Change Here & There

Bloggers,

It's been a weird winter and many of us are anxious for Spring. The good news is there's only 34 more days before the Spring equinox (around March 21st)!! And this year's Daylight Saving Time (DST), a.k.a. Spring Forward is on April 2nd!! That means we will get more sunlight in the evening!! It's only 45 more days before DST!!

Speaking of all the changes in weather, we experience all kinds of changes that comes against our faith. Let's read the book of James (Phillips):

"When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence. And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God - who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty - and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him. But he must ask in sincere faith without secret doubts as to whether he really wants God's help or not. The man who trusts God, but with inward reservations, is like a wave of the sea, carried forward by the wind one moment and driven back the next. That sort of man cannot hope to receive anything from God, and the life of a man of divided loyalty will reveal instability at every turn." James 1:2-8

Powerful Scripture, don't you think!! And this is very true for many of us today and everyday! What is interesting about this verse is we ought to welcome the temptations and trials as friends, not enemies!! All of us should have kept the "armor of God" according to Ephesians 6 to fight against whatever comes our way. Though, elsewhere in the Scripture, God tells us to "flee from the evil desires of our youth". There are two different cases in our struggle against temptations/trials.

One: we may not know how to defend ourselves against it prompting us to "temporarily" flee from it to "re-position ourselves" (re-training) for the next encounter.

Two: we stay with the temptation like Christ stayed with His but never falling into the trap and wallowing in the mud of our trials..

There's always a change in our affection and commitment with God. It all depends on how your day goes and how the world influences you. We're under daily pressures with time and energy. We expend them all in secular arenas and very little remains for God. Then we say, "Tomorrow, Lord.. I will: read and study the Bible, pray, and re-prioritize my life making you always on top." I wouldn't be surprised when, once again, tomorrow comes, time and energy has already been spent in the secular arena! Then you return to God, "Yeah, I know! I know! Okay, tomorrow." Then we're drifting farther and farther away from God. Like gaining 20 lbs in 2-3 weeks, it will take months to get yourselves back into shape! The farther we drift away from God (lack of commitment to bible studies, worship, personal bible study and prayer), the harder it is to get back with God!

We must be sincere in our faith with God in order to become mature saints in the world today. You may have the trust in the Lord but in the back of your head, you may think it's impossible to make the change. Then God will simply leave you alone because you didn't think He could change everything that's happening in your life. Such a person has "divided loyalty". I wouldn't want a teammate that has "divided loyalty" on my team! If you have read Revelation 3:16 where it talks about Christians who are neither hot or cold, but lukewarm, Jesus is about to spew him/her out of His mouth! He hates those who live their lives of "divided loyalty"! Not only this teammate ruins the chances of the team winning games, this teammate will dampen the enthusiasm of other teammates who are set to win games! How, then, will those "wishy-washy Christians" affect those whom have fought and served so hard to become mature and faithful Christians?

The changes in life that is putting a dent on your faith with God resulted on the choices you have made or are making. The blame isn't on God (Jas. 1:13) but is on you. Otherwise, if we stand strong against the changes in life and remain faithful and true to God, we'll be tremendously blessed!

"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." James 1:12 (niv)