Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, eh shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him (James 1:12).
Blessed in temptation--strange, but true! He "that endureth temptation," not he who succumbs to it. "When he is tried"--then by faith he receives the crown of life in fulfillment of God's promise. Why? Because he loves God.
Those who love God will endure temptation. "Love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13:10). No one with their natural eyesight can actually see blessing while they are enduring trial. But when the furnace test is over, they will come forth with the divine mark of approval, "the crown of life." That is the reward--the crown of life; not mere existence, but eternal life. They will be rewarded also with holiness, happiness, righteousness, joy, and the witness of the Spirit in their heart. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). Do we truly know and love our Lord?
A young Chinese father had named his son Moo Dee. When the pastor called, he asked why such a name, for he had never heard it before. The father answered: "I have heard of your man of God, Moody. In our dialect moo means "love," and Dee, "God." I would have my child love God too."
To love God is to know Him, for "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
God is love; His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens:
God is wisdom, God is love.
__J. Bowring
MEDITATION PRAYER: "All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant" (Ps. 44:17).
Blessed in temptation--strange, but true! He "that endureth temptation," not he who succumbs to it. "When he is tried"--then by faith he receives the crown of life in fulfillment of God's promise. Why? Because he loves God.
Those who love God will endure temptation. "Love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13:10). No one with their natural eyesight can actually see blessing while they are enduring trial. But when the furnace test is over, they will come forth with the divine mark of approval, "the crown of life." That is the reward--the crown of life; not mere existence, but eternal life. They will be rewarded also with holiness, happiness, righteousness, joy, and the witness of the Spirit in their heart. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). Do we truly know and love our Lord?
A young Chinese father had named his son Moo Dee. When the pastor called, he asked why such a name, for he had never heard it before. The father answered: "I have heard of your man of God, Moody. In our dialect moo means "love," and Dee, "God." I would have my child love God too."
To love God is to know Him, for "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
God is love; His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens:
God is wisdom, God is love.
__J. Bowring
MEDITATION PRAYER: "All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant" (Ps. 44:17).
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