May 2
ENDURING TEMPTATION
-James 1:2 states, … Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown
of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him … Let us try to dissect this verse, in which we will discuss
the meaning of the words: blessed, endures, temptation, tried, and the crown of life.
-Blessed: happy, fully satisfied.
-Endures: to remain under; to endure a load of miseries, adversities, and persecutions in faith and patience.
-Temptation: testing, trial for the purpose of proving someone.
-Tried: to be proved, to be tried as metals are tried by fire and thus are purified. It refers to being approved
as acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
-The Crown of Life: the crown of life ( the victor’s crown ) is symbolic of royalty-- kingship-- and is a
symbol of honor. It represents the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, which is the first resurrection. This
involves ruling and reigning with Jesus Christ on the earth to gather in the nations. It finally involves the Age of the Ages,
in which all things ( through the sons of God ) will be gathered in Christ.
-We must understand that THE SPIRIT OF GOD DRIVES US INTO THE WILDERNESS ( Luke 4:1,2 ) TO BE TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL.
The purpose for this is to remain under adversities ( enduring ) and testing ( temptation ). This enables us to be approved
( tried ), purified, and purged by the consuming fire of God. These fiery trials are what God uses to make us into a vessel
of honor. We then become profitable for the Master’s use, whether now, or in the ages to come.
-Remember … The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
in us ( Romans 8:18 ) …
-PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING!-
