Blessed is the one who perseveres below trial as a result of, having stood the take a look at, that individual will obtain the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those that love him. James 1:12
James is without doubt one of the most sensible books within the Bible about find out how to reside out your religion. I usually suggest it as one of many finest books of the Bible to start out with. And proper from the start we see some highly effective reality. James 1:12 is a difficult reminder of how we must be dwelling out our religion.
But, many Christians miss what this verse says and fail to use it to their life. And I get that, this can be a difficult verse that flies within the face of how we wish to reside. However this verse has the facility to alter our lives and our religion for the higher if we let it.
So, let’s dive into James 1:12 and see what it means for us right this moment.
The Context Of James 1:12
James begins his letter with a difficult idea: rely it ALL pleasure. Even the trials and struggling are issues that followers of Jesus must be joyful about.
The message right here is to belief God. He can see issues that we can’t from our restricted perspective. And James is telling his readers to belief that God won’t solely lead them via however use these storms for our good.
It is a tough idea for a lot of Christians, however it’s one which we shouldn’t ignore. That’s why James begins his letter off swinging. He needs his readers to grasp the significance of this. Our trials and struggling on this life don’t cease God’s guarantees. No matter we face we will have hope and pleasure.
And it’s in the course of this introduction that we discover the passage we’re right here.
What James 1:12 Means
Let’s unpack this verse to see what how James 1:12 can encourage and problem us.
Blessed Is The One Who Perseveres Beneath Trial
James right here is circling again to what he began with in James 1:2; that we must always rely it ALL pleasure. God will use our trials to provide one thing of immense worth in our lives. Due to this fact we must always persevere via them understanding that God is with us, and he’ll lead us via.
James makes use of right here the Greek phrase makarios (μακάριος) that’s translated as blessed. It’s the identical phrase that Jesus makes use of within the Beatitudes. And Jesus’ message was much like James. Persevere as a result of nice is your reward in heaven.
It is a constant message all through the Bible. Blessed is the one who seems forward at what God promised and perseveres via the trials of this life.
Having Stood The Check
James is encouraging his readers to belief God. Belief that God can see what we can’t, and that he’s finally main us to a spot that’s good for us. What may appear dangerous is definitely getting used for good.
The selection to maintain trusting God will lead to blessings for followers of Jesus. Although our circumstances may be onerous, they’re momentary. God is with us, and he’ll lead us via. So stand the take a look at, hold trusting God.
That Particular person Will Obtain The Crown Of Life
That is the reward for many who stand the take a look at; they obtain the crown of life.
Students are divided on precisely what James is referring to by the crown of life. It’s unlikely that that is referring to salvation as a result of everlasting life will not be primarily based on what we do.
Possible James is referring to the type of life that Jesus got here to ship each in eternity and right here and now. In John 10:10 Jesus says that he got here to provide life to the fullest. The crown of life very effectively may very well be referring to the considerable life that we will have.
Some students argue that the crown of life is an extra reward given in eternity to Christians who stood the take a look at on earth. This could be much like Revelation 2:10 the place John guarantees a victors crown to those that endure struggling to the purpose of dying.
What is evident is that the crown of life is greater than the everlasting life given to each believer. What precisely that’s is up for debate. The purpose is, James is encouraging his readers to endure for the reward is nice.
That The Lord Has Promised To These Who Love Him
That is an fascinating line that this verse ends on, “those that love him.” We’d assume that every one who declare to comply with Jesus love God, however that’s merely not true. Even Jesus had a disciple that didn’t truly love him (John 14:21-24).
It’s in our trials that the presence or absence of our love for God is found. Now, this doesn’t imply that God needs to only grin and bear and fake our struggling isn’t that massive of a deal. No, we’ll battle on this life. The query is, can we let our struggles decide the course we take our life or do we glance to God?
The promise is that God will come via for many who are really trusting him. Their love for God has been confirmed by their steadfastness of their trials. And they’ll obtain life to the fullest as God has promised.
How To Apply James 1:12 To Your Life
Now that we’ve checked out what James 1:12 means, I need to have a look at how we will virtually apply it to our lives. So, right here’s two methods that you could reside out this verse.
1. Look Previous The Storm
We are going to all face trials and hardships on this life. The message from James 1:12 is to persevere via these storms. However how can we do this? We glance previous the storms.
Once we are in the course of a tough season we are inclined to give attention to the ache of that second. It’s all we take into consideration and that just about by no means helps. As an alternative we must always shift our focus from the storm to the one who has overcome the storm.
Once we discover ourselves in a trial we must always hold our eyes on God. We have to day by day remind ourselves of what Jesus has executed for us, and that he’ll lead us via. Not solely will this season finish, however God will use it for our good.
Hardships can appear unfair and even hateful. However we’ve got to remind ourselves of verses comparable to this one. Now we have to maintain our eyes on God in order that we will see that he’s working via the trials of our life to provide one thing of nice worth.
2. Focus On Your Calling
The issue many people face is that we’d quite be snug quite than getting into the calling God has for us. The fact is God by no means promised us a simple life. In truth he promised that we’d face trials and hardships. However that he could be with us via all of them and lead us via.
So, what we have to do is give attention to dwelling in our calling quite than pursuing what’s snug.
This retains us from dwelling a significant life, and it retains us from the enjoyment that God has for us. We wish peace as a result of there’s no storm. However the Bible teaches us that peace is discovered not within the absence of storms, however within the presence of our Savior.
So, focus in your calling. Hold your eyes on Jesus. In the event you do this you’ll not solely make it via the storm you might be dealing with, however you’ll find the unimaginable lifetime of peace and pleasure that God has for you.
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