So,
how have you been doing this week in your journey through the opening verses of
James? Have you sensed that God is meeting
with you and speaking to you through His living and active Word? When you and I have sensed it or not, God
does speak through His Word and seeks to change our hearts with His Word. The Scriptures serve as a mirror to our lives
in revealing what we look like in light God’s holiness. It is the sword and weapon for our warfare
against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
It is the fuel for our spiritual nourishment. It provides us with everything we need for
life and godliness. Praise God for His amazing Word!
As you
read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: wisdom, faith,
doubting, and double-minded.
Passage
for the day: James 1:5-8 (NASB)
5 But if any
of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one
who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to
expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Questions
for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go
on to the next section.
What
should our response be when we need wisdom in the midst of a trial?
How
should we ask for wisdom?
Do you
believe that God will give you wisdom?
Why or why not?
After
reading this passage, how would you describe your faith – confident in God, or
doubting God?
Meditate on this:
I
think it is interesting that we are encouraged to go to God and ask Him to give
us wisdom in the midst of trials. Why,
you may ask? Wisdom is needed because we need to know
how to persevere in the midst of trials.
We need God’s perspective – not only to help us keep the right focus
during trials, but also to strengthen us against temptation. We must turn to God, not to man’s wisdom, to endure
the diverse trials of faith.
So, what
happens when cry out to God for His perspective? Wisdom is given out of God’s generosity and
gentleness. To request wisdom in the
midst of trial is precisely what God intends for us. Wisdom is always God’s gift
to His children, and is necessary to endure the testing of faith. God’s genuine generosity is emphasized and is
central to Jesus’ own teaching (Matt 7:7-11).
God does not criticize or seek to find fault in us as we ask. This promise of wisdom from God belongs only
to those who have a faith that does not doubt.
In other words, it is an active trust or confidence in God, not a
wavering hope that does not truly believe that God is able. In this passage, James inserts
the analogy of a wave of the sea that is blown this way and that by the wind. True
faith is grounded in who God is and does not doubt God’s character and ability;
instead, true faith trusts God without hesitation. We must be loyal to God, who is faithful to
keep His promises!
James
also cautions us against being double-minded.
This person claims to trust in God, when they really do not. They may even talk big about praying, but
they do not pray the prayers of surrender to God’s will. This person is unstable
in everything he does. Why should such a
person expect anything from God through prayer, when he really does not believe
that God will give wisdom? There is no middle ground here. James makes it clear that you and I either
have a genuine faith or not. Although
the doubter cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord, the wholehearted
believer should expect to receive wisdom for the journey of faith—this is the
divine promise. With simple and undivided faith in God, wisdom is freely given
by God!
Don’t
buy the lie that God is not able to keep His promises. God is the sovereign Creator of the universe
and loves you more than you’ll ever know!
He delights in His children coming to Him, placing their full trust in
His ability to do “exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think” (Ephesians
3:20)!
Praying for that you would Love Christ PASSIONATELY, Know Christ DEEPLY, and Enjoy Christ FULLY!!!
Pastor Stephen
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