God's Stability

The Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:17

James called God “the Father of lights,” which was an ancient Jewish reference to God as the Creator. James chose that title because it fit his illustration of God.

The lights are the sun, moon, and stars—celestial bodies created by God. From our perspective, the sun, moon, and stars move, disappear, change in shape, or vary in intensity—their benefit to us comes and goes. But with God there is no variation or shifting. God doesn’t change from one condition to another or shift like shadows as the sun moves. His brilliant light of glory and gracious goodness does not fade. His grace never goes dark. First John 1:5 says, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” Malachi 3:6 says, “I am the Lord, I do not change.”

God’s mercy never ceases. Nothing can eclipse His goodness or stop His benevolence. Knowing that, don’t take the devil’s bait and give birth to deadly sin. Rather, receive the good that God wants to give you.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 328). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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God's Goodness

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.

James 1:17

Things that come from God are good and perfect. God could never produce evil because His nature is good. Rather, He produces unending good. Whereas we possess a nature that gives rise to sin, God does not.

Why would we try to satisfy ourselves with evil desires that result in death when God is pouring out everything we could ever want for our satisfaction? Only a fool would be lured away by such a trap when all the goodness of God is available by His grace. Likewise, our flesh can be compared to a well of stagnant water. It is ludicrous to believe we could be satisfied by drinking from it when we can come to the fountain of Living Water Himself who gives us every good and perfect gift.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 327). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Preventing Desire

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4–5

So many things in our evil society attempt to capture our attention: movies, television, books, music, clothing, advertisements, and now the Internet—all designed to capture the emotions. For example, advertising executives know that buying is ultimately an emotional decision. Few people know or even care about the mechanics of the car being advertised, yet they are impressed if it looks like a race car, or if a pretty girl is behind the wheel, or if other kinds of emotional bait are included in the ad.

We need to guard our minds, emotions, and wills. We need to seek God’s will by meditating on His Word and letting His will become ours. An unprotected, uncontrolled, and unyielded mind is going to be filled with evil desires that will result in evil deeds. We must control how our emotions and minds respond to the tempting bait they encounter.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 326). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Dealing A Deathblow To Sinful Desires

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

James 1:16

At what point do you deal with sin? Not at the point of behavior—because then it’s too late—but at the point of desire. The person who is able to control his emotional responses is able to deal effectively with sin. When being bombarded by negative emotional responses, a person with a mind that is sanctified can deactivate desires before they are activated by the will. But once they capture the will, their birth is inevitable.

You must deal with lustful emotions if you want to effectively deal with sin in your life. If you expose your emotions to the baited hook, you may find yourself getting hooked unless you take immediate action.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 325). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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The Birth Of Sin

When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full–grown, brings forth death.

James 1:15

Most people think of sin as an individual act or behavior. But today’s verse says that sin is not an act; it is the result of a process.

Sin starts with desire, which is related to emotion. It begins when you desire to be satisfied by acquiring something, when you have an emotional longing to possess what you see. Temptation then affects your mind through deception. You begin to justify and rationalize your right to possess what you desire. Your mind is deceived into believing that fulfilling your lust will satisfy you and meet your needs.

Next, your will begins to plot how you’re going to get what you want, and when lust is seduced (so to speak) by the baited hook, it becomes pregnant in the womb of a person’s will. Finally, the act of sin occurs.

Knowing how sin is born should help you in avoiding temptation.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 324). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Recognizing The Trap

Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

James 1:14

Temptation doesn’t come from God but from within. The term drawn away was used in hunting contexts to describe animals being lured into traps, and enticed is a term used to describe catching fish with bait. Every person is tempted when the trap of sin is baited with that which appeals to his lust. A person’s lust responding to enticing bait deceptively draws him away to the point where he is trapped.

What pulls us so strongly to the bait? It’s not God. And it’s not Satan, his demons, or the world’s evil system that entice us to sin, although they bait the hook. It is our lustful nature that pulls us to take hold of it. Our flesh, our fallen nature, has a desire for evil.

