A Pastoral Pondering
(Facing Trials with Joy)
Some of you (many perhaps) are struggling through hard times currently. It may be personal (jobs, health, finances); relational (distrust, disappointment, betrayal); spiritual (intercessory burdens for the world-at-large, obedience to God’s calling, diminishing faith) or various other “life-issues” to numerous to mention. If that’s the case I have a word of encouragement and possible direction for you to consider.
This all has to do with a line from the song “Corridor Of Light” (see included lyric below). The phrase I have in mind is, “I can dignify the trial when I call upon His name”. The message behind those words comes from James 1: 2-12. That’s the context --- you should probably read it before you go any further. The second verse specifically is the one I’d like you to consider. The KJV says to “count it all joy”. The word “count” used there is a mathematical term. It has to do with adding things together or gathering things up as resource. What that passage says to me is that we should learn to take the circumstances that life sends us and turn them into a substance that can be added to our spiritual-accounts in such a way as to be totaled up as profit/great gain for us (see:1 Tim.6:6). How is that done? It’s done through acts of worship. The way to “dignify the trial” is by taking whatever life events we find ourselves in and offering them up as “sacrificial worship” unto God (Rom.12:1). The second part of the phrase, “when I call upon His name”, then comes into play. But, it’s not a calling out for God to get you out of something. Rather, it’s a calling for Him to meet you in the middle of your mess in order for Him to receive it all as a faith-gift given up to let Him know that you have purposed to praise Him REGARDLESS of what’s taking place in your life --- either good or bad (see Hab.3:17&18). You do understand that He’ll receive anything and everything we offer Him as worship (by faith) don’t you?
Consider Jos.7:13-26 (KJV). In verse 19 you’ll find an unusual way of bringing glory to God. Achan has rebelled against the Lord and the outcome of his actions for himself (and others) was not good at all. However in the midst of this very disobedient and painful story we find Joshua telling Achan to “give glory to the Lord” by coming clean and admitting (declaring) what he had done. The passage clearly states that glory is given to God through the act of presenting Him with our “stuff” regardless of what it consists of. That’s a concept that many of you are likely not well aware of. Perhaps you should give some thought as to how this could be applied to the conditions you’re presently experiencing.
Getting back to the song I mentioned, the chorus continues by saying “when I’m lifting up Jesus, I’m taking demons down”. That concept is an easy one to state but it’s often a hard one to really get your heart and soul to embrace. It is, nonetheless, more than just words if we will begin (by faith) to attempt to put them into practice.
Consecration (the setting apart of any person, place, or thing for acts of holy service) is our job before and unto the Lord. Sanctification (conforming us into the image, character, and nature of our Lord) is the work of the Holy Ghost. What’s required of us in that process is to humbly yield in obedience to Gods’ Word, His will, and His ways. That all has to do with our perspective. For those with “eyes to see” there is a kingdom coming (manifesting) all around us....even in the “middle of the warfare”(Mt.11:12).
Regarding the “stuff” we find ourselves living in and through. Consider how often contemporary Christians (like us) blame the devil for the bad circumstance that life brings our way. Placing such blame can often be out of line with the Word of God. Let me draw your attention to just two passages of Scripture to highlight what I mean.
"But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job23:10 / NASB)
“So, friends, it's obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time. We had just been given rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn't slow us down. We were sure of ourselves in God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God's Message to you, defiant of the opposition. God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we're not after crowd approval—only God approval. Since we've been put through that battery of tests, you're guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas.” (1 Thess.2:1-4 / The Message Bible)
Both these examples from Scripture make it clear that the trials and testings which happened to Job and to Paul were viewed by them as being designed or sanctioned by the hand of God in His Sovereign dealings for their good (sanctification) and for the advancement of the kingdom. Let me add that there are many (very many) other passages in God’s Word that offer us the same dynamic kingdom-perspective. At the very least it would seem that we should be willing to consider how such passages as these are meant to help us work out our faith with fear and trembling (Phil.2:12-15). I think we owe it to the saints that came this way before us ----- who weren’t as “contemporary” as we seem to be.
OUTWORKING (The “Hook Up”): When you count the negative “stuff” in your life as joy (Ja.1:2) you dignify the trial. That in turn can then lead you to a place where you are “mature and well developed,not deficient in any way”
(Ja.1:4b / The Message Bible) which might look a lot like “coming forth as gold” (Job 24:10).
Selah…
Copyright Secured: See & Say (Songs & Such), BMI
"CORRIDOR OF LIGHT"
If I'm in a bad circumstance
With very few choices
Caught up in the chaos
And hearing strange voices
There's a choice that I can make
It's a way for me to go
Down the corridor of light
There's a hand that I can hold
When I'm liftin' up Jesus
When I'm liftin' up Jesus
When I'm liftin' up Jesus
I'm takin' demons down
Even at the end of the age
There's a promise I can claim
I can dignify the trial
When I call upon His name
Then in the middle of the warfare
Or at the end of my rope
I'll see a corridor of light
Where there's a glimmer left of hope
(We're movin' from) glory to glory
From strength to strength
From one level to another
We're all done with unbelief
With our eyes on Zion
God's "holy hill"
We'll see the corridor of light
That shines and always will
By: W. Berry / See & Say Songs, BMI
