James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?
LIVE IT!
Mark 4:1-6; Mar_4:14-20
Jesus taught. But he lived what he taught. And he lived it first before he taught it. And he lived it most, more than even he ever could teach it. On the human side here was the great power of his teaching. He will teach us. We need it. We need it daily. But we must live it as we learn it; then we can teach it to others. This is the first rule in Jesus’ school.
JESUS IS PRAYING MOST NOW
John 17:9-21
Jesus is still praying. He ever lives to pray us through. Thirty years of living, three years of serving, one tremendous act of dying, nineteen hundred years of praying! What an emphasis on prayer! Yet all through, praying had its roots deep down in the living, and serving, and dying. And the prayer at heart is this: that love, real love, might flood our lives, purifying, unifying, and perfecting. Let us pray and—love.
FOOTING THE BILLS
Luke 14:25-35
Everything worthwhile costs. And you can tell its worth by how much it cost—somebody. It cost God much to give his only Son! It cost Jesus both reputation and life to save us. He saved others, but he couldn’t save himself from the awful cost of saving us. It costs to sin. Selfishness is awfully costly. And it costs to follow Jesus, really, truly, fully. But it’s worth all it costs, and immensely more.
PIPE-LINE PARTNERS
John 15:15-27
The Holy Spirit would bear witness of Jesus. “And ye also shall bear witness,” Jesus said. They added their bit. They could do nothing without the Holy Spirit. And, reverently let us say it, the Spirit could not do his work without them. They must let him use them as he needed. They became the pipe-line through which the water of life flowed. Are you an “also”? Are you adding your bit—your life? It is needed. That’s the plan.
KNEE POWER FOR THE DAILY JOB
Luke 6:12-16
He picked them out on his knees. Slowly, thoughtfully, through the night, he sifted back and forth, taking account of weaknesses and drawbacks, till at last the list of twelve men stood clear. A great night’s work, that, getting fishermen ready to be apostles. No wonder Peter came back, and John’s fire burned out in love. That night’s knee work did it. Nothing human can resist quiet, steady, confident knee work. Try it on your daily job.