In Touch Daily Devotion 9 November 2021 | Dr. Charles Stanley | Today’s Message
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Topic: The Purpose of Trials
Today’s Scripture: James 1:2-12
2) Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4) And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6) But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7) For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8) being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9) But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10) and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11) For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
12) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
In Touch Daily Devotion 9 November 2021 | Dr. Charles Stanley
Message: When difficulties come into your life, do you grumble, complain, and resist? Or do you respond the way God desires—with a joyful attitude, a humble and submissive heart, and an understanding of what He wants to accomplish in your life?
Sometimes people mistakenly think that after their salvation, God is going to make life comfortable and stress-free, but that’s not what Scripture promises. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33). Peter told us not to be surprised at the fiery ordeals that come upon us for our testing (1 Pet. 4:12). And the writer of Hebrews wrote that our heavenly Father disciplines and trains us as His beloved children so we may share in His holiness (Heb. 12:4-11).
James’ command to consider trials as “all joy” (James 1:2) makes no sense unless we see them as opportunities for spiritual growth. Trials are designed by the Lord to test our faith, humility, submission, and values. We can either waste our difficulties by defiantly resisting God or benefit by trusting in and depending on Him. The first way leads only to suffering, but the second option results in spiritual maturity and eternal rewards.
Bible in One Year: Acts 1-2
In Touch Daily Devotion 9 November 2021 | By Dr. Charles Stanley. He is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta and founder of In Touch Ministries, both located in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Stanley’s heart’s desire is to get the gospel to “as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, as clearly as possible, as irresistibly as possible, through the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God