The Daily Fountain Devotional 1 May 2020 for Anglican Communion
Topic: The Virtue of Endurance
Scripture: James 1:1-12
Message: The writer of our text is believed to be James the half-brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a respected Christian leader in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13), he wrote exercising pastoral care/concern to believers who were scattered throughout the Roman world because of persecution. His purpose was to encourage them to remain in the faith despite the hardship they experienced in their new locations. The operative words in the text are trial, temptations and testing. Real Christianity is not easy.
Faithful, uncompromising Christians often attract persecution (John 15:18-20). Persecution comes in various forms of trials (hard situations in which God provides a person an opportunity to do something right) and temptations (enticement of a person to do something wrong). Christians should see trials and temptations as a process of spiritual growth,not destruction (1 Pet. 1:6-7).
Trials and temptations call for steadfastness in our faith, with joyful patience (vs. 2, 3, 12), the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). James’ admonition implies that difficult situations are overcome, not by complaining, but by endurance. Therefore, periods of hardships demand wisdom (correct application of knowledge) from God so that a Christian will be victorious and obtain the crown of life (James 1:2; Rev. 2:10).
The Daily Fountain Devotional 1 May 2020
Meditate: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5)
Prayer
Father abide with me in times of difficulties that I may be victorious.