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By Wendy Neill, IRSM Advancement Coordinator in Arkansas
As you may know, our theme for this year as a ministry is “Committed to Christ, 24/7 in 2024.” This month, we are focused on being Committed Disciples.
James, the brother of Jesus, was a prominent leader among the New Testament churches. He wrote the book of James to early Christians, and he leads off with a pretty shocking statement: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (Jas 1:2 NIV). Joy is not the emotion I usually feel when I face trials. So why does he say that? Let’s keep reading: “...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” (Jas 1:3-4).
Joy comes from knowing that those trials do the important work of producing perseverance, making us mature and complete, so we don’t lack anything. I can get more excited about that.
But what really ramps up my joy is found further down in verse 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” (Jas 1:12). Now I’m with you, James! I can see the process and how I can consider it joy:
Commitment to Christ -> Trials -> Perseverance -> Maturity -> Crown of Life!
In chapter five, James brings up perseverance again: “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (Jas 5:11). Job went through extreme trials that I hope you never have to face. But James is reminding us: look what God did for Job in the end!
Like James, I am a big believer of keeping the end in mind, especially when it comes to Heaven. When we set our eyes, our minds, and our hearts on the “end game,” it makes it easier to keep putting one foot in front of the other in faith. My favorite verses about perseverance are the “overcomer” verses in Revelation, chapters two and three. Take some time to read those two chapters and look for this pattern: “To him who overcomes, I will give_______.” (NOTE: the NKJV uses “who overcomes,” while other versions use “who is victorious.”)
I’ll whet your appetite by giving you the first one: "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Rev 2:7b NKJV). James told us we will receive the crown of life if we persevere, but we learn from John in Revelation that we will also eat from the tree of life in Paradise! I can definitely feel joy when I keep that end in mind! Keep reading those two chapters and you will find more exciting promises for those who overcome.
We all face trials that test our commitment to Christ. Sometimes we must persevere through “big” trials:
- Trusting God through a medical diagnosis that turns our world upside down.
- Holding His hand through the unexpected death of a loved one.
- Bringing Him our doubts about His plans.
Sometimes we persevere through our everyday, “mundane” trials:
- Stopping those hurtful words from escaping our lips during an argument.
- Turning our eyes away from images that corrupt our minds.
- Extending grace and acceptance to the coworker who is hard to be around.
Big or small, God sees your perseverance and will reward you.
Are there “big” trials you are facing right now? What “mundane” trials do you struggle with? Which of the “end game” promises above would help you persevere in your commitment to God?
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9 NIV).
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Written by Keren Soraia, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, Brazil
Our Lord says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32 NIV). I know this passage is talking about the gospel which gives us salvation and eternal life, but I also believe that it can be applied like this: when we speak the truth, we are free from the possible consequences of sin. When we find someone who tells us the truth, even if it is difficult to hear, we know that we can trust them. Therefore, when we speak the truth, we become trustworthy people.
I thought many times about how to approach this subject — what to say, how to say it. After all, talking about truth is not something our human nature is used to, instead preferring to hide behind lies or omissions, leaving us with the feeling that it is “better this way.” If I lie or omit this fact I won’t have to deal with that person or problem. Our life seems “easier” this way and we don’t notice the resulting problems and consequences. When we do notice, the lie is already a snowball so big that we have no way out other than to resolve the issue and bear the consequences.
Once at my old job, we received a large order for meat. I noticed that this order was taking a long time to come out, and if it was left in the freezer too long, the meat would freeze. Because I was not the supervisor at the time of this order, it was not my problem (yet). But when the part of my shift came when I took over as supervisor, guess what was still in the freezer: the meat. Minutes later, there was an angry customer on the phone. My boss asked what was happening, why the order hadn't been delivered, and an assistant manager asking what he was going to do, why the meats were frozen, and pointing out that if the customer canceled the order, the meats were going to be unsuitable for sale. I thought: what now? Why didn't I say anything—why didn't I resolve it at that time?! Even if it wasn't my responsibility, if I had resolved it, I wouldn't be going through this now. My consequences: stress, a warning, and personally paying for one of the meats that the customer didn't accept.
In the scriptures, we find these passages:
Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.” But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply “Yes” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Mt 5:33-37)
Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. (Jas 5:12)
These passages talk about similar things such as not swearing by anything and especially by God, and that our yes should mean yes, and our no should mean no. I can't tell you how many times my mother quoted this text to me. I can still clearly hear her. At that time, I didn't understand why. But now I understand: my mother was using the scriptures to teach me about honesty and integrity. She taught me that if I said yes, it should mean yes, and that I should always keep my word so that I would be taken seriously.
Today, being honest and having integrity are such uncommon virtues that when we meet someone like this, it's unusual. They are laughed at, called naive, or told that they don't know how the world works, but that's how Christ calls us to be! We must be honest and have integrity not only concerning money, but with people, feelings, prayers, and especially in our relationship with God.
Having integrity and being honest and true to ourselves frees us from the bonds of sin and the fears that life brings, ready to be filled with the grace and love of God, and it prepares us to pass this grace and love on to others. After all, Christ interacted like this with everyone He met while He was on earth.
Are you and I willing to open our hearts, being true like Christ was?