Some blessings from God.....let's count them.

Peter is going to address them later on, as those who were going through suffering and trials. But, before he does that, he recounts for them, what God has blessed them with. This is a good and encouraging way to view our own lives and situations. You may be going through a difficulty, but, let's not forget the truths of God's many, many blessings in our lives. 

1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1:4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

1: 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We are now pilgrims, whose citizenship is in another land, that land of heaven with God and Jesus Christ. 

We have been chosen by the Lord in His foreknowledge, ( or in His forethought, and pre-arrangement ) The Lord has had us in mind, long ago, in eternity past.

We have been set apart ( to be holy ) by God through His Spirit.

We can have God's grace and peace multiplied in our lives. 

We have received God's abundant mercy.

We have been begotten again, or born again.

We now have a living hope in Jesus Christ.

We have an inheritance in Jesus Christ.

We are kept by the power of God through faith.

There are many more things that are said here, and in the days ahead, we will look at them more closely. But, for now, these are wonderful, and given to us by the Lord.

Thank You Father. In Jesus name

Application/Promise.

1. You have given us so much Lord.

2. We deserved none of these.

3. These are all from Your grace.

4. How can we ever thank You.

5. Would You help us appreciate these blessings.

6. You are so good to us.

10 words of encouragement for those who are suffering

More words of encouragement for those who are suffering:

See James 5:8-11 Below. Much is said to the person(s) who were suffering. 

James 5:8  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:9  Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

 James 5:10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.

James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

1.They were to patient like the farmers who waited.

2 They were to establish their hearts.

3. They were reminded the Lord is coming again

4. They were to look to the prophets as examples.

5. The prophets suffered and were patient.

6. We do count as blessed those who have endured. 

7. We have seen the perseverance of Job.

8. We have seen the intended by the Lord.

9. We know the Lord is very compassionate.

10. We know the Lord is very merciful. 

So, these are the things that the Lord gave them in James to direct them, to encourage them, and to comfort them in their sufferings. These things were designed to establish them, and to build them up, and to give them strength. 

It's very much worth taking some time to reflect on these truths from God and let them minister to your own heart, in your own time(s) of suffering and difficulties.

So often we are looking around us for solutions to our problems, when a simple pause, and a look up as it were to the Lord would bring us right into that which we need in our lives. 

Again, take a moment to ponder, to reflect on, and to pray about what's listed above in these 10 thoughts from James 5, and may the Lord bless you, and cause His face to shine upon you, and give you peace, grace and mercy in your life. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. His ways are not our ways.

2. His ways are above our ways.

3. His ways can become our ways.

4. His ways are the best ways.

5. His ways are for each of us today.

6. His ways are the ways of peace and pleasantness.

7. His ways come from His love for you.

8. His ways will also transform and keep you. 

Be patient

Patience until the coming of the Lord.

James 5:7  Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

Being patient, is not only the Divine prescription given to those who were suffering under the brutal and corrupt fraudulent acts of their employers, but is also given with a time frame in mind. That is, be patient until the coming of the Lord. 

James then gives an example of this patience with a time frame in mind. He points to the farmer. He says, "See how the farmer waits etc, etc. 

Farmers must be patient as they wait for their crops to grow and then be harvested. We also must be patient. 

The farmers wait for both the early and the latter rain. In James's day, and area of the world, the early rains would come in late October, or early November. Then, around April/May the latter rains would come. 

So, a farmer, would have to wait, be patient, until both of the rains had come. Then, he could harvest his crop. And, thus the suffering are encouraged to follow this example of being patient. 

By the way, the Lord seeks to bring forth fruit in our lives. He has appointed us to bear fruit, and wants that fruit to be plentiful, and wants it to be fruit that remains, or is long-lasting. 

James 5:8 says, "You also be patient. 

Jesus is coming again. He has promised to do that. And, in the meantime, while we are in the midst of our sufferings, we are to wait, be patient. Sometimes we yearn so desperately for the Lord to take us out of a trial, and or to remove the trial from us. We want it to be gone right away. We can become impatient. 

Lord, You are the God of patience. Ro 15:5* Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus. And, we pray that You would help us to be patient until we see Jesus Christ face to face. In His name, amen. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises.

1. God will help us to be patient.

2. Patience is fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

3. Waiting is important, it's part of God's will.

4. We tend to have our own time lines.

5. God's plan and time line are perfect. 

A word of comfort to those who are sufferring

Words of comfort to the suffering and to the oppressed.

James 5, for the most part speaks to those who were suffering and were being oppressed by others. See James 5:6b-11


Of note right off the bat, is that these suffering christians, who in this case were being oppressed and de-frauded by some corrupt rich people were not resisting, or fighting back. It's not explained to us, but, it is stated that they were not resisting these corrupt people, and they were apparently just trusting God in the midst of their suffering and troubles. A good thing to do, "to trust the Lord" God is faithful to take care of His people, and to defend them, but, it's important then, that His people place their troubles in His hands, and let Him do the defending. 


A specific word of encouragement is given to those who were suffering. 


It's found in James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.


The Lord through James is saying, in light of what is happening to you ( this oppression through the holding back of your wages ) "be patient, brethren" 


The word patient here, and the idea of being patient, means to bear long, to suffer long, be longsuffering, and to patiently endure.


It also means, to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart. To persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles. Be patient in bearing the offenses of others. 


And to be mild and slow in avenging, to be slow to anger, slow to punish.


There is more to be said to these suffering christians, but for today's devotional, this is the word and idea to take in and consider. Be patient. Very simple. 


Lord, it may be simple, and we thank You that You do not make things complicated for us. But, it's simply not always easy to be patient. So, we are asking for ourselves ( if we are at this time suffering, and for those we know who may be suffering ) that You would help to be patient. We know this is Your will, and thus we can know for sure that You will help. Thank You Lord. 


Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia


Application/Promise


1. It's not always easy to be patient.
2. It's very possible with God's help.
3. You can be patient by His help
4. Jesus was patient on our behalf.
5. Patience is the goal the Lord has for us.
6. May His grace abound to you today. 
7. May God give you peace today.