Proclamation:
"Blessed
is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he
will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who
love Him." James 1:12 (NIV)
Explanation:
These Holy
Spirit inspired words were written by James, the half brother of Jesus, to the
scattered believers after the crucifixion of Jesus, The Christ, and the martyrdom
of Steven, the first deacon, when the Jewish believers were being persecuted. His plea was for them to be uncompromisingly
obedient to The Word of God. The
persecution of believers was a test of their spiritual faithfulness and that
they would be blessed and rewarded by God if they persevered in the face of
adversity.
Application:
As long
as we never let go of our belief and faith in God, and focus on our guaranteed
victory at the end of our trials, we will receive eternal life as God has
promised. There is a crown awaiting
those believers who faithfully endure the storms of this life. However, there is also a blessing in store in
this life for those who persevere through the trials, tribulations, and
temptations. Those of us who pass the
tests of the storms of life will be given earthly blessings in addition to heavenly
rewards. Each test that we endure will
strengthen our character and help to prepare us for the next test. Therefore we should count it all as joy when
we are tested. (James 1:2-4) Just as
exercise strengthens muscles, the storms of life can strengthen our faith. By maintaining our faith in God during the
bad times we will be blessed.
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