Dear brothers and sisters when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:2-8
I came to James riginally today to get some inspiration for this dry and weary soul of mine. Sounds a but morbid, but it's just one of those days where it seems like all you have planned will never get done and you badly want to forget your massive to do list and curl up with a good book, (such as, Paper Doll by Natalie Lloyd or The Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore:) or a movie like Amazing Grace...(which I am currently watching). William Wilberforce is seriously a hero of mine. His tireless efforts of fighting to end something he was passionate about, the British Slave Trade, is so amazing and such an inspiration to those of us that desperately want to relieve the burden God has placed in our lives to change. I'm convinced, had I been alive back then, we would have been best friends:)
That passge up there really hit me while I was watching this movie. "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow..." (3) In the movie, William Wilberforce was tested by his best friend and the entire House of Commons on the issue of teh slave tarde. He was tested by the world on his faith as well. And he fought...against all the people he had so willingly come to work with and know, for people he loved and justice for them. This movie depicts his fiery passion and witty responses to the popular men of the ouse, but it also shows his intimate and developing relationship with the Lord. God called him to end the trade I believe, and by faith and peserverance, he succeeded.
"Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." (7-8)
William Wilberforce had to make a decision taht ultimately changed the way he viewed the world and the way the world viewed him. At the age of 21, he had become one of the youngest members of the House and was often referred to as the Yorkshire terrier for his quick wit and fiery