The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 1 March 2020 – TOPIC: TRIALS AND TEMPTATION
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DATE: SUNDAY, MARCH 01, 2020
TOPIC: TRIALS AND TEMPTATION
READ: JAMES 1:2-19 (NKJV)
2. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4. But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8. [he is] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9. Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,
10. but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.
11. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
12. Blessed [is] the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
19. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
THE MESSAGE:
The testing or trial of our faith is quite different from temptation. Testing is like examination and involves God trying to know what one will do in the face of challenges of life. God is usually involved in testing. Temptation is being enticed by what we love or desire. It comes from the devil. God does not tempt us(verses 13-14). When we come out of trial unharmed, we receive a very great reward. Being tempted is not sin but yielding to it is. When we yield to temptation, we end up in disaster (verse 15). Abraham went through testing when he was asked to offer Isaac his son (Genesis 22:1-2). He passed the test and was commended and promoted. Samson was tempted by the devil through Delilah. He yielded to the temptation and ended up being blind and finally committing suicide (Judges 16:20-21, 30). Both testing and temptation help our faith to grow or cause disaster to our faith.
What are you going through presently – testing or temptation? How are you handling it? God is interested and is watching how you will come out of it. Will you allow your experience end you up in victory or disaster? We have this assurance from God in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that He will not allow any temptation to overcome us but will make a way of escape for us. Hand over what you are passing through now to God and allow Him to be in charge.
PRAYER: My times are in Your hands O Lord; do not allow me to derail from You.
WELCOME TO MARCH 2020 IN JESUS NAME!