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This eagle sculpture is at the National Memorial Arboretum which is a national site of remembrance at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England.
Having a godly, positive attitude will make all the difference in enjoying happiness, success, and contentment in life. “Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.… When my attitude is right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me” (Charles Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip).
1. Loving and serving God must have first priority in our thinking.
Deuteronomy 10:12–13 Now, people of Israel, listen to what the LORD your God demands of you: Worship the LORD and do all that he commands. Love him, serve him with all your heart, and obey all his laws. I am giving them to you today for your benefit. (GNT)
Joshua 23:11; 24:14–15; Matthew 22:37
2. We must maintain an eternal perspective in our thinking.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (ESV)
2 Corinthians 4:18 We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (ESV)
Matthew 16:23–25; Romans 14:7–8
3. Our minds must be focused on spiritual things—what God desires for us.
Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (NIV)
4. We must have transformed, renewed minds and must not think as unbelievers think.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)
Ephesians 4:17–24
5. We must think sacrificially, placing others ahead of ourselves.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV)
Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:3–7
6. A humble attitude is pleasing to God. Sinful pride he clearly hates.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. (ESV)
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (ESV)
Proverbs 11:2; 16:18; 18:12; Romans 12:16
7. When others have wronged us, an attitude of forgiveness is commanded. Bitterness must be put away.
Ephesians 4:30–32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV) Romans 12:17–21
Biblical Narratives
• Cain, his bad attitude, Genesis 4:5–7
• Joseph, his good attitude toward his brothers, Genesis
50:15–21
• Jesus, sacrificial thinking, Philippians 2:5–8
• Paul, his attitude of contentment, Philippians 4:10–13
Keith R. Miller, Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Men (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014), 40–42.
How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
[Psalm 104:24-30 NIV]
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
1. Like it or not, we are ALL sinners: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)
2. The punishment for sin is death: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)
3. Jesus is our only hope: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)
4. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)
5. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)
Read the Bible for yourself. Allow the Lord to speak to you through his Word. YOUR ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!
A section of the Taoist classic text Daodejing by Laozi (老子道德经下篇). I'm not sure why it's so scratched-up.
The Tree Planted by the Waters
George Everard, 1884
The servant of God is often described in Scripture under the image of a tree bearing good fruit. And under this figure we have his verdure and fruitfulness connected with the River of God's grace. We find it both in Psalm 1, and also in Jeremiah 17.
Before dwelling upon this description, let us take something of a contrast. Hugh Macmillan tells of a remarkable plant that grows in the South American forests. It is a sort of club moss, and in dry seasons becomes somewhat of a traveler. When every particle of moisture is extracted from the soil, it will detach itself from the earth where it has been growing, and curl itself up into a ball. It is then carried away for miles by any strong wind, and remains coiled up until it reaches some marshy land or pool of water. It will then begin slowly to unfold itself, taking root and assuming its former appearance. It may grow long enough to cast its seed on the air, and when its new home becomes dry, as the previous one — it will take to its former unsettled habits, and like a pilgrim go forth to seek the water that it loves.
Truly does the author, who gives this account, compare this plant to a child of the world. Such a one has no fixedness or stability. He goes from scene to scene, from one object to another, seeking for a little passing gratification. Unsettled in spirit, tossed hither and thither by temptation, by the world's allurements, or by every breath changing opinion — finding no permanent spring of hope or consolation, at length he passes away without having ever discovered the secret of true peace and satisfaction.
