Sept.26.02: Light For The Day - "Claim a Larger Blessing"

-- James 1:12 (NIVUS)
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,
because when he has stood the test,
he will receive the crown of life that
God has promised to those who love him."

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There are two ways of getting out of trial.
One is to simply try to get rid of the trial,
and be thankful when it is over.
The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from
God to claim a larger blessing than we have ever had.

Sometimes God removes our trials,
and it isn't necessarily wrong to ask Him to do that.
But often the trials remain, and when they do,
we should accept them and ask God to teach us from them.

As Peter Marshall once put it,
"God will not permit any troubles to come upon us,
unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing
can come out of the difficulty."
It is through the suffering, the tests and trials of life,
that we can draw near to God.

A.B. Simpson once heard a man say something he never forgot:
"When God tests you, it is a good time for you to test Him by
putting His promises to the proof, and claiming from Him just
as much as your trials have rendered necessary."

-- Billy Graham

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-- Job 5:17 (NIVUS)
"Blessed is the man whom God corrects;
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."

-- Proverbs 3:11,12 (NIVUS)
"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and
do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in."

-- James 1:2-4; 5:11 (NIVUS)
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that
you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

-- James 5:11
"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what
the Lord finally brought about.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

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