April 11 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 101—James 5:7–11

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.

Devotional:

"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord" (v. 7). We considered the examples of the farmer (v. 7) and of the prophets (v. 10). Third, ponder the example of Job. "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" (v. 11). Job seems like a bad example, doesn't he? He suffered terrible trials. He complained against the Lord when he felt his sufferings weren't fair. He fell into depression and doubt. Nevertheless, whether firmly or weakly, he kept trusting the Lord. And when the Lord finally confronted him, Job humbled himself and repented before God. Most of the time, genuine believers have to say, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief." But thank God, our hope is not in the strength of our faith; it is in the strength of the object of our faith, our living Lord.

And through it all, the Lord proved himself to be "compassionate and merciful." The Lord not only restored Job so that his end was greater than his beginning, but also Job knew God so much better in the end than he did in the beginning. Do you ever feel like giving up? Our Lord uses Job to dramatize how he will bring his redeemed children from suffering to glory when he returns and raises you up and grants you eternal glory with him in the new heavens and new earth. Our Lord knows that you are weak. He knows that you sometimes break under pressure. But he is "compassionate and merciful." See Psalm 103:8–14. And when he returns he will graciously give you more than you can possibly ask or think—not on the basis of your faithfulness, but of Christ's.

"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord." Each of God's redeemed children is suffering through various trials right now. Maybe your trials are so heavy that you can barely keep going. What does our Lord say to you? Wait on the Lord. Be patient. Stand firm. Persevere. Be kind. Our Lord has not forgotten you. Our Lord is returning in power and glory! Then you will see his compassion and his wisdom in each and every one of your trials. And you will be amazed and overwhelmed with gratitude and love. Be patient until the coming of the Lord.

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."^†

^†Click here for the full hymn and tune.

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