From a spiritual perspective, the problem is that even though we’ve been redeemed and have received a new nature, we still have an enemy within. The resident passion of the flesh, not God, is responsible for our being tempted to sin.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 323). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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God Is Not To Blame

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.

James 1:13

Although some believe in the ancient idea that God is responsible for our temptation and sin, James forbids such a thought in today’s verse.

James warns against rationalizing our sin and blaming God in the midst of our battle against temptation. When you are fighting temptation and near to yielding, don’t make the excuse that God is tempting you.

Assuming that no one would accuse God of directly causing him to sin, James is saying that we should not even think of God as the ultimate cause of our sins. Most people don’t go as far as to see God as the direct tempter, but they do believe God is indirectly to blame by having permitted the situation and the possibility of failure. But God is not the near agency of temptation, nor is He even its remote cause. Don’t ever look at yourself as a victim of God’s providence.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 322). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Trial Or Temptation?

Do not lead us into temptation.

Matthew 6:13

Temptation is a common experience of every human being, Christian or not. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that temptations are “common to man.” How we deal with the battle of temptation is a mark of the genuineness of our faith or our lack of it.

The trials that the Lord allows into our lives to strengthen us can also become temptations. They can be solicitations to evil rather than a means to spiritual growth. Every difficult thing that comes into my life either strengthens me because I obey God and stay confident in His care and power, or leads me to doubt God and disobey His Word.

Every trial has the potential to become a temptation. The difference is how you respond to it.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 321). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Burned Up

As a flower of the field, he will pass away. 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.

James 1:11

Wealthy people usually do not realize that they can’t take their riches with them. Only those who have been humbled before God know that life is “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

In today’s verse, James writes about the blooming grasses and flowers of Palestine that flourish with beautiful color in February and dry up by May. James also borrows part of his illustration from Isaiah 40:6-8. The burning heat, which could refer to the scorching wind known as a sirocco, destroys the vegetation in its path. It is illustrative of the fury of death and divine judgment that put an end to the rich man’s earthly life and his material possessions.

When the rich man’s possessions are burned up, he will have the true riches, just as the poor man does. If you are wealthy, make sure you have a true spirit of humility and don’t trust in the possessions of life.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 320). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Humbling The Rich

The rich in his humiliation.

James 1:10

Christians who don’t have to experience the trials of life related to poverty can rejoice in their “humiliation,” as today’s verse points out. When the trials they experience help them realize that their possessions can’t buy true happiness and contentment, they will understand that their dependence is on the true riches of God’s grace. The rich Christian can rejoice when he learns that material blessings are only temporary and that spiritual riches are eternal.

Trials humble all believers to the same level of dependency on God. Money doesn’t buy people out of their problems, although it may solve some economic ones. When you lose a daughter, son, wife, or husband, it doesn’t matter how much money you have. No amount is going to buy your way out of such a trial.

Whether to the poor or the rich, trials come into life to help us humbly recognize that our resources are in God.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 319). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Exalting The Poor

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation.

James 1:8

Today’s verse is a command for the poor Christian to rejoice. A Christian who is economically poor may have nothing in the material world to rejoice about, but he can rejoice in the knowledge that God is exalting him spiritually in his standing before God. He may be hungry, but he has the Bread of Life. He may be thirsty, but he has the Living Water. He may be poor, but he has eternal riches. He may not have a satisfying home here, but he has a glorious home in the life to come. In this life he may have trials, but God is using them to perfect and exalt him spiritually.

The Christian who is deprived can accept his trials because of the hope of receiving an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that will never fade away (1 Pet 1:4). True riches belong to us, so poverty is a short–lived trial that can be endured as we look ahead to a glorious time of exaltation.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 318). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Without A Doubt

He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

James 1:6–7

The doubting person who doesn’t believe that God can provide wisdom is like the billowing, restless sea, moving back and forth with its endless tides, never able to settle. There’s no sense in such a person supposing he will receive anything from the Lord.