The prophet Jeremiah uses somewhat of a different image. "This is what the LORD says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives." Jeremiah 17:5-6
But not so is it with the godly man. He leans on a Divine arm. His heart draws near to a Father in Heaven. His spirit cleaves steadfastly unto God. The name of Jesus is his stay and resting-place. In the darkest night of trouble he makes the Lord his hope, and encourages himself in His faithful care. And how rich is the blessing he inherits! There is no curse for him. He is not like the heath in the desert, or the rolling plant of the forest. He inhabits no parched places or desolate wilds. The very reverse of all this is his portion. "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8
What a variety of blessedness is promised here! All around may be parched and dry. Sin and worldliness and unbelief may wither up all true joy — but he still retains his comfort in God, and grace to confess the Name he loves. He casts his roots deeper and deeper, in stronger faith, in more frequent meditation — and thus drinks in perpetually from the ever-flowing streams of living water. He flourishes as the cedar in Lebanon. He grows rapidly like the palm-tree. His bough is laden with precious fruit. Even in the year of drought — in times of deepest trouble or distress — he is freed from perplexing carefulness, and still honors God by his joyful patience and holy submission to the will of God.
In the life of the patriarch Joseph, we have a forcible illustration of the promise here given. He was ever a man of faith, deriving all his strength from nearness to God. He was "a fruitful bough by a well" (Genesis 49:22). Like a well-rooted tree, he was ever steadfast, rejecting with abhorrence the sin proposed to him, and manfully performing his duty and bearing the fruits of righteousness . . .
in the house of Potiphar,
in the prison, and
in his high position in Egypt.
"His branches ran over the wall." He was a blessing wherever he went. He brought down a blessing on his heathen master, then on Egypt, and then on all his father's house. Never, never did his leaf fade, nor were his branches found without their appropriate fruit.
But how may this blessing be yours? How may you, too, be a tree of righteousness, ever growing, ever bearing fruit through the power of divine grace?
Be sure, the River of Life is near at hand, the waters are flowing on in rich abundance, and if you will follow the directions which the Master gives, you cannot fail of the promised blessing.
Come near, and keep near, to the secret source of all life and fruitfulness.
From first to last, it is a matter of humble trustfulness. The heart of the ungodly man departs from the Lord — the heart of the godly man flees to Him. He runs, he walks, or he creeps, which ever it is — at least, he comes and draws near. Thus must you do. Set your face toward God. Remember His promises and rely upon them. Remember the precious name of
Jesus, and let this give you sure confidence. Remember God's exceeding loving-kindness. Remember His faithfulness and truth. Remembering all this, trust the Lord continually. Trust Him for all that concerns this life. Put every care and sorrow and burden into His hand. Leave all with Him, however gloomy, or painful, or threatening, the prospect may be. Trust Him with all that concerns your spiritual welfare. Trust Him when the heart feels cold and dead, that He will revive and quicken you. Trust Him when you can scarcely utter a word of prayer, believing that His Spirit will again stir up your heart in this as in every other grace. Trust Him always and trust Him forever. So will you keep close to the River, and your soul will be refreshed and comforted.
Be careful about the little things in a Christian life. No one can tell the immense difference that will be made by the use or the neglect of little opportunities — or in the matter of little duties. Remember it is the little fibers of the roots of a tree which drink in the moisture and receive nourishment from the soil, and thus promote its growth and fruitfulness.
Be very careful about these little fibers. Watch over your thoughts. Let them ever cleave to Jesus. Let them be sanctified by the remembrance of all that He is, and of all that He does for His people. Let them be filled with the sweet promises and precepts of Holy Scripture. Ever cherish heavenly aspirations, longing desires, and frequent upliftings of the heart in prayer and praise. Your highest attainments in grace and holiness will be closely connected with every secret prayer which arises to God. Just as the topmost branches of the tree are dependent upon the thin, hair-like roots that the eye can scarcely discern — so all spiritual advancement will depend on the secret walk before our Father in Heaven.
The figure of the tree shows also the importance of firmness and steadfastness in the Christian life. You must seek to be rooted and grounded in the faith, and so established that nothing can move you. Hold fast the faithful Word. Beware of new views and new opinions which are perpetually springing up around you. Stand firm and strong when persecution or reproach comes to try you. Rather suffer loss or exile or death — than dishonor or forsake your Savior.
Only lately I heard of an example of this steadfast spirit which it will be well for us to follow.
