Welcome!
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Today: The goodness behind the bad things
Passage: James 1:12 NIV
12Blessed 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.
Have you seen somebody who never ever complained about anything?
It would be impossible to see somebody like that
But it will be a great thing if we can find the good behind every bad thing we go through
One day somebody was complaining to his doctor about how many times she had to walk up and down in the office
The doctor, quite against her expectation, said: “Good for you!”
“What?” she screamed
The doctor said that she was getting her best and the most needed exercise that way. She had nothing to say!
Another time, one man was complaining about his bad co-worker, to another friend
The friend told him the same thing: “Good for you”
He got very upset with that friend. He was about to walk away
But then, that friend explained his statement: “Because you have a bad co-worker, people get to know about your good character. If your friend was as good as you, your good character misses an opportunity to be put into use!”
That was right. The bad friends we have, the bad times we go through, must bring out the goodness in us. The same is true with our family
When kids give trouble that is the best opportunity for the parents to minister to them. That is our best and immediate mission field
Pray for them. Talk the word of God to them. Be careful about every word we say to them
I have seen some parents use the worst words to their children
They get mad for some reason, but they were making those kids worse, by using such words to them
After 40 years of wilderness journey Joshua was able to say, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). That was NOT easy!
We need to admit to God: “God, I am not the best husband/father/wife/mother. Teach me Lord, how to be the best”
In the past few days, I have been thinking about some of our brothers/sisters who have been going through various difficulties and illnesses. Sometimes, we ask God, “why?”
I am sure, God has an answer
Divine healing is a promise of God, and is mentioned towards the end of the epistle of James
I remember about a brother in Kochi, Kerala who went through severe illness and got healed in a very unique way
He had just finished hosting the first Reinhard Bonnke Convention in Kochi, He became very sick, close to death, and was in the in the intensive care unit for about a month
But then, their Pastor knew that there were certain issues between him and some of the organizers, which were still not resolved
So the Pastor asked the wife of that brother if she can pick the phone and talk to each of those people, who had issues with this brother
She did so, and brought reconciliation with each of them. Immediately, this brother was healed
This happened about 10 years or more back. Recently he hosted another such event
Sometimes, there could be issues that prevent our healing (James 5: 14-16)
It is good to run a check on every area of our life, whether we are in violation of anything, in relation to God. Confess everything we know
We need to sincerely pray for those we know, who lived all their life committed to God, and going through tough times
When we pray for others, it is a blessing for us
God bless
BG
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the health and life you have given me. Help me to find the goodness behind every bad thing that happens. Help me to be a blessing, a resource person for those in pain and need. Amen