James 1:1-8. IF YOU LACK WISDOM-devotional 5-2-19
James 1:1-8                                 Kevin E. Jesmer
Key Verse: 1:5                             5-2-19

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Dear Lord heavenly Father. Thank you for your grace in our lives. I have such stability and steadfastness in my life because of you. You are the rock on which I stand. Thankyou for keeping me even-keeled and my family even-keeled. I pray that you bless our visit to see Mark at St Olaf. Help him with his studies. Help him mature in his faith. Please bless the church’s study of the book of James. Help me to accept your word deeply in my heart. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Part 1. Be Joyful In Trials (1-4)
James 1:1-4, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (ESV)

God teaches us true wisdom through his training. The wise person is one who can discern God’s hand working in every situation. So we must be joyful in trials, confident of God’s love, and sure that he is working to help us grow in Christ. God’s training teaches us perseverance. Perseverance means “keeping on”–not giving up. We can persevere when we trust God’s love. If we depend on God and, by faith, persevere in the midst of trials, we will grow in our faith to be mature Christians.

I thank God for granting us the proper perspective of suffering and trials. Without Christ I would only complain about my trials. I would avoid and regret hardships. I can feel this when I think about work. In so many ways I want to quit my job. I don’t like working for eight hours, moving and moving. It is a hard job. But it is God’s blessing. It keeps me growing as a human being and as a Christian. I definitely would not be the man I am today, nor have the opportunities for ministry if I didn’t work as a nurse. This God’s blessing.

There are relationships that God has led me into that are difficult at times. But I know that God brought us together and I am growing even through difficult relationships.

Before coming to KBC I was struggling with ten years of moderate depression related to working, raising my family and engaging in house church ministry. But even though I endured some tearful struggles at times, I can not deny that God was leading me along the best path. I grew a lot spiritually through those years. It was a hard but fruitful training ground.

I need to preserve in the next chapter of my life. I am getting to be an empty nester. I am going to be 55 years old. What does this next chapter of life hold? How will Julie and I navigate these coming years. No matter what the hardships my be I know that God is with us and he will help us to persevere and grow in our faith.

It is not easy to persevere. At my age there are daily aches and pains. I envy people who retire early. Sometimes serving God seems like one-sided giving and one-sided visiting. But Christ grants me a heart to persevere. I want to continue to live by faith as one who is seeking to win the prize. “Lord, grant me strength daily to persevere for your glory.”

Part 2: Ask God For Wisdom (5-8)

Verses 5-8, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (ESV)

If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God. God wants us to come to him in complete trust, like children, and ask him for his direction and wisdom. He promises to give wisdom to anyone who asks in faith.

I love this about God. I definitely lack wisdom on so many levels. Recently, I was thinking that I had broken relationship with a dear friend at church. I thought that wisdom was to try to forgive and let time heal everything. But after three months there was still a problem. I was helpless to solve the problem. But God, in his wisdom convicted me and then let me know what to do. During communion I realized that I could not let this wait. I knew I had to talk to my brother and set things right. When I followed God’s wisdom, I found out that it was all in my head and God tore down the walls and our relationship was restored. We hugged and our friendship was made stronger all because of God’s wisdom.

I need to depend on God’s wisdom for all things. If I depend on my own inner thoughts and feelings I would surely be led astray. I would not be able to follow God’s leading. My relationships would suffer. I would flee from suffering. I would not embrace the cross that Christ would have me bear.

God’s wisdom is letting me know, lately, that I need to pursue my children, loving them as Christ loves me. I also received God’s wisdom to not abandon a friendship that has a little toxic, but stick with it and put God’s love into practice. God’s wisdom tells me to be thankful for the opportunities for ministry at work and go to work each day with a thankful attitude.

Some people come to God and seek his will, make a decision of faith, then allow “second thoughts” to rob them of wisdom. A double-minded man is unstable in all he does. If it were not for the grace of God, I would be a double minded man. I am constantly choosing my own wisdom over God’s wisdom. I could doubt God’s wisdom and not obey the Lord. This would not be good. I pray that I can be a single-minded man, who can recognize God’s wisdom through his word and respond to that wisdom in faith.

Prayer: “Father, grant me perseverance and wisdom. Grant me a single mind to trust and follow your wisdom in your word.”
One Word: If you lack wisdom, ask God