, my brothers and sister, is more important and valuable than any amount of gold we could ever gather here on earth. A life that truly honors Jesus is a life that will see more fruit in the area of winning others and personal growth in Christ. Let us change our perspective, and allow the Spirit to remind us, and show us, that our trials are not only temporary, but one of the best investment avenues we have toward gaining something more precious than gold...praise, honor, and glory for Jesus, and heavenly reward for us.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Friendship with the Enemy

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

"In this you greatly rejoice", are not the words most of us want to hear while we are going through difficult times. Yet, this is exactly what the Lord wants us to do; and just so that we get a real sense of the kind of rejoicing James is talking about, he is saying that we are to "jump for joy". Today's verse is a reminder that in spite of our moments of suffering, we need to remember that they are temporary in comparison to eternity; that we have every reason to have joy and peace because we are saved, sealed, and on our way to receiving the inheritance that has been reserved just for us. Interestingly, in making reference to our trials, James says, "if need be". Sadly, there are far too many of us that get comfortable in the world. When we begin to prosper and gain more of what the world offers, we forget that our purpose in being here is to serve the Lord and tell the world about Jesus. We start trying to avoid "stirring the pot" because things are going so well, and we do not want to invite trouble to come knocking on our door and possibly rob us of our "blessings". However, God does not see things the way we see them. What He sees is His children being sucked into friendship with the world and being disobedient to what He called us to. What He sees is His children getting comfortable, and settling into a world that is not our home. Therefore, He must, out of need, allow tribulation and persecution to come so that we are reminded that the world is not our friend, that the world is not our home, and that all that it offers has not eternal value. The bottom line is that without trials and persecution our faith, and walk with the Lord, become stagnant. Trials should be a reminder for us that we have a God who loves us. We have a God who wants the best for us; therefore, He allows trials to come our way in order to keep our faith growing, to remind us that we have a mission while we are here, and that we must stay focused on that mission until we finally make it home. The bottom line is that there is nothing here on earth that equals what awaits us in Heaven. So the next time we find ourselves in the midst of persecution or some other trial, "jump for joy" knowing that it may be God's loving reminder that we are getting too comfortable in our friendship with the enemy.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

His Unfailing Promises

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Even in the midst of severe persecution, James focuses on the hope and joy we have in Christ Jesus. He did not open his letter with a "woe is me" kind of attitude, but with praise and adoration for God because of the wonderful mercy He imparted to His children, giving us new life in Christ. In the midst of trials and tribulations we need to remember that we have been born again unto a living hope. Our hope is not in this world or what it offers, because it has nothing of real value to offer. It is filled with evil and corruption. Our hope lies in what is to come. Just like Israel's hope was in reaching the Promised Land of Canaan, so our hope is in reaching our Promised Land, where we will be reunited with Jesus. Our hope is in the inheritance we have been promised, and that has been reserved for us in Heaven. It is an inheritance that is guarded, secure, and unlike anything we could gain here on earth. The hope that we have in seeing this inheritance is founded, not on our ability to maintain our salvation; but because our salvation and this promise are kept by the power of God through faith. One way or another, whether through death or the Lord's return, we will see this promise fulfilled, because the One who made the promise is faithful and never breaks His promises. It is in the midst of persecution and suffering that our testimony for Jesus will truly shine, if we, by faith, hold on to His unfailing promises.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

How Are We Doing?

1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

As Peter writes to these persecuted Christians, he reminds them that they were chosen and set apart by God. He reminded them that the Spirit purified them, and that by the work of the Spirit they had the ability to live in obedience to God's Word. All of this is possible, of course, because of what Jesus did on Calvary. His Blood has washed us, cleansed us, and made us pure and acceptable before the Father. This is certainly the case for us today. A true follower of Jesus is chosen and set apart. Our acceptance of the Gospel was not a surprise to God. He knew we would be one of His children long before we were even conceived. What we need to remember, especially in the midst of trials and persecution, is that we belong to Jesus, we were bought with a price (His Blood), and we have been set apart for HIS purposes. Therefore, regardless of what He allows us to face, we must stay focused on what we are called to do...proclaim Jesus to the world (or at least the circle of influence He has placed us in). How are we doing with that? If we are not willing to share Christ now, while persecution is not that intense, what will we do when it reaches the level of possible martyrdom? We have been chosen, set apart, and called to live a life of obedience. How are we doing so far?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Are We Ready?