When faced with a trial, an unbeliever who professes to know Christ will doubt God and get angry with Him and eventually sever his association with a church. A true Christian who is spiritually immature may respond in a similar manner because he reacts emotionally to his difficult circumstances and doesn’t fully trust God. In the midst of a trial, he will not experience a joyous attitude, an understanding mind, a submissive will, or a believing heart. He will seem unable to ask for wisdom from God and unwilling to take advantage of the resources He has provided, never knowing the resolution available to him through faithful, persistent prayer to God.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 317). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Asking In Faith

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting.

James 1:6

A believer should request wisdom in confident trust in God. If you lack wisdom, it’s not God’s fault. If you don’t understand your trial—why your spouse died, your health is deteriorating, your finances are a mess, or why you are having problems with your car, your job, or your children—then you probably haven’t asked God with unwavering faith to give you wisdom.

Perhaps you have prayed somewhat insincerely with wrong motives like those whom James condemned as praying for wisdom only to help with their lusts (James 4:3). Maybe you’re not praying in accord with 1 Timothy 2:8, which says to pray “without wrath or doubting,” and you doubt whether God is able or willing to help.

Unwavering faith simply believes that God is a sovereign, loving God who will supply everything needed for understanding the trial and being able to endure it. Whatever the trial is, you can believe that God allowed it for His purpose and your spiritual maturity.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 316). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Ask For Wisdom

For the Lord gives wisdom.

Proverbs 2:6

I believe God will provide the wisdom to understand any trial if we will ask Him. If we don’t ask, the Lord may allow the trial to continue until we demonstrate that we have learned to be dependent on Him through the trial.

If you lack wisdom, you’re commanded to ask God for it. Wisdom is never withheld from a believer who needs it and asks for it as he perseveres through a trial. Isn’t that a wonderful promise? Sometimes we don’t ask; we do everything but ask God. We ought to be on our knees crying out from our hearts for God to give us His direction.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 315). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Wisdom From God

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.

James 1:5

When you are being tested, you need to recognize your need for strength, and you must look for a greater resource to hold onto in the midst of the trial—God Himself. The search for wisdom is man’s supreme search. For those who know and love the Lord, He provides that wisdom.

This kind of wisdom is not philosophical speculation, but the absolutes of God’s will—the divine wisdom that is pure and peaceable (James 3:17). Divine wisdom results in right conduct in all of life’s matters. When some Christians go through troubles, their first response is to run to some other human resource. Although God may work through other believers, your initial response to trials should be to ask God directly for wisdom that will allow you to be joyous and submissive in finding and carrying out God’s will.

Today’s verse is a command to pray. It is as mandatory as Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes 5:17). Trials are intended to drive us to dependency on God by making us realize we have no sufficient human resources.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 314). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Excercising Faith

For we live by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Thomas Manton said that while all things are quiet and comfortable, we live by sense rather than faith. But the worth of a soldier is never known in times of peace. It is always a challenge to stay focused properly through a difficult trial. Even with the promise of lessons learned and rewards realized, the certainty of these benefits can seem more theoretical than real. But we can have a much greater confidence in the reality of all these things if we simply remember the words of today’s verse.

One of God’s purposes in trials is to give us greater strength. As you go through one trial, your spiritual muscles (faith) are exercised and strengthened for the next one. That means you can face greater foes and endure greater obstacles, thus becoming more useful to the Lord. And the more useful you are, the more you will accomplish His will in the power of His Spirit for His glory.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 313). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Waiting For Heaven

We ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body, for we were saved in this hope.

Romans 8:23–24

Trials in a believer’s life increase his anticipation for heaven. Just as trials create a growing disinterest in the passing world, they also create a greater desire, for example, to be reunited with a loved one who has gone to be with the Lord. If the most beloved people in your life have entered into the presence of our precious Savior, and if you have invested your time and money in eternal things, then you won’t have much tying you to this passing world.

