Good evening Brethren! As this world looks for pleasure and help in all the wrong places and prophetic events speed up with more trouble on the horizon, it is easy to get down and troubled, instead of focused on God and in His words. It is also difficult at times to feel thankful about our lives and experiences.
What then is our thoughts in trials or even when we do receive help and blessings from God?
Blessings come in many ways. Even a trial could be a blessing in disguise and in fact all trials do yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. So in fact we should not be grieved in trials but instead try to understand the bigger purpose being worked out in our lives.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 NIB)
Profound words in this version the NIB. Even though we know the OKJ or NKJ overall has a better focus on the scriptures doctrinally, sometimes using a different more modern translation helps us gain a better perspective in what God says through His servants.
“Pure joy” is an interesting phrase because sometimes in a trial we just grit our teeth and say, yes I am trying to have joy but pure joy means to really have it; and that can only come from God Himself to help us through Jesus Christ; and so naturally we should give thanks to God for trials or even blessings, no matter how small they might be.
That is a challenge but do we give thanks?
“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father…” (Ephesians 5:17-20 NAS)
Notice the relationship here. We thank the Father, in Christ’s name. (Which is why we conclude our prayers with:”… and we ask all this in Christ’s name, Amen” or – “so be it.”) Indeed, do we then, give thanks to the Father, on a regular basis for all things?
If not, then try it, in your life, daily. Give God thanks, even for a trial or a blessing, and see what happens. Not a trumped up thanks, but in real thanks.
Try to find something good to say, even about a trial. For instance: “Our heavenly Father…. I wanted a challenge and now I have one; and thank you!” Good so far. Now go on, also ask God: “….but how do I do this task before me?”
You see God likes “hard” problems to solve. He says, put all your care on Him (Matthew 11:30). The problem is we try to do it our self, instead of seeking advice from the ministry on how to do something; and then with our whole heart, seeking the Father in and through it all. God wants to be involved in our lives!
As well, many times we blame God. He is somehow unfair; or that this should not happen to us. Some, are even upset when they only receive so much relief, instead of all, of what we wanted! Yet realize that God has to open and close the right doors in our lives.
He knows the exact time to do that work of His. That is why God also says that we are to: “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:4 NKJ)
Why? — Because He knows the best time to resolve an issue and the best time to give out a blessing. It is that simple; and, guess what? God simply loves an attitude of thanks through it all, as we live a patient life. It carries a lot of weight with God!
Finally, when God does act, don’t forget Him! “Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, 11 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you shall eat and be satisfied, 12 then watch yourself, lest you forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 6:10-12 NAS)
Yes, lest we forget “who” did it all! You see God has brought us out of the slavery of this world and its ways. Should then any of us forget God, the Father who has done so much for us, through Jesus Christ, His first born Son among many brethren, who gave His life for us all? (Rom 8:29 NKJ)
That is a wonderful reminder of our future. Let’s thank God daily for all we have and live a very thankful life, for the knowledge He has given to us!
Tomorrow, Church services will be at 11 AM (Hampton Inn) in Albuquerque NM and at 2:30 PM in Santa Fe NM. Remember our hall change in Albuquerque and time changes coming up. On February 11th Church Services will move to our new hall at 3:00 PM each Sabbath. Santa Fe will switch to 11:30 AM in their same hall.
In addition, our first “regular” Las Cruces Bible Study is Friday Evening, March 9th at 6:30 PM. Please be praying about this and for the growth there, toward having regular Sabbath Services! Also tomorrow Prescott and Tucson Services will be held in their regular halls both at 10:30 AM and Phoenix at 3 PM, followed by the Chili Supper.
Let’s thank God for all this wonderful growth in His Church. Have a peaceful Sabbath evening!
Sincerely,
Rodger L. Bardo
Area Pastor AZ-NM