1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to Christians who had been scattered throughout the region. These Christians had suffered, and were suffering, at the hands of Romans, Jews, both strangers and family members. This letter was meant to be a letter of hope during difficult times. These Christians were running for their lives, being displaced from their homes, and being discriminated against for their faith. This still happens today in many places around the world. In our country, we have yet to experience this sort of persecution; and as a result, the church has a very weak testimony for Jesus. Our attempts to "fit in" has caused much compromise for the sake of "winning them". Many local churches are preaching a watered down version of the Gospel. We have allowed a worldly mentality to permeate our congregations; and we have been drawn into friendship with the world through prosperity preaching that feeds the flesh and our corrupt desires. Sadly, the church today is setting itself up for great pain when the world, and our country, finally make that sharp turn toward the persecution of anyone who is a true follower of Jesus. It will serve us well to read Peter's letter to the pilgrims and sojourners of his day, and be reminded, today, that this is not our home. Our citizenship has been changed by the One who gave His life for us. We, as born again followers of Jesus, need to reevaluate our walk with Him. We need to be reminded of who we are in Jesus, and what that will cost us, if we are truly living for Him, and walking according to His Word. It will mean persecution, rejection, and at some point could even cost us our lives. The comfortable life we live today is on course to be a very uncomfortable one. However, if we have Jesus, we know that no matter what happens, we have hope. It may very well be that God will allow strong persecution to come so that we will wake up and go out, as He commanded, to boldly tell others about Jesus who loves them and gave His life for them. I only have one question to ask..."Are we ready?"

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Confront and Restore

James 5:19-20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

If we recall, in verse 16, James spoke of a unity involving the confession of sins to one another, and unity in prayer for healing. Here, along those same lines, he speaks to us of unity by being there for one another in correction and restoration. We are reminded that we are in this battle called life, together. Therefore, it is our responsibility, as soldiers in God's army, to stand with one another and have each other's backs. When we see a brother or sister straying from the truth, we are to come to their aid, by lovingly confronting them and doing whatever we can to help them be reconciled to God, and help them walk in fellowship, once again, with the brethren. James warns that there is a real danger of death when we stray from the truth. When we allow sin to walk us down a path away from God, it will destroy us, hinder our relationship with God and others, and could lead to physical death. The Lord did not intend for us to be in this spiritual war alone. We have a God who walks with us and fights for us, but He also gave us the armor we need in order to stand (Ephesians 6). He gave us brothers and sisters in Christ, who all make up the Lord's army, who we are supposed to go into battle with. We are to fight side by side, back to back, and be ready to pick each other up, whenever we stumble, so that we can continue the fight; until the Lord returns or takes us home. Let us always be ready to correct one another in love, and pick up those who stumble in their faith, so that they can be restored to fight another day.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

His Power and Glory, Not Ours

James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

I love that James makes it a point, by the leading of the Spirit, to remind us that Elijah was flesh and bone, with the same sinful nature as we have. Yet, his prayers yielded miraculous results. Was this because Elijah was some kind of supernatural man? I would have to answer, "No." The effectiveness of Elijah's prayers had everything to do with God's will and plan. At that time, Ahab was king and had taken Jezebel, a wicked woman, as his queen. King Ahab followed the lead of his wife, and worshipped Baal, a heathen god. 1 Kings 16 tells us that King Ahab did more to provoke the anger of God than all the kings of Israel who were before him (v. 33). Elijah was God's prophet at that time, and was faithfully walking with the Lord. This was evidenced by the fact that Elijah was taken away to be with the Lord without experiencing physical death (2 Kings 2). Here was a man, who was an ordinary man, doing his best to live righteously, and serving the Lord by faith, who experienced the mighty power of prayer; as he prayed in accordance to God's will and plan. The power demonstrated by Elijah's prayer was not about Elijah himself, for he was merely God's vessel and mouthpiece. The results of Elijah's prayers were about God, His power, and His glory. Far too often, people who proclaim that they have the power to heal others by their prayers have more to do with bringing glory to themselves, and making a name for themselves, than it does about glorifying God. Hence, why they stage fake healings and give Christianity a bad name. We pray for selfish reasons, and mask it by saying that we are praying for God's glory, but He sees past our words right to our heart. We show our true intentions when we get bitter and walk away from God when He chooses not to give us what we prayed for. After those years of having no rain, God informs Elijah that He will make it rain once again, but only after Elijah is sent to confront Ahab and the prophets of Baal. The key to praying mighty prayers in the Name of the Lord is that we must pray in accordance to God's will and plan. We must delight ourselves in Him, and ultimately say (and mean it), as Jesus did, "Not my will, but Your will be done." We too are just ordinary people whom God can choose to use to do mighty things; if we would only realize that it is all about God, His might, and His glory...not ours.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Healing Confessions

