The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:2-4,
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James begins his letter by pointing out the importance of the trials, the difficulties we encounter in life. Where our natural inclination is to find difficulty something to avoid, something to view with disdain, James tells us it plays an important role in bringing us to maturity in our faith.
Difficulty in life can be debilitating, disheartening and discouraging when we don't know the Lord. For those of us who do know him, all we encounter has a positive, constructive purpose in our lives, even difficulties. Paul tells us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." Romans 8:28-29. This includes the difficulties that come our way. God uses them to fashion us into the image of his Son, Jesus Christ. I find this amazing!
The writer of Hebrews tells us that God goes out of his way to shape us, to mold us into the thing of beauty he has in mind for each of us. "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son... No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5b-6, 11. Also Jesus, in his letter to the church in Laodicea said, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." Revelation 3:19. In the book of Proverbs Solomon tells us, "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."
I don't know about you, but there is a lot in my life that needs the touch of the Master's hand to bring some maturity to it. Here is a wonderful and mystical aspect of our relationship with the Lord as believers: he is grooming us!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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