Title: Rejoice in Suffering/James 1:2-4
Content Rejoice in suffering/James 1:2-4
Key Verse: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials” (verse 2).
Word: The Apostle Paul lived with three great thorns in his flesh. It was eye disease, epilepsy, persecution by the Jews of the same race, and threats to life. With these three thorns, did you start to pray to God to remove these thorns while you were always troubled and faced with difficulties?
I prayed earnestly once, but there was no answer. Although the Apostle Paul healed many people through prayer and raised the dead, there was no answer when he prayed for himself. He prayed again earnestly the second time. There was no answer. Now the third prayer. “God, take away my thorns! Reveal the glory of God!” But the answer came, not because all the thorns were gone, but “My grace is sufficient for you. All the thorns you have now are useful to you, and I want to be glorified through them. And through it, we must benefit everyone.” was the voice of God.
The apostle Paul realized then. I realized that the thorn I have is beneficial to me, it is glory to God, and the ability to preach the gospel to many people is with me. From then on, I became grateful for the thorn. Deep blessing, I began to know that the power of God dwells in me. From then on, he begins to brag about his weakness. “I have such bad eyesight. I have epilepsy. I suffered a lot of persecution.” All of them are really proud, really grateful, glorified, and begin to rise to the next level of faith.
Many Christians today boast of the world. “My son went to a good school. Our business is going well. My daughter is a movie star.” However, these people are not yet deeply religious people. They are people of shallow faith who are satisfied only in the one-dimensional world on this earth.
But a person who can speak proudly of my weaknesses and shortcomings, such a person is truly a person of high faith. God is pleased.
Then why do we have to go through the trials and tribulations that God gives us in this world? Regarding this, James 1:4 says: “So that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” And James 1:12 says that after you have been approved through suffering and temptation, He will give you the promised crown of life. We must do our best to realize that any trials and hardships we face are God's will, give thanks, and achieve greater faith and greater image of God.
Prayer: God! Give me great faith that rejoices in suffering and tribulation, and guide me to meet God more deeply in the midst of suffering and tribulation and to become a greater victor who forms the image of God. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Lord's Prayer