Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Devotion: Faith And Patience


Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations?  Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems.  For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete (James 1:2-4 TLB).  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient.  And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.  Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:3-5 TLB).

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and desires, and enticed.  Then when lust and desire hath conceived, it bringeth forth and gives birth to sin: and sin, when it is finished and full-grown, bringeth forth death.  Do not err and be deceived, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness or variation, neither shadow of turning (James 1:12-17).

Behold, we count them happy and blessed which endure.  Ye have heard of the patience and perseverance of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and compassionate, and of tender mercy (James 5:11).  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with and surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset and ensnare us, and let us run with patience and perseverance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author, the originator, the finisher and the perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Be strong!  Be courageous!  Do not be afraid of them!  For the Lord your God will be with you.  He will neither fail you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6 TLB).  Do your best to improve your faith by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love (II Peter 1:5-7 CEV).  May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light (Colossians 1:11-12 NRVS).

Satan wants you to think that the trials you go through means that God does not love you.  Do not be deceived.  Do not mistake God’s patience for his absence, for his timing is perfect and his presence is constant—he is always with you.  Happy is the person who learns to wait as he prays and never loses his patience, for God’s time is the best time.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  Regardless, have faith and rejoice in the middle of all of your trials, because they, your trials, will produce the patience and endurance that you need to face anything that comes your way.  A moment of patience in a moment of anger saves thousand moments of regret.  Never lose hope for there is always hope.  For in this hope we were saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Romans 8:24-25 NIV).  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12 NIV).  For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete (James 1:4 TLB).

We again give thanks to God for this avenue that he has given us to share his word through our commentary.  We also thank God for the accompanying inspirational message that he also provided.  We continually pray that God’s grace will be upon you and that these devotionals will be a blessing to you.  If you are blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

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