The son of a very rich man in Calcutta came to England to educate and qualify himself to practice at the bar in India. Brought up as a strict Hindu, he had no thought of becoming a Christian, though he had some knowledge of the truths of the Gospel. On his way to England a storm arose, and for three days the ship was in imminent danger. During the storm he felt how insecure was his own position; he thought of Christ, and sought Him in earnest prayer. He found spiritual peace and hope; and during his stay in London his convictions were deepened, and he was baptized.
As soon as his father heard of his baptism, he cut off his supplies — and the young man would have been utterly destitute but for a few Christian friends whom God raised up to help him.
After finishing his course he went back to Calcutta, and to his surprise his father received him with open arms. He received from his father every possible kindness, and for a time he thought his father had forgiven him. But it was only a device to draw him back to Hinduism. After about a week his father spoke to him on the subject. He told him that if he would give up Christianity, he would at once make over to him all his property. He need not practice at the bar, but might live in every possible comfort and luxury.
But the young man was not to be moved. Neither persuasions nor promises could turn him from his purpose. So he said to his father, "Not for all you have done for me, or for all you have now promised me, nor for your love, which I value most of all — dare I deny the Savior who has loved me."
Then said the father, "If this be so, you are no longer my son, nor am I your father. Begone! and never let me see your face again!"
So, without a shilling of his own, he had to go to another city and seek his living, having given up all for Christ's sake.
Another word of guidance I would give you: Endeavor to make progress. Cultivate growth in every direction. Aim at increase in every Christian virtue.
In dependence on God's grace, let there be the downward growth — the roots going deeper into the soil. Be clothed with humility. Follow Him who was meek and lowly in heart. Keep near the Savior's footstool. Strive to grow in the knowledge of your sin and unworthiness. The sense of sin ever deepens with growth in holiness, because God's light shines in more brightly, and thus discovers the evil that is in us.
Then also grow in steadfastness. As the roots of a tree go deeper into the soil, it becomes more firmly fixed, so that the winds and storms can the less move it. Thus be firm and immovable, rooted and grounded in the truth as it is in Jesus. Do not be swayed by the current of human opinion. Do not take your views from the Newspaper, or the last Magazine. Rather, hold fast by the faithful Word, being assured that not one thing has failed or will fail of all that the Lord has spoken.
Let there also be the upward growth. Like the tree shooting higher and higher, ever tending upward, so let it be with your heart. Set your affection on things above. Get nearer and closer in true fellowship with the Father and the Son. Tend evermore in true holiness toward the light of the Sun of Righteousness. Let your whole life be filled with joy and praise and thankfulness to Him.
Let there also be growth in the breadth and circumference of the tree. I mean, let the Christian grow in largeness of heart, in wide-spreading sympathies, in holy charity, in efforts to spread everywhere the savor of Christ's name. Wherever God opens to you a door of usefulness, by which you can enter without neglect of other duties — don't hold back. By intercessory prayer, by free-handed gifts, by a book given to someone going into a foreign land — your influence for good may spread far and wide, and perhaps hereafter the most precious jewels in your crown will have been won in lands you have never seen.
Above all, let your growth and fruitfulness never cease. Cleave to the Lord, and He will never fail you. He will give "more grace," and thus you shall bear more fruit. "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:3
Oh fill me with Your fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Your love to tell, Your praise to show.
Oh use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as You will, and when and where,
Until Your blessed face I see,
Your rest, Your joy, Your glory share.
Havergal
The truth will set you free... We've all heard it, even if you don't read the scriptures. It was always such a difficult concept for a man who always thought he had something to hide. Even when I got busted, I only told enough truth to sound believable. With so many (what should be) wake up calls, I should have figured out a long time ago how far my life was off track. With age comes wisdom along with painful memories that make you feel like your head is about to explode like an atom bomb.
A year ago today, I man knocked on my door in the middle of the night with a driving intent to expose me as liar and a fraud. The man was highly successful in doing so. As I lied on the couch that night, to distraught to sleep, I knew that this was officially the end of my life as I knew it. My wife gave me many second chances in the past and I have broken her #1 commandment and what little trust she had left in me at that point.