Beyond this life of suffering is a glorious future for the believer that makes us all the more desirous for the fulfillment of salvation. Thus trials give us a greater affection for that which is eternal—they help us long for the eternal city of heaven.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 312). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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Gaining An Understanding Mind

Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

James 1:3

Don’t ever doubt that trials will accomplish something positive. They are designed to produce “patience,” or—better translated—“endurance” or “perseverance.” With every trial, we build the tenacity of spirit that holds on under pressure while waiting patiently on God to remove the trial at the appointed time and then reward us. It strengthens us as we gain more endurance.

God builds us up in the same way a runner gradually develops the ability to run long distance. He starts small and works up to his maximum capacity. God allows increasingly greater trials in our lives to increase our endurance for greater ministry and joy, for the more difficult the battle, the sweeter the victory. When you come out of a difficult trial, you can rejoice over God’s delivering you. That proves Him to be trustworthy, and that strengthens your faith.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 311). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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A Captive Audience

All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

Philippians 4:22

Not all suffering is physical. Sometimes we go through emotional and mental suffering. Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote to the Philippians. His ministry had been greatly curtailed; nevertheless, he told the Philippians that his imprisonment had actually aided the furtherance of the gospel. Being chained to Roman soldiers, he had the opportunity to win them to the Lord (Phil 1:13).

There was a revival of sorts taking place in Caesar’s palace, which evidently led to the salvation of some, as today’s verse indicates. The soldiers didn’t know who they had on their hands: they believed they had a prisoner, but in reality they had a self–appointed evangelist to whom they were a captive audience! What a model of rejoicing in the midst of a potentially frustrating and discouraging situation!

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 310). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

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A Welcome Friend

No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11

Evaluating a trial as a joyful occurrence is something a Christian must discipline himself to do, because joy is not the natural human response to troubles. He must make a conscious commitment to face each trial with a joyous attitude. Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he said to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice…. I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil 4:4, 11). He had learned to be content and rejoice in the midst of trials. That’s not something that happens by accident.

When you see a trial coming, take on an attitude of joy that comes from anticipating the perfecting work the Lord will do through it. We must have a decisive conviction that we are going to face trials with a joyful attitude. It is the joy of one who counts it a privilege to have his faith tested because he knows the testing will draw him closer to the Savior. Then a trial will become a welcome friend.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 309). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: It doesn't feel natural for us to experience joy in suffering, to feel pleasure in trials.

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Our Future Crown

When he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life.

James 1:12

Eternal life is the crown that God has promised to those who love Him. It is the believer’s ultimate reward. Although we presently experience some of the benefits of eternal life, we possess it on promise; some day we will receive it in its fullness. We are still waiting to enter into our future reward. At the Lord’s coming, He will grant to us the fullness of eternal life.

The apostle Paul expressed a similar thought: “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim 4:8). When Christ returns for the church, Christians will be granted a life of eternal righteousness. We will all receive the same crown consisting of the rewards of eternal life, righteousness, and glory.

Endurance does not earn eternal life. However, endurance is the proof of true faith and love, and that is rewarded by the fullness of eternal life.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 308). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: The crown of life is the ultimate reward for those who love God.

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Rest Your Hope

Rest your hope fully on the grace that is brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:13

You’ve heard plenty of sermons and seen plenty of books on love and faith, but have you ever heard a message or read a book on hope? For some reason, we often ignore hope. Hope is a missing element in the Christian experience of our culture. We don’t live in hope primarily because we focus too much on our present circumstances.

What is hope? It is the Christian’s attitude toward the future. Hope in its essence is like faith. Both have trust, or a belief in God, as their focus, but there’s a difference between them. Faith is believing God in the present, and hope is believing God for the future. Faith believes God for what He has done, and hope believes God for what He will do.

Fix your hope on Him and live in anticipation of the glorious fulfillment of His future promise.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 307). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Hope is faith in the unseen. It is faith in the future. We cannot see the future, but God is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, sovereign and eternal. He knows all, sees all, experiences all, and controls all, past, present, and future. We can have faith in the unseen, in the future, because we have faith in God and in His goodness.

