James 1, Trials and Temptation

I've been reading through the book of James lately, and there's so much happening in the Scripture and in my life related to this. I hope this book provides as much enlightenment for you as it does for me.

I've broken the book down into 11 sections according to subheadings in my Bible, and I've broken several of those down into subsections with my own titles. I read a NIV Life Application Bible, which is what the excerpts will come from. I will often refer to the footnotes in my Bible, as well.

James 1:1-18
Trials and Temptations

1:2-8 Persevere Through Trials
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault,and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

We are supposed to take joy in our trials and suffering, because it builds perseverance. It also helps us grow in faith, if we let it. I struggle with this. I know it's true, because the hardest times in my life are when I've grown the most. But there are times I get mad at God for letting bad things happen, especially to my friends. I was once told that it's okay to get mad at God - God can handle it. He can handle your anger, and he'll forgive you no matter what when you ask for it.

1:9-11 Humble Circumstances
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

There are parts of this I struggled with, particularly about the rich taking "pride in his low position." I understand how the rich have a "low position" in the eyes of God - God is biased towards the poor. It was once explained to me that he has the attitude of, "Well, if you don't take care of them, I will." God loves the humble. However, why are the rich told to take pride in their low position? Shouldn't they strive to make God proud by humbling themselves like the poor?

What I try to gather from this passage is this - be grateful for what you have, and help those who are less fortunate than you. Humble yourself before God. Though I am far from wealthy in our western society (poor college kid, sometimes struggling to pay bills), I know I am extremely well off compared to the genuinely impoverished, and sometimes this really bothers me. I can't afford to tithe on a regular basis, or give much funds to charity. Yet I am so fortunate. I finally came to realize that there are other ways to take care of the poor and honor God than just financially. Time is very valuable to me. As a student and future educator, I have a very intense school and work schedule that demands so much energy. There are times when there simply aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I need to. However, I still spend a designated amount (though sometimes small) completely devoted to God - whether it's in prayer, Bible devotions, this blog, or leading a small Bible study. There are more ways to serve God than with just our money.

1:12-18 Temptation
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, or does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

It says in the footnotes of my Bible that God tests us; he does not tempt us. This is a very valuable piece of information that we must remember. I know I sometimes pray to God to take a temptation away from me. Instead, I should pray that he help me fight the temptation. "God allows Satan to tempt people...in order to refine their faith and to help them grow in their dependence on Christ. We can resist the temptation to sin by turning to God for strength and choosing to obey his Word." I wish there wasn't temptation in my life - that would make everything so much easier. Yet, it's still there, and I must fight it on a regular basis.

More than Conquerors

I suppose I should actually explain what the title of this blog is all about. For that, we turn to the book of Romans.

Romans 8:28-39, NIV

      And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
     What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Though it's lengthy, this is a very powerful passage to me. Nothing can separate us from God. The torn veil at Christ's crucifixion eliminated the barrier between Heaven and earth, between God and man, making the personal relationship with God possible. And that personal relationship is nearly impossible to break.

Then again, though the relationship can be broken (I know of a man who used to be a minister, and is now a self-proclaimed "Pagan" who practices witchcraft), God's love for us is never broken, which is so reassuring. I know I mess up. I know I am a sinner. I know I wander - sometimes frequently. But he still loves me and is ready and willing to forgive me the second I run back into his open arms. Nothing can separate me from his love.

We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

An Introduction

Greetings, world!

My name is Rachel. I'm a junior in music education with an instrumental focus. I love God, music, and my friends - all of which will likely be featured in this blog at points.

This will just be a place where I dump thoughts and stories and enlightenment from my life. I keep a regular devotion journal, the contents of which will probably pop up here from time to time.

But yeah, I don't really have much to say right now. I'm not very good at introductions and such. I guess I'll leave you with some things you should know about me:

1. I am very passionate about my faith and God. I love talking about my faith, but I don't find a lot of opportunities to do so. Which is why I'm here.
2. I am very passionate about music and music education. I love to perform, and I would have been a performance major, but I feel the calling to fight to keep music education in our public schools to continue to enrich students' lives.
3. I want to teach in inner city schools, because I believe every child can and deserves to be taught, and it is up to us teachers to provide that quality education.
4. I have a deep love and passion for Africa. I've always been infatuated by their culture, and I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Swaziland last summer, and I've been blessed yet again to travel to Kenya this July. Just a warning: I never shut up about Africa. I love it and I miss it every single day. So, I'll be talking a lot about it here as well.

But yeah. That's me in a nutshell. Get excited.

Or don't. It's whatever.

Peace.