Saturday, July 7, 2012


WISDOM

“If any of you lacks wisdom,4678 he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe4102 and not doubt,
 because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
James 1:5-8

4678 – sŏphia – wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual).

4102 – pistis – persuasion, i.e. credence: mor. conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher) especially reliance upon Christ for salvation: abstr. constancy in such a profession: by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.


When a believer asks in faith
for wisdom from our Lord,
he can rest assured it will be given
as promised in His word.
If he would avoid being tossed about
like a wave upon the sea,
he must put his faith in Christ alone
to meet his every need.


Saturday, June 30, 2012


Perseverance


“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance5281.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything.”
James 1:1-4

5281 - hupŏmŏnē – from 5278: cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy – enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

5278 – hupŏmĕnō – to stay under (behind), i.e. remain: fig. to undergo i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: - abide, endure, (take) patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind.


The winds blow and the crape myrtle bows completely to the ground.
The spring rains pour, and the soggy branches appear to be totally drowned.
But each trial just seems to strengthen my favorite flowering tree.  
The trials of life blow in like winds and knock me to the floor.
The testing of my faith, like rain, seems to continually to pour.
But by God’s grace, I persevere; and the Father strengthens me.  


June 30, 2012