Monday after the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on September 20, 2021 by under
Scripture: James 1:2-12 (NKJV)
1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Devotion
Joy is not our default setting when we experience trials. Often our immediate reactions to trials are anxiety, worry, and wondering how we are going to fix the situation. The Holy Spirit counsels us to count it all joy when we experience trials of various kinds because trials exercise us in patient endurance. Each trial is an opportunity for us to wait patiently upon the Lord, trusting that the trial is for our eternal good. This attitude isn’t something we can muster on our own. It takes heavenly wisdom to be able to look at trials, sufferings, and crosses as gifts from God whereby He exercises us.
This is why James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” We need wisdom in order to endure the trials God allows to come upon us; and God promises to give us this wisdom! He doesn’t leave us to conjure it on our own. He promises to give to all liberally and without reproach. His liberality is shown in the Scripture where He gives us countless promises. St. Paul writes in Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Scripture sets before us the examples of godly men who were exercised in patient endurance such as Joseph in Egypt, the prophets, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Lord, we pray Thee, that Thy grace may always go before and follow after us, and make us continually given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
