Friday 28 Jul 2023

July 28: James 1:2-8

Key Verse: James 1:6
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Devotion:
One of the things I used to struggle with was having bad things happen to me and wondering whether God is looking after me or not – after all that is what the church leaders had told me… But as I continued to grow in my faith and study God’s Word, I grew to see bad things can happen to all people because it is more about circumstance and behaviour!

No, I am not blaming anyone for bad things happening to themselves otherwise we would all be in very deep water! Putting it simply, God cannot abide sin; how much worse can it get! But we also have a God who is full of compassion and willing to teach, love and forgive in so many cases. But the one thing He cannot forgive is unbelief. Does that mean we are all doomed? No! For when our unbelief turns to belief, no matter how small, He forgives and changes our lives!

When bad things happen we can surely say we are living in the same world as everyone else. This gives us the right to share our belief in God and to allow people to see there is hope and a great reward for anyone who is willing to believe. Our bible is full of stories of how the people of Israel would do strange things like make up their own gods only to see the error of their ways and turn back to our God. Then their lives changed!

God loves us – to matter what! God wants to share wisdom with us – even when we are too proud to accept wisdom! God gives generously to His children – even if we have everything we want. God wants us to have no doubt and will show us great things when we believe!

Points to Ponder:
Do you feel hard done by?

Will you allow your hope and faith to conquer that doubt?