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

To confess means to acknowledge, or to agree fully. Who is it that we are agreeing fully with? We are agreeing fully with God. We are acknowledging that our sin is what God says it is, and that we need to repent for sinning against Him. James tells us that we should be leaning on one another in times when we have stumbled, and need the strength to recover that can only come from the power of prayer. Note here that James speaks of confession in relation to healing. We discussed previously that sometimes sickness is the result of sin. When Jesus healed the man who had an infirmity for 38 years, in John 5, He said to Him in verse 14, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." Psalm 66:18 reminds us, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." Isaiah 59:2 says, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." As long as we hold on to sin, along with the guilt and inner turmoil that it brings, there will be no healing from the sickness God has allowed. As we confess our sins to one another and bring them out in the open, so that the Lord can deal with us and cleanse us, only then will our prayers have the power needed to bring about healing. The second part of this verse is often taken out of context, because it is often quoted alone; but when we keep it in its context we have a better understanding of what the Lord is saying to us about praying for one another. He is making it clear that when we truly repent and confess our sins, and the Lord forgives us and cleanses us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9), it is then that Jesus' righteousness, in us, comes through, making our prayers effectual, or mighty; and in essence accomplish much in the healing process. Sadly, we harbor sin in our heart, and refuse to repent and confess, but then question why God does not answer our prayers. James simply tells us that our prayers to be made well are ineffective if they lack healing confessions.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Pray, Sing, Pray, Believe

James 5:13-15 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Prayer is where we find comfort and relief when we are suffering. When we are experiencing good times we are to pray, give thanks, and sing songs that praise God. The Bible tells us that we are to be anxious for nothing, bring our concerns to God in prayer, and He will give us the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). We are to rejoice and give thanks, always, even in the midst of suffering. When we are sick, note that we are to CALL the church leaders. Far too often Christians assume that the pastor or elders will magically know when we are sick; then we get offended when they fail to show up to pray for, and with, us. We are instructed to take that initiative. Oil was often used medicinally in that region. There is nothing wrong with seeking medical help during times of sickness, as long as our primary trust is in God's ability and choice to heal us. Our prayers are to be prayers grounded in faith. We are to not only believe that God can heal, but trust that He has a valid reason for those times He chooses death as a means of healing. We often overlook the fact that the greatest healing we can experience here on earth is to be summoned home to be with Jesus; where there is no more pain or suffering. One important factor in finding relief from sickness is the fact that some illnesses come from sin. Jesus often said, when He healed someone, "Your sins have been forgiven." There have been instances when Christians suffered from sickness for which doctors could not explain or treat; and healing only came from repentance and true confession of sins. The bottom line is that the life of the born again follower of Jesus should consist of praying, singing, praying some more, and doing it all while being grounded in faith. Only then will we enjoy the peace, joy, and tranquility that will help us endure during times of suffering; so...pray, sing, pray, believe.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Our Words and Our Character

James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

This verse almost seems out of place here. However, in it's context it is exactly where it needs to be. When troubles come, when tribulations and suffering surround us, that is when there is great danger of saying things we think will make the suffering go away. For example, how often have we rashly sworn that if God delivered us from a particular situation we would do "this or that" in return? How often have we broken that oath? The Jews were notorious for swearing oaths, both "binding" and "non-binding". If the oath was sworn in the Name of God, then it was "binding". James was warning us that our word(s) should simply be our word. He was saying that our character should be enough to reaffirm the words we speak and the promises we make. If we have to swear upon anything, then it says much about our lack of character. A born again follower of Jesus should be one who is known for the faithfulness of their words. To speak, to make a promise, or simply say that we will do something, and have to tag it with, "I swear on", is to set ourselves up for judgment on the day we stand before Jesus to give account for our words. For us, the believer, it could mean a loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Let us be careful about the words we speak, especially when we are in the midst of suffering. Our reputation, as an ambassador of Jesus, should be solidly backed by a character that gives glory to God and makes it unnecessary for the child of God to have to qualify our "yea" or "nay" with "I swear on..."

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Rejection Leads to Infection

Sunday Nov. 7, 2021 Sermon: Rejection Leads to Infection

Misguided Grumblings

James 5:9-11 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

Here, once again, James warns us against judging one another. It is often in the midst of suffering that we can become the judge of someone else's life. We compare our suffering to the seemingly lack of suffering in another Christian's life, and the assumption becomes, "They must not be living for the Lord the way that they should, because they never seem to suffer persecution." We pass judgment on them, not realizing that maybe they are suffering; but instead of murmuring and complaining, they have chosen to trust God, and are enjoying the peace of God that passes all understanding. This is merely one example of how we can falsely judge one another in the midst of our own suffering. James encourages us instead to remember, and trust, that Jesus will return soon to judge those who deserve His judgment. It is best that we not, by our groanings, place ourselves in the same position as those who will have to give an answer for making themselves the judge of another. The Word of God gives us plenty of examples of men who suffered and endured patiently, as prophets of God, even though they did not live to see the prophecies they spoke come to fruition. James also reminds us that we have a wonderful example of God's pity and mercy, toward His people, in the life of Job. The man suffered for his righteousness because God was proving a point to Satan. In the end, after all his suffering, God gave him a double portion of what he lost. The bottom line is that we never truly know why God will allow certain difficult circumstances, or instances of persecution, for some and not for others. What we do know is that God is merciful and good, and has called us to endure patiently during difficult times. We must resist the temptation of causing suffering in someone else's life by our misguided groanings and grumblings that come as a result of a warped sense of judgment about why we are suffering, while they (our fellow brother/sister) seem not to suffer as much, or at all. It is always best to keep our misguided grumblings to ourselves, and lift them up to God.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