The next day, I spilt the beans and dropped a truth bomb bigger than the aforementioned atom bomb with a nothing left to lose mind-frame. After all, I have just lost my wife and kids and I was ready for death. That day changed my life, which obviously wasn't over yet.
I had made poor choices and had to accept the consequences. There was very little glimmer of hope left in my marriage, but hey, I just dumped a huge burden off my back when I came clean. I actually had a good feeling in my core and a sense of rebirth. It was comforting, amongst the chaos around me.
This was a time of praying like I've never prayed before and crying till I was almost dehydrated. I've seen my family in a new light and refused to give up. I showed her and the world that I will never give up on her and she never gave up on me. Every question I received from her was answered in truth no matter the pain it would cause.
On February 14, 2015, we renewed our vows and she finally accepted her rings again. Life has turned around for me in the past year. It certainly hasn't been easy, but we'll worth the trip. I haven't always been 100% up front, but I never let my convictions go unnoticed.
I've lost relationships that I thought mattered, and gained new ones that really do. I've opened up to people I don't even know, and people I don't even trust. I am 27 lbs lighter and at 32, I am in the best shape of my life. I am no longer pre-hypertension. This year I've run a 10k and a half marathon and ran +200 miles and biked +500 miles so far. I've been addiction free and am committed to bettering myself and my relationships, especially with my family.
People can change, as I have. Never count someone out, or more importantly, yourself. People may be out to destroy you, but that will provide the motivation to not only survive but thrive. Love your friends, love and pray for your adversaries, and above all, be true to yourself and to others.
God bless.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT: Luke 17:22-35 NIV
(from biblegateway.com)
22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”
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5 MORE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
1. Like it or not, we are ALL sinners: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)
2. The punishment for sin is death: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)
3. Jesus is our only hope: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)
4. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)
5. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)
Read the Bible for yourself. Allow the Lord to speak to you through his Word. YOUR ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!
LARGE view and tag read to right! Enjoy
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A reflection on Sacred Scripture for Monday, March 24, 2008
Acts 2:14, 22-33
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11
Matthew 28:8-15
You have made known to me the paths of life. (Acts 2:28)
Today's first reading brings to mind Christ's dying words, "It is finished." He was not declaring the end of His life, but the completion of His mission.
Jesus, having put our sins to death in His human flesh and subsequently rising to new life, opened to us the portals of heaven, offered us eternal life with Him. Physical death is actually the release of the human soul and spirit. The faithful will then be joyfully united with God, whereas the unfaithful, having closed their hearts to God, will remain in the "outer darkness."
If Christ's death for man's sin and His rising to new life for us were not true, we would be the most miserable of all creatures. Our existence would be purposeless and our end the grave. Disbelief and separation from God reduce us to being loveless savage animals engaged in perpetual conflicts to assure our survival and gain supremacy.
Our present world situation is enacting this vicious scenario, oblivious to Christ having offered us the greatest of all treasures, the ability to be united in love with one another as peaceful, gentle, merciful, forgiving, generous and truthful people.
Those addicted to selfishness and self-righteousness reject this offer; those who sincerely accept it soon discover that it is God Himself who provides them the grace, the desire, guidance and strength needed to achieve it. Despite this disparity in people, God continually pours out His saving love upon everyone in hopes that all may seek living on His paths of life.
O Blessed Lord, we raise our hearts to You in boundless thanksgiving for banishing the darkness of death and providing us the light to reach our eternal home. Amen
- Marie Bocko, OCDS | email: mlbocko@twcny.rr.com
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Aide: God Works Through His Saints
Father Lombardi Comments on Recent Deaths of Church Figures
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 23, 2008 (Zenit.org).- God enters our lives in the company of the saints, the director of the Holy See’s press office said in commenting on the recent deaths of the archbishop of Mosul and Chiara Lubich.
Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul of the Chaldeans, Iraq died sometime after being kidnapped on Feb. 29 by terrorists. Lubich, 88, died March 14 in her home near Rome. She was the founder of the Focolare Movement.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi commented on the deaths of the two Christian figures on the last episode of the weekly Vatican Television program “Octava Dies.”
“Jesus, the Son of God died for us and with us. But then he rises. Those who die in union with him, having made love of others and service the meaning of their lives, also die to enter into a fuller life,” Father Lombardi explained.
“The Pope,” he then added, “recalled Archbishop Rahho’s love of the poor and the handicapped, he recalled Chiara’s dedication to the unity of Christians and fraternity among peoples.”
Father Lombardi continued: “Benedict XVI loves to repeat that God does not come into our lives by himself, but in the company of his saints. This is how it is. And perhaps we can add that the risen Jesus returns to us also accompanied in particular by those who accompanied him in his life and death.
“[This is] because Jesus journeys through his life to the cross in a singular way, but not alone; and those who have the grace to be able to know how to consciously unite, in faith, their life, their passion and death to Christ’s, also become a great sign of hope for many people: They do a great service for their community and people.”
“Because witnesses,” he concluded, “help us to understand that that which was realized in them in a more luminous and eminent way is really a path open to all who are loved by God, who walks with them and dies for them and with them. That is, absolutely for all.”
EXPLORE # 450 & 458 on Monday, March 24, 2008; # 453 on 03-25-2008
my favorite photos > www.flickr.com/photos/roderickma/sets/72157623272274082/
my photo sets > www.flickr.com/photos/roderickma/sets
Revelation 11:3 “I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.”
A man reads aloud from the bible at the corner of Bank Street and Somerset Street in Ottawa Ontario. His dog seems to listening intently.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
I can't say it any better than scripture. I do have choices and can take control of some things but ultimately God is in all control and what a great peace and comfort to know that as I pursue dreams and goals that I can totally trust God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, who loves me and has a perfect plan!
The Bereans are a good example to follow, as sometimes, even well-meaning people may lead you astray as they themselves may have an incorrect understanding of the Scriptures. It's always a good idea to search the Scriptures for yourself.
A.I. generated image.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for Him will he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 9:28
Once. One offering was sufficient to provide us a way to be free from our sins and be forgiven in His sight.
–Carli
handletting by me.
Jesus worked hard all His life. But His greatest works was achieved in those three dark hours on Calvary when He died for us on the cross.
He never did anything wrong!
Not once said anything amiss!
They called Him every name in the book and He said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used His body to carry our sins to the cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became our healing.
This is the kind of life He invites us into. He lived this kind of life and suffered everything that came His way so that we would see and know that we, too, can live that way. He showed us and He still shows us step by step how.
James tells us to endure under trial and we will receive the crown of life! Where is he coming from? Isn't grace free ... or is this about grace at all? Eternal life and the crown of life are two different things. The free gift of salvation means we have eternal or everlasting life. James is saying here that we have a sovereign King that will crown us when we persevere ... but it has battles that impact us.
Life was treacherous for believers during the Roman Empire. It was a time when being a believer meant dealing with injustice for their beliefs. They endured torment, persecution, ridicule and even death. Yet James gives us a reason ... the crown of life to those that love and persevere for God!
The trials (peirasmos in Greek) of daily living can help purge us from the impurities of the carnal life -- like the fire purges the impurities out of a metal like gold, refining it so that the foreign substances are removed and it becomes pure and valuable. This is what being approved means, that we persevere, or bear up under pressure and persevering (hupomenō in Greek) under the injustice, being confident that our King is truly in control. Carnal life happens to be at war with the truth, and we must persevere to be refined, like gold, to become valuable to serve our Creator! We gain maturity as believers. This is not earning salvation (that's a free gift from God for believing Jesus Christ is your Savior), but the reward of receiving the crown of life for growing and maturing in our faith!
Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 1 Timothy 4:6-8, 1 Peter 3:13-16 for more illumination.