Saturday, October 27
James 1:1-8
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 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. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Devotional:
The Holy Spirit (through the Apostle James, who was a half-brother of our Lord Jesus), encouraged some followers of Christ who were scattered all over the ancient Roman Empire. As He urged them to persevere in trials, He encouraged them to pray for wisdom. When we undergo trials, what we really need most is God’s wisdom that guides us to think right, feel right, and do right in our circumstances. James encourages suffering believers in this: perseverance is a tool God uses to help us become more like Jesus. Perseverance is completed when, through our trial, God’s wisdom is manifest. The promise James gives from the Spirit is that in our trials when we pray for wisdom, God will grant it! He urges, though, that such a prayer must be done in complete confidence and without a shadow of doubt. How easy it is to doubt in the midst of suffering and trials. Yet, we know that Jesus was the perfect Sacrifice. We know that Jesus Christ paid fully for the sins of the world. We can trust fully in who Jesus is and what He has accomplished on the cross! When we have faith in God during trials, God will answer our prayers. In your trials, pray… pray with complete confidence!
Pastor Gideon
Today’s challenge: pray for wisdom.