Staying True!

Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. JAMES 1:12 AMP

First, trials and temptations are a part of everyday life. No one is immune, nobody is above these. It does not matter how young or old you are; testings are a part of this life, and God's way of knowing our priorities and allegiances. One big lesson I have learnt: God does not commit great assignments into the hands of people he himself has not 'tested and approved'.

Second, God's idea of 'being blessed' is a far cry from the world's idea of blessing. We focus so much on the physical, and even weigh our importance on the basis of what we possess or what we know. Unfortunately, God sees differently. He ties true success to his Word, and it is his standards that define success, not the world's warped views. The world may see me as foolish and slow; God sees differently, because he measures us by different standards.

Check out those words: 'passed the test and been approved'. Grace is always available to help us pass the test. The question always is if we take advantage of that grace. The crown of life is the reward of faithful and consistent service, and the benefits start from down here. The world may define it differently, but then, popular opinion has never been God's way of dealing with his own.

Can God find you faithful and true? Can he count on me to stand for him, even when everything around me is falling to pieces? Can he count on my allegiance? His time of favour is here.