12 May Perspective in Trials

Last Sunday, Pastor Jason Finley began our new series in James with a message from James 1:1. We saw that a living faith in the living Savior reorders our lives. Ultimately, we are given a new identity and new priorities in Jesus Christ.

Read: James 1:2-11

This Sunday, Pastor Gabe Bolding will preach from James 1:2-11 and will encourage us with the truth that believers will faithfully endure. As you prepare for our Sunday gathering, let this devotional from Milton Vincent point you to the power of the gospel to give you true joy amid life’s trials.

Reflect: “Perspective in Trials”

More than anything else could ever do, the gospel enables me to embrace my tribulations and thereby position myself to gain full benefit from them. For the gospel is the one great permanent circumstance in which I live and move; and every hardship in my life is allowed by God only because it serves His gospel purposes in me. When I view my circumstances in this light, I realize that the gospel is not just one piece of good news that fits into my life somewhere among all the bad. I realize instead that the gospel makes genuinely good news out of every other aspect of my life, including my severest trials (Romans 5:1-5). The good news about my trials is that God is forcing them to bow to His gospel purposes and do good unto me by improving my character and making me more conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Preaching the gospel to myself each day provides a lens through which I can view my trials in this way and see the true cause for rejoicing that exists in them. I can then embrace trials as friends and allow them to do God’s good work in me.

Vincent, Milton. A Gospel Primer for Christians. Focus Publishing. Kindle Edition.

“Perspective in Trials,” in A Gospel Primer for Christians, by Milton Vincent

Sing: Song List for Sunday

1. “Come People of the Risen King,” by Keith & Kristyn Getty
2. “The Depths of Your Love,” by North Wake Music
3. “Weapon,” by Vertical Worship
4. “Be Thou My Vision,” Arr. Crosspoint Music
5. “My Worth Is Not in What I Own,” Arr. Shane & Shane