Untitled Sermon (3)

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

9 Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, 10 but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.

12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

- Sometimes the good and perfect gift that is from above looks like a trial but is a good and perfect gift from above that will result in your maturity, stability and a fuller life. While at other times, what looks like a blessing from above is actually a dangerous source of temptation that can leave us empty, lonely and lifeless if we aren’t careful!

- Maybe having to scrape by month is a good and perfect gift.

- Maybe losing that job was not punishment from God but a good a perfect gift

- Maybe that chronic health issue is not a result of your sin, but a soul strengthening, faith stretching blessing from God that is going to develop, shape and mold you in ways that simply would not have been possible if you had not walked through it.

18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.