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Enduring To The End

Blessed is the man who endures temptation [trials].

James 1:12

The word endurance in today’s verse speaks of patiently and triumphantly enduring. It connotes passive or even painful survival and focuses on the outcome of being victorious. The person who goes through trials and comes out a winner never gives up his faith or abandons God. He is shown to be the genuine article.

Some people come to church, profess Christ, and even get baptized. Yet when trouble comes into their lives, they’re gone. And they may never come back. Maybe they encountered a broken relationship, the death of a loved one, or some other struggle, and the circumstances were so overpowering that they blamed God and walked away, convinced that Christianity doesn’t work.

As believers, we may experience times of struggle and doubt, but our faith will never be destroyed. We cling to the Lord despite our trials because we love Him. That kind of loving perseverance results in true blessing.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 306). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: True believers have a faith that cannot be shaken. Many professed Christians will stumble and fall away when challenged by trouble and pain, but a genuine believer will endure trials and tests because they trust and love our God. They may still experience doubt and uncertainty, but they will never err in unbelief. They persevere in faith knowing that their perseverance produces character, and character produces hope (Rom 5:3-4). And hope is God's blessing to those who love Him.

Applications: Continue to trust in God regardless of any hardship or trouble we may experience. Study scripture to better understand God's goodness, His omnipotence, and His faithfulness. When we properly understand those attributes, we can have confidence and faith in God's sovereign will. Then we can endure any trial God sets before us without wavering.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for wisdom and discernment in studying God's word. Pray for the Holy Spirit's help in understanding God's sovereign will. Pray for a genuine, heartfelt love for God that inspires trust to persevere through trials and temptations.

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Happy Trials

We count them blessed who endure.

James 5:11

James ended his discourse on trials by saying, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation [trials]” (James 1:12). People who successfully endure trials and overcome temptation are truly happy. James is not saying that happiness comes in freedom from trials but in victory over them. There is a big difference. It’s not the shallow joy of the spectator who never experienced conflict; it’s the exuberance of the participant who fought and won. Is your experience the former or the latter?

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 305). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: In the Beatitudes (Mat 5:3-12), it is the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who are persecuted because of righteousness, whom Jesus says will be blessed. James adds that "the man who perseveres under trial" (James 1:12) is blessed as well. Job serves as a great example of how to persevere in faith through trials. The Lord honored Job’s perseverance with multiplied blessings. God's blessings are so much more than just cheap, superficial happiness. They are rewards from God to believers. Those who are blessed by God understand and experience true joy and happiness in this life and in heaven.

Applications: We don't necessarily need to invite hardship and trouble, but when God ordains them in our lives, do not shrink from them. Meet them boldly, knowing that God uses trials as a means of growing us spiritually and to test our faith. Christians who actually endure God's trials and persevere through them, are strengthened in their faith and experience true joy and happiness that unbelievers will never know.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for endurance and perseverance through trials and hardships. Pray for strengthening of my faith. Pray for me to be worthy of God's blessings by demonstrating the characteristics Jesus outlined in the Beatitudes.

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The Joy That Awaits

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.

James 1:2

The joy we experience from our trials can be some of the greatest joy we know. Since one of the major reasons God sends trials into our lives is to test the genuineness of our faith, what more fitting occasion to have joy than in and after an experience of suffering that has proved the reality of our salvation? A strengthened assurance of our salvation and confidence that God cares for us, as manifest in the reality that our suffering could neither break our faith nor sever us from His love, is cause for the highest happiness.

True joy does not come cheaply or as a fleeting, superficial emotion. Real joy is produced by much deeper factors than the circumstances that produce superficial happiness. If you are struggling through the negative circumstances of life, floundering in doubt and dismay, you have forgotten that genuine joy resides in the confidence that your life is hidden with Christ in God. In God’s providence, that joy and assurance can be most strong during a trial.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 304). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: We tend to forget God and His influence in our lives when things are going well. We only call on God when we are undergoing trials and even then we do so only grudgingly. We should instead depend on Christ at all times and in all situations and we should welcome every circumstance that God ordains with equal joy and contentment. True joy comes from faith and trust in God's goodness and not on circumstances. Trial and hardships are sent by God to test our faith, so take joy when your trust and belief strengthens your assurance of salvation.

