James
1:2-4
As
a child of God, you should have uncontrollable joy when you face temptations… I
know there are some reading this right now with a big mental question mark as
to why or even how am I suppose to be delighted when I am tempted… The answer
lies further in the text as we come to know that temptations show us the
areas of our lives that we need to mature in as well as the areas in which we
have grown… When we are faced with choices that go against the will of God,
we as children of the most high must observe these snares as the glass being
half full instead of being half empty… The glass being half full means that we
embrace these temptations and find joy in knowing that we can be thankful that
we are not where we use to be… The things that I use to give into I can now
overcome, the situations that use to break me now make me and mold me into what
God’s purpose is for my life… The glass half full says that there is
something left in the cup as oppose to the half empty approach which says that
there isn’t enough… I don’t know what category you fall into; however, I
can help you come to know where you stand depending on how you look at life… Do
you embrace a challenge or do you run from it? Do you stand on your faith in
the midst of a storm or do you fold under the pressure…? James wants you to
know that there is a reason behind everything that you endure and you may not
understand it now, but when you count if all joy you are sure to make it
through the storm and come out better than you were going in… When your faith
is tested, the enemy doesn’t want to see you go higher, but you can count it
all joy because you know that if he is tempting you that means you are on the
right path… I once heard someone say, “Satan isn’t worried about those in
the world because he already has them…” To be tempted means that you are
being enticed, lured or persuaded… So in order to be tempted you must be doing
something that someone doesn’t like… We know that the enemy wants to see you
fail, so if he is tempting you, you must not be failing (I believe a shout of
praise fits right in here)… You can fulfill what James says today and see the
glass half full and have the joy in your heart to press on because you know
that your latter will be greater than your former… You’re not digging a deeper
ditch, your coming out of your trench… You can have joy when you face
temptation because you are being molded, God is transforming you and the devil
is sick and disgusted of what is going on in your life… I find joy in just
knowing that the enemy is upset and confused… I embrace the trials because I
know that He is trying to stop my progression and actually is simply adding
fuel to my divine destiny… The testing of your faith should be received with
open arms as this displays God’s faithfulness and transformation of your life…
You can look back and know that something has changed in you because of the
temptations you face… James reminds us that we should take pleasure in
our temptations; he states that we should consider it pure joy when we face
trials and tribulations. Why is it that James tells us this, why is it that he
says we need to smile when we are tested and not become fearful or reserve? It
is because the testing of your faith working patience’s which will ultimately
leads to your perfection in the will of God. Understand that trials come to
those who are walking in the will of God; Satan doesn’t need to tempt those who
are already walking in darkness, so we should understand that when trials come
it ensures us that we are walking in the light of God. Also, we must remember
that we came into this world as sinners (raw gold) and we must be tried (enter
the fire) to be purified for our true and wonderful purpose. Jesus will
never put more on you than you can bare, but he will have to develop certain
characteristics in you so that you can become the child that he ordained you to
be… You trials serve a purpose in your greatness, you can’t stand without
falling, you can’t give a testimony without adversity, and you can’t live
unless you die… James says that when this obstacle has run its course and you
have withstood your trials, temptations, and tribulations that you will be
wanting nothing… This brings joy to my heart to know that when we endure the
hardships we will find rest for our souls, we will have peace within and we
will be able to depend on God even more knowing that He has brought us out of
the storms and rains that we faced. God is equipping you for a special work; He
is preparing you for greatness and the devil knows that… So be happy when
the TEMPTER comes, because that lets you know that you are on the right path
and every stumbling block he lies will be a stepping stone to your divine
perfection!!!
BE BLESSED!!!
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