James 1:9-11


James 1:9-11 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like the wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant, its blossom falls, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business

In reading these verses again, I finally understand them a bit better than I ever have. There are trials in life and they often come when everything is either brilliant or when things are bad. These two times in my life are trials that can make me stop looking to Jesus. When everything is brilliant I may stop looking to Jesus, who provided everything for me. I may take Him for granted, take the glory for things that I do and I may begin thinking that I am the brilliant one. Or when everything is bad I may turn away from God, believe a lie about Him that He is not there and try and sort things out by myself. Whether it is my relationships with others, my health, my position, my finances, in all these ups or downs, good times or bad times. I need to be looking to Jesus. 

There are times when I am high and there are times when I am low. There are times when I am being humbled and times when I am promoted. If I am low or in humble circumstance I need to take pride in Jesus and the high position He has given me. He has made me His beloved, a son and co-heir with Him both now and in eternity. Or if I am doing well and things are going great I need to remember Jesus and that He has and is doing everything. I need to remember that I am just dirt, a sinner who is saved, a whore redeemed and everything I am and have is His.

Application: this is practical now that I am serving the Lord in IGNITE as I serve, remember my position and remain content in Jesus here and now. I must remember to not gloat and not grumble, but rather I must be content in Jesus’s hands. He is the One who holds all things together.


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