Applications: In every circumstance, take joy in the knowledge that God is in control. Every trial we undergo is a result of His good and sovereign will, so we should thank Him for them. Usually we ask for God's help when we are in trouble without thanking Him, and then we completely forget about Him when life is going smoothly. Instead, we should thank Him constantly in prayer, and His peace will bring us contentment and joy (Isaiah 26:3; Phil 4:6-7).

Prayer Subjects: Pray for an unwavering trust in God. Pray that I would meet God's challenges with faith and thanksgiving. Pray that the peace of God will guard my heart and mind, bringing true joy and contentment.

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The Water Test

We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

Jewelers use “the water test” as one of the surest ways to identify a true diamond. An imitation stone is never as brilliant as a genuine stone, but sometimes the difference can’t be determined with the unaided eye. Jewelers know that a genuine diamond placed in water sparkles brilliantly, whereas the sparkle of the imitation is practically extinguished. That test makes picking the real diamond relatively easy.

By way of analogy, I find that the faith of many people under the water of sorrow or affliction is nothing but an imitation. However, when a true child of God is immersed in a trial, he will shine as brilliantly as ever.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 303). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: Tests are needed to separate the genuine from the fake. The tests that God uses to separate the wheat from the chaff are the trials and tribulations we face in our lives. Those who have genuine faith will remain true to the calling of Christ. They will endure hardships with perseverance. Their perseverance will build up their character and their hope. Many people can manage to suffer through troubling times, but only true Christians will bear all circumstances with contentment and joy, because they have hope and strength that comes from Christ (Phil 4:11-13). Only true believers will delight in affliction, knowing that their resolve and trust brings glory to God.

Applications: When faced with trials and tribulations, maintain your trust in God. Remember that God will never test you beyond your ability to endure (1 Cor 10:13). But when you are tested, give glory to God by demonstrating true faith. Meet hardship and suffering with joy and contentment, knowing that God has ordained it for your own good. Do not grumble, but concentrate on obediently follow God’s word. You can be assured that God will be faithful to you, so you must remain faithful to Him.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for a clear mind to respond properly in faith to God’s tests. Pray for contentment and joy through trials and tribulations. Pray for perseverance, character and hope. Pray that I would demonstrate true faith which brings glory and honor to God.

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Weaned From The World

[Moses esteemed] the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Hebrews 11:26

The longer we live, the more we accumulate. But those things tend to hold less significance for Christians. When trials come into your life and you reach out for those worldly things, you see what little lasting difference they make. Trials can wean you away from worldly things as they demonstrate their utter inability to solve any problem or provide any resource in a time of stress.

Moses learned the value of trials even though he had been raised in Pharaoh’s house as a prince of Egypt. As part of the royal family, he had the best education and reached the apex of Egyptian society in terms of wealth, honor, and comfort. But he considered the sacrifices made in identifying with God’s purposes “greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” He took his eyes off all of the worldly things available to him and began to be concerned about the trials of his people, which the Lord used to wean him away from material pleasures.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 302). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: The riches of the world may give you comfort now, but they are temporary and will pass away. Heavenly treasures are greater than all the treasures on earth, and they are yours forever. Moses was raised in the royal family of Egypt with riches and honor, but gave it all up and instead suffered trials and sacrifices along with his people. Moses did this because he understood that the "pleasures of sin", all the wealth, status, and achievement he could gain in this world, were temporary, fleeting, only "for a short time" (Heb 11:25). He focused on the plight of his people and not on the worldly temptations readily available to him. His looked forward to "treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Mat 6:20).

