James, chapter 1 - Part 2

This is the day that the LORD has made. We shall be glad and rejoice in it. Father, thank you that as Your Word goes forth, it is bringing understanding and revelation that we are walking and living by the power of God in the name of Jesus, Amen.

James 1:4 (NKJV)

"But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Amen, thank you LORD.

The verses preceding the above lead scripture encourage God's children to rejoice in the midst of various trials. I find it interesting that the Word says various trials and as I have shared before, the love of God does not exempt you from trials but it gives you the grace to endure and partake of the victory that Christ has already has won on your behalf. A key part of your faith journey is endurance that is exercised through patience and today's lead Word reminds you to allow patience to have its perfect work in you as you go through the trials on the way to beholding your promise.

I have found that God's promises are equally as important as the person you become before you behold the promise. Often times, one would be tempted to have a quick fix or solution especially with the world system, but God is into a more steady pace concerning the lives of His children as He refines your character and the way you live because the person you become is equally as important as the promise.

Jesus Christ came to the earth, fully God and yet fully man with God's promise of delivering the world from sin upon His life but His earthly ministry only started when He was 30 years old, the age of maturity according to His culture. Prior to this time, nobody knew of Jesus or even heard Him preach a sermon.

Joseph had a promise from God that he was going to be a great leader, one to whom his entire family would bow down to but right after this promise, he experienced various trials. The trials that Joseph endured did not erase the promise of God on his life, rather they prepared and refined his character for that which God had always prepared for him that ended up preserving the lineage of Jesus and the world. The same goes for David who was anointed to become the second king of Israel but after a series of the wars, conquests and proven character of fighting the temptation to harm the king who was in office at the time, king Saul despite the attacks on his life. Ultimately, David received his promotion from the Lord as King of Israel.

Psalm 75:6-7 shares a reminder that promotion only comes from the LORD. When your heart is steady and perfect, lacking nothing whereby no situation outside of your life can take away or add to your life, get ready to receive your promotion from the LORD. A steady heart that is as a result of patience exercised through trials refines your motives and vision to be able to see everything as the LORD does that is according to His plans and purposes, not your own preferences.

TO BE CONTINUED...

I'll end with this Word found in Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV)

22. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23. gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

24. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh and with its passions and desires.

25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: If you would like to receive Jesus and be born again into God's Kingdom, that is saved and have a personal relationship with God as Your Father and you as His child by receiving His Son, Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, I invite you to say this confession:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

GLORY TO GOD, You are now a new creation in Christ Jesus! In case you have not already, please prayerfully consider becoming a member of a church and get WATER BAPTIZED!