As a kid walking the toy aisles at Kmart, I would play with the Magic 8 Ball. Maybe you remember it; it was a black liquid filled 8-ball that could tell the future. You could ask questions like, “Will I get married? Will I be successful? What kind of job will I have when I grow up?” and receive responses such as, “Without a doubt. Outlook not so good. Reply hazy, try again.” As I think back to some of those questions swirling in my ten-year-old mind I realize that we’re always curious about the future. Today we will look at one verse, one sentence in the book of James where we see a pivotal component of clarity on how to live God’s way.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
I’ve read that verse many times. I see so many different words and phrases; blessed, perseveres, trial, crown of life, Lord has promised . . . how can all of those words and themes even belong in the same sentence? Where is the wisdom here? I believe that James is stressing that the life of a Christ follower is lived in light of the future. Enduring a trial or suffering is typically not at the top of my bucket list, like never. But, oh the joy of suffering. Yes, I said the joy of suffering. When I’m able to see suffering for what it is; nothing more than lacking something that can only be found in God, I realize that he is my source of joy. Period. Is that easy? Nope. But with each hardship that I experience, like the one (or more) that I’m walking through right now, I see that they are momentary, and they are part of a larger story, a grand eternal purpose.
Would you be so courageous to pray that we, you and I, would value a future crown more than any particular moment and that we would be emboldened and equipped to press on through the hardships? Life is hard and suffering is a great test of love, but we have a source of true wisdom that we can draw from, we can have a JOYFUL perseverance, and an incredibly glorious prize!
James 1:12 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
I’ve read that verse many times. I see so many different words and phrases; blessed, perseveres, trial, crown of life, Lord has promised . . . how can all of those words and themes even belong in the same sentence? Where is the wisdom here? I believe that James is stressing that the life of a Christ follower is lived in light of the future. Enduring a trial or suffering is typically not at the top of my bucket list, like never. But, oh the joy of suffering. Yes, I said the joy of suffering. When I’m able to see suffering for what it is; nothing more than lacking something that can only be found in God, I realize that he is my source of joy. Period. Is that easy? Nope. But with each hardship that I experience, like the one (or more) that I’m walking through right now, I see that they are momentary, and they are part of a larger story, a grand eternal purpose.
Would you be so courageous to pray that we, you and I, would value a future crown more than any particular moment and that we would be emboldened and equipped to press on through the hardships? Life is hard and suffering is a great test of love, but we have a source of true wisdom that we can draw from, we can have a JOYFUL perseverance, and an incredibly glorious prize!