Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Trial of Your Faith 5/21-24/18

21-24 May 2018 - Trial of Your Faith – Manna by Dorothy Callies

James 1:3 AMP: “Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.”  KJV: “Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”  My ASL interpretation: My faith grows because of patience with problems. 

James, the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem church is the author of the book, James.  James’ writing was to encourage the Jewish believers who were suffering various trials that were testing their faith.  James encourage the readers that “True faith obeys God’s Word.”  It will takes a reading of a whole book to get what James meant that “true faith obeys God’s Word.”  [Besides it’s only five chapters.]

How much is your faith worth to God?  Peter quoted, “The trial of your faith, bring MUCH MORE PRECIOUS than of gold . . .” (1 Peter 1:7a).  Imagine that . . . faith vs gold?  How much is gold worth?  A lot but they are earthly gold. Faith with patience is so precious to God that your faith will bring praise, honor and glory when Jesus will appear to us.  So which last forever? Gold or faith?  Faith!  Our faith in Jesus is forever.

Dorothy: What brings out about faith that I’m writing about?  I was going through a lot of difficult things that confronted (to face especially challenge) me and I was signing to myself . . . my right hand folds in “A” and I place on my chin and move it down a little as in “patience” . . . oh “patience” . . . with things . . .  Then suddenly Holy Spirit brought out James 1:3 that “patience” and faith works together.  Then I remember Peter speaks of faith is more precious than gold.

It seems like the Word of God becomes clearer when we experience difficult problems that really require patience to hold on to the faith in God and His Word. I was reading the part on ‘Our Daily Bread, Feb. 19, 2010’ that the real trials in life must be experienced.  It is in actual seasons of heartache and loss that we gain greater insights in life, faith and our need of God. 

James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3 NKJV).  Trials come because we live in a broken world, but we decide if we want to learn about the faith that comes with patience and it is an important way to grow in Christ.  Thank You, Jesus!

Song: Faith in God
Faith in God can move a mighty mountain,
Faith in God can calm the troubled sea;
Faith can make the desert like a fountain,
Faith will bring the victory. 

Song: Faith is a Victory
Faith is a victory
Faith is a victory
Faith is a victory,
Oh glorious victory
That overcomes the world.
[Both song from Inspiring Choruses]

God bless you!

Dorothy 

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