April 7 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 97—James 5:7–12

⁷ Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. ⁸ You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. ⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. ¹⁰ As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. ¹² But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Devotional:

If you are forgiven and going to heaven, then why does God make you endure trials? Wouldn't it be better if he just "beamed you up"?

A first reason is because he is working out your sanctification. The Lord does not only save you from the punishment due you for your sins; but also he saves you from your sins. He does so in real life. He saves you by changing you, and that takes time. The fruit of the Holy Spirit's working in your heart grows and ripens gradually, and trials are one of the instruments he uses for this aspect of your salvation. "See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains" (v. 7).

A second reason is because he is concerned about your witness. Job is famous for undergoing such severe trials. "You have heard of the steadfastness of Job…" (v. 11b). Not only have you heard about it; most people have heard about it. God has powerfully used and is still using Job as a witness. It made a profound statement that, when the chips were down, Job valued the Lord more than he valued his possessions, his loved ones, even his own health and life. Some seem to think that the ability to get "health and wealth" by faith is the most powerful witness to the world; God seems to think that your valuing him more than all those things is a much more powerful witness.

God uses your response to your trials as a witness as well. A witness to what? Above all, a witness to his love. This is a third reason why God makes his redeemed children endure trials. "You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful" (v. 11b). "The Lord is compassionate and merciful"! You might not understand why the Lord is causing you to undergo your specific trials, but you know the Lord. You know what he is like. You know that he "is compassionate and merciful." You know that the compassionate and merciful God is sovereign and that he causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28). So whatever God's specific design for your trials, if you are in Christ, then you know that he is using them as instruments of his compassion and mercy. Does that put your trials in a different light?

As the gospel song puts it, "I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow."

Click here for background on the author of Are You For Real?: Meditations in the Epistle of James for Secret or Family Worship.