Applications: It is by faith that Moses looked forward to future rewards in heaven. He had everything that anyone could desire on earth, but gave it up for the sake of doing God's will. He looked ahead to the fulfillment of God's promises and we must do so as well. We must have the faith to put aside our own desires now for the sake of following Christ and being rewarded later. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Heb 11:1).

Prayer Subjects: Pray for a yearning for God and not for the pleasures of the world. Pray for a stronger faith based on trust in the fulfillment of God's promises. Pray for a faith which believes in future rewards from God to those who earnestly seek him (Heb 11:6).

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What's In Your Heart

God withdrew from him [King Hezekiah], in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

2 Chronicles 32:31

God didn’t need to test Hezekiah to know what was in his heart. God already knew by omniscience. But He tests us so we can find out. He assists us in doing a spiritual inventory on ourselves by bringing trials into our lives to demonstrate the strength or weakness of our faith. If you’re currently experiencing a trial and are shaking your fist at God and wondering why it’s happening, that’s a good indication that you have weak faith. If, on the other hand, you’re resting and rejoicing in the Lord, having placed the trial into His care, then you have strong faith.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 301). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: The strength of our faith is tested when we experience hardship. If we are strong in faith, then we will follow God's way and trust Him without worry. If we are weak in faith, we will question God's motives and perhaps even His power. God knows what is in our hearts, but He tests us so that we can see it too. "I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity" (1 Chron 29:17). When we are tested, we must respond with unshakable, unwavering, heartfelt faith and trust in God.

Applications: Our true nature is hidden in our hearts where only God can see it. Sometimes we do not even recognize our own true nature. We put on such a convincing act for others to see, that we begin to fool even ourselves. Strip away any falseness in your heart and recognize your true self as God sees you. Grow in faith and spiritual maturity, so that your true self will be pleasing and honoring to God. Study and apply scripture with discernment and wisdom. "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15). Work to have only one nature, your true heart nature, visible to both the world and to God.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for recognition of my true heart nature, my true self which God sees. Pray that I would seek to conform that true self to the image of Jesus Christ, by diligent study and application of scripture and prayer and petition to God. Pray that in my heart I would be strong in faith and pleasing and glorifying to God.

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No Fool's Paradise

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.

Psalm 23:4

We have to realize that God is going to allow us to go through tests and that He is working all things out for His own holy purpose (Rom 8:28). I know we all dream of a perfect environment of comfort and tranquility. Although any temporary rest from trials may lead us into believing we might find permanent exemption from them, our lives on earth will never be free from trials. We can live in a fool’s paradise, never forecasting any trouble and predicting a future of ease, but that is a fantasy. Christ warned His disciples and all who follow in His footsteps to expect trials in this life (John 15:18-16:6).

Puritan Thomas Manton once observed that God had one Son without sin, but no Son without a cross. As Christians, we can be assured that we will have trials. But our confidence is that we will have victory over them through the presence of God. Trials will come, but God’s grace will meet us in our time of need.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 300). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: The Christian life is not exempt from trials and suffering. In fact we will probably face more persecution and hardship because we are Christians. But, we know that we can withstand any difficulties and ultimately emerge stronger, more spiritually mature, because God is with us. We are imperfect. We are depraved, sinful, and spiritually weak. If life were easy, then we would never be challenged to grow stronger and become more Christ-like. God purposely puts us on a path which holds challenges and hardships to test us, but if we trust Him and He is with us, we can be assured that He will see us through and we will pass His tests.

Applications: The goal of our lives is not to live comfortably. It is not to live the "American Dream" and have a big house, a fancy car, a satisfying career, and a contented family. The goal of the Christian life is to be conformed to the image of Christ. It is to grow in Christ-likeness. We must be willing to put Christ first. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). The Christian life is full of trials and challenges, but if we trust in God, and we are filled by the Holy Spirit, then we can overcome any obstacle and grow spiritually stronger, spiritually more mature, spiritually more like Christ.

Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would take comfort in God's presence. Pray that I would trust God to see me through trials and hardships. Pray that I would not seek worldly contentment, but I would seek to be conformed to Christ's image, through whatever tests God puts me through.

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Abraham's Faith

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.

Hebrews 11:17-19

Abraham’s obedience took a tremendous amount of faith. He was willing to obey God because he believed God could raise the dead, even though he had never before seen the dead raised to life. He believed God was so true to His Word and character that if He made a promise, He would even raise the dead to keep it. Is it any wonder he is the greatest human model of faith?

The apostle Paul also commented on Abraham’s faith: “Those who are of faith are sons of Abraham…. Those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (Gal 3:7, 9). Anyone who lives by faith in God is in a spiritual sense a son of Abraham. He is the father of the faithful. The account of Abraham tells us that a man can go through the severest trial of life imaginable if he trusts God, believing that He will keep His promise and accomplish His purposes without making a mistake.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 299). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: God is faithful. He will always keep His promises. "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Num 23:19). But in order to reap the benefits of God's promises, we must be faithful as well. God's sovereign plans cannot be thwarted by men. He will accomplish His goals with, or without us. If God chooses us, we can either trust and obey Him, and be used for His purposes, or we can falter and question Him, in which case he will fulfill His plans anyways, but by other means. We must have faith like Abraham, who trusted that God was omnipotent and could fulfill His promises, even ressurecting the dead (Rom 4:21).

Applications: We must be faithful to God as He is faithful to us. To be used by God, you must trust and obey Him. You must be willing to have faith in His sovereignty, regardless of your feelings and your circumstances. Studying scripture will help you to align yourself with His good, pleasing, and perfect will, and to do His word, even when you don't feel like it. Be faithful to obey His commands and do His will, and God will use you mightily. Mordecai and Esther understood this and willingly trusted God to use them. "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Est 4:14). "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish" (Est 4:16).

Prayer Subjects: Pray for faith and trust in the sovereignty of God. Pray for an understanding of God's will and a willingness to submit to it. Pray for strength against doubt and unbelief. Pray that I would faithfully obey God and be used mightily by Him for His glory.

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Job's Confession

I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Job 42:3

At difficult times in our lives, God can seem distant or disinterested in our plight. That’s because our human emotions can override trust in God’s truth, and we can come to believe that no desirable outcome to our present situation exists.

Job, however, shows us that with endurance and patience we can learn whatever lessons God wants us to learn. It was that very trust that caused him to glorify God at the conclusion to his time of suffering: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes”(Job 42:5-6).

As a result of patience and unwavering trust during his long ordeal, Job gained a new understanding of his sovereign God and a greater reassurance of the joys of being dealt with as one of His children.

MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 298). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Lessons Learned: The strength of our trust in God is dependent on our faith. God's attributes and abilities are constant. They are unfailing and omnipotent. But, when our faith is weak, we may begin to question God and His sovereignty. When we are suffering through trials and difficult times, we may wonder if God is still with us. He is, and if we had enough faith we would recognize that He is always there. We must be like Job and persevere through hardship without blaming God. "'Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?' In all this, Job did not sin in what he said" (Job 2:10). Job confesses that he doesn't understand what God understands and admits that it was improper for him to question God's motives. He humbly acknowledges his own impotence and God's sovereignty(Job 42:1-6). We too, like Job, must have true faith which begins with such humility.

Applications: Despite any hardships and suffering, always maintain faith in God's goodness and mercy. Because we are weak, our feelings of trust in God may waver. But no matter what, do not question God's motives or sovereignty, otherwise you commit the sin of pride thinking that you can perform better than God. If you do question Him, confess and repent as Job did. And most importantly, do not let your doubt cause you to lose true faith in God in your heart. Maintain your faith by doing God's word and believing in His promises.

Prayer Subjects: Pray for a true, heartfelt trust in God. Pray that I would be able to maintain my faith despite any feelings which may be influenced by difficult circumstances. Pray that I would be like Job and that I would never blame God, but that I would trust in His sovereignty and the ultimate good of everything that He ordains.

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