His Day Is Coming

James 5:7-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

In light of our suffering, and persecution from those who are wealthy and in positions of power and authority, James' advice and guidance is this...be patient. In other words, endure, forbear, and stand our ground, until the return of Jesus. He compares our waiting to the way the farmer waits to see the fruit produced from the seeds he has planted. The word "wait" James uses to describe what the farmer does is a waiting with expectation. It is not a hopeless kind of waiting. We, who know that Jesus is faithful, should be waiting with great expectation, knowing that His return is certain, and that His promise to make things right is a faithful promise. Hence, James encourages us to strengthen our heart, to be steadfast and immovable, because of the promise made of His return. Just as certain as their (the corrupt rich's) day is coming; know this...His (Jesus') day is coming as well.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Their Day Is Coming

James 5:1-6 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

There is nothing new under the sun. Today, as in the past, the desire to be rich has corrupted many and led many astray. Sadly, even Christians have forsaken their walk with Jesus in order to gain more of the worlds rotting treasures. In a quest to enjoy the comforts that the world offers, we have forfeited the eternal for the the gain of that which will perish. The rich continue to oppress the poor. The business man abuses those that labor to make them rich, paying them wages that they can barely live on, and in many cases are forced to work more than one or two jobs just to survive; while the business owner continues to line their own pockets and bank accounts at the expense of the laborer. People in authority and high ranking positions, in society, continually enact rules and laws that keep the majority of people broke and wondering if they can survive the day to day responsibility of taking care of themselves and their families. James warns them in these verses of the coming judgment; for a day is coming when all these earthly riches that they have gained through deception, and corruption, will be their judge. Note verse 6 where James points out that those who are being hurt, abused, and murdered, by the wealthy, do not resist. Why is that? Well, the poor and the oppressed usually do not have any other recourse other than to submit to the tyranny of the rich. Secondly, for those of us who know the Lord, we are secure in the fact that He will take care of our every need, and we know that the day of judgment is coming for these corrupt men. This is not to say that everyone who is rich is corrupt; but the sad truth is that the majority are corrupt and have gained their wealth by less than honorable means. Their wealth is covered with the filth of this world, and the truth of the matter is that many Christians have been drawn in and have become just as corrupt as the world in their pursuit to gain some of the world's riches. As we look around us and see the rich getting richer using corrupt and immoral means to obtain it, let us not lose hope. We serve a God who is neither blind nor incapable of taking care of His children under such circumstances. Let us be satisfied in whatever state we are in, be good stewards of what God allows us to have; and trust that He is true to His Word when He promises that He will take vengeance on those who mistreat and cheat others for the sake of gaining more wealth. Their day is coming soon.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

The Present Should Be Affected By the Future

James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

"Therefore"...an interesting word. "Therefore" the previous verses are "there for" a reason. The words were written so that we would stop and truly consider why they were penned. James wanted the readers of the words God gave him to take them seriously by reminding them that planning without considering the Lord's will is prideful and arrogant boasting (v. 16). Just in case anyone missed that warning, James continues in v. 17 to remind us that sins of omission are just as bad as sins of commission. What "good" is it that James speaks of? Well, I'm glad you asked. It is the "good" we know we should be doing in light of the possibility that Jesus could return today or the fact that this could be our last day, week, or month, on earth. As we plan for the future, God wants us to consider what good we should be doing, from the perspective of eternity, and the future we are promised in Christ Jesus. In other words, as we plan for the future, not only should we consider whether or not we should leave room for the Lord's will; but we must also be living for Him today, based on what we know the possibilities are for the future. Are we doing the good works we were created to do? Ephesians 2:10 clearly tells us, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." In light of God's promises about the future, the good we do today should be morally good works that are worthy of heavenly reward. These are not works done to earn God's favor, as we already have all the favor we will ever have in Jesus; but good works that are done by faith, in obedience to God's Word. Rather than always trying to predict tomorrow based on what we see today, we should allow today to be affected by what God promised about tomorrow.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).