Title: Lent Dawn Prayer (9) Believers...
Contents
Early morning prayer for Lent (9) The trial of believers (James 1:12-18) 2002.03.12.
I once visited a pottery factory where King George of England had two pottery on display in a special room, with the same raw materials, the same pattern on the tiles, and said to have been painted with the same emulsion. One had a sense of luster and vitality, so it was full of artistic value to anyone looking at it, while the other strangely didn't feel that value at all. It was the difference between roasted and unbaked, and the janitor explained to the king that it was displayed to show how the ordeal of fire can make life shiny and lively and beautiful.
The book of James, which begins with the words, Count it all joy when you meet temptation (verse 2), is a letter written by James, who served as a pillar of the new Jerusalem church after Jesus died on the cross, to many believers. This Teacher James is a little special. It is said that when he was martyred by being stoned and hit with a stick, his loved ones took care of him to retrieve the body, but both knees were convex and completely deformed, so he could not straighten out. So people came to know that James had prayed like this all his life. In other parts of the Bible, you can see James, who was in the most important position in his office as a pillar of the church, never stepped forward and always prayed from behind (Acts 15:13-23). You will learn that his authority came from right here.
The book of James is the letter that this Teacher James wrote to his beloved church members. It consists of 5:108 verses, and there are 54 imperative forms out of those 108 verses. Therefore, in verse 2, each command or request is given. However, we do not know how much the things that James asked for are needed by modern Christians. To Christians with many regrets, God is speaking to us through the mouth of James.
The book of James begins by telling us to be happy when we are faced with difficult situations, and to pray for wisdom when we do not find wisdom in our lives. There are many types of prayer, and they can be broadly divided into two categories.
One is exclusive prayer, and if I receive it, there are answers to prayers that others do not receive. For example, if I pray for one person to let two people marry each other, this is an exclusive prayer because if I get an answer, the other will not. In this case, even God will have some difficulties. And praying that you will be admitted to the school you want in the college exam is a kind of exclusive request and prayer.
And there are non-exclusive prayers. This is the prayer for wisdom in the text. Although God has no choice but to enter the school garden, he has all the wisdom he has, so he gives it to anyone who asks for it. That is why Teacher James advises that if you pray to God for wisdom when you have difficulties or problems that you cannot solve, He will not rebuke you and will give you abundantly as much as you want (verse 5).
And sometimes you may experience financial difficulties. At this time, God tells you not to be humble or ugly and God will give you when the time is right (verse 9). He also exhorts those around him: A rich brother should boast of his lowliness, for it passes by like the flowers of the grass. When the sun rises and the hot wind blows and dries up the grass, the flowers fall and lose their beauty. In this way things will fade away (verses 10-11).
Then, if there are difficulties, there may be temptations. Whenever there is a temptation, it may come from one's own greed, so he asks him to look carefully at where it came from and not be greedy (verse 14).
And since people do not listen well these days, he asks us to speak a little less instead of listening to what others have to say (verse 19). He is saying something very important, telling us to listen carefully to people and to listen to what God has to say, but live by putting them into practice (verse 25). This verse becomes the central theme of the entire book of James. I'm talking about people who have big heads but no big chests, and there are a lot of people who don't have hands and feet. Everyone, live by doing. This is the problem of the Korean church today.
Then he talks about godliness. What do you think godliness is? People often think that wearing clean clothes and gracefully praying and singing, but today's text is saying something different.
He says that godliness is being careful with the first mouth. No matter how holy you are, if you don't take care of your mouth, you cannot be called godliness. The following says that caring for the poor is godliness. The Bible says that godliness is caring for orphans and widows in their affliction, and the other thing about godliness is being unstained by the world and undefiled by the world (verses 26-27).
In today's text, there is a word from God through these words of Teacher James. It can be broadly divided into two categories. One is, why do believers have difficulties, and what should they do when they face these difficulties? Second, what kind of person are mature believers? is to do
The first thing we will see is the trials of those who believe. Believers, like people in the world, may face financial and other difficulties, and may not have good relationships with others. In this case, God tells us to know the reason first. Even though I really tried to live a clean life before God, when there is a trial, it is not because I have lived wrong or sinned, but this trial is given to make me more mature. To make it higher and more holy.
Perhaps there are people who say that it is better not to have such trials because it is not necessary to mature. But guys, think about your children for a moment. Do we not constantly teach and rebuke because we know what is really good for them by our experience and knowledge? God also says that he gives trials to give this because he knows that maturity is the best and most precious thing.
A believer's unique life is naturally good when good things happen, but it can also be good when bad things happen. Because God loves me, if I am aware of this trial I am facing right now, I know that it is definitely a process and a channel to give me something better, and I know that God will eventually bring me to this stage of maturity. . Until now, when there was a difficulty, I had a hard time because of it, but now I do not look at it and to what extent will God establish me after this is over? You can think of this. So, when there is a trial, believers do not suffer because of it, but what will be given after this trial is over? So expect God. So, from this point on, the pain is gone.
Guys, what is patience? Patience is not about clenching your teeth and holding on. True patience is how much God will mature me and what will He give me after this is over? With this expectation, you look at yourself with a generous heart. Living in a dark cave while looking out of the tunnel.
In addition, God teaches us what it means to be the second most mature person.
First, mature Christians do not feel the need to be greedy because they know that God is always with them, so He knows first what I need and what is good for me and that He always leads me on that path. Rather, if you are greedy, God will give you good things, but you will not receive them. So mature Christians are not greedy.
Second, mature people are good listeners. Because we know very well that God can speak through anyone. I can tell you about my business through a young child and sometimes through my wife, whom I thought was ignorant of the world. Therefore, do not ignore the fact that the wife has no world experience. Because they are people who know that God can speak anywhere.
Ladies and gentlemen, today, there are not many people who listen to others, and because they only talk to each other, there are a lot of people who are in pain in many places even though there are countless people who are good at speaking. In general, people with an empty mind talk a lot. Because his heart is empty, he keeps talking to the other person to fill it, but he doesn't even like himself. Talking too much will make you think you are a mature person. However, a mature person can feel full without speaking because his chest is full. That's why God says mature people are people who don't talk much and are good listeners.
Third, he says that a mature person is one who does not get angry. How are you? He says that a truly mature person is a person who is in a high and noble position but does not get angry or shout out loud. Immature people unconsciously feel that they dislike and hate them because they know their shortcomings. Because they hate themselves like this, they get angry by shooting at others what is inside of them. This is called fighter (?뺝컙), and on the outside, he hates others and shouts loudly in anger, but in reality he is becoming more and more desolated.
A mature person sees the shortcomings of others and examines himself. Knowing that other people's shortcomings are visible because of their own shortcomings, they heal themselves by getting angry at the other person. Therefore, the word of the Lord is being fulfilled: 'He who has more receives more and has more.'
Fourth, God tells you today that mature people believe and act the same. The biggest problem in the Korean church is practical atheism. When we believe, God is there, but when we act, God is not. I learned and listened well, but when I try to put it into practice in my life, it just doesn't work.
And he says that mature Christians cannot pass the poor. Because Jesus is in them. Jesus sees the poor and weeps within me, but if you truly love Jesus, you cannot help crying. Now, he says, mature Christians are those who think of the poor people who are suffering from cold and hunger all over the world in the coming cold. It is because they feel the Lord more.
Finally, he says that mature people are people who are not polluted by the world and live with the dignity of being a Christian. If you, who will judge this world, flow with the people of this world, you are no different from them, right? Therefore, he tells us to keep holiness. Here, God says, mature people are those who live together in the world and remain unstained by the world.
The tree line in the Rocky Mountains is said to be about 3,000 m. The appearance of the trees at that branch is not straight and all are curved. Surprisingly, it is said that the world's finest violins come from this tree line. It is said that after suffering from cold wind and snow and rain for a long time, it has become a really mature tree and there is nothing lacking in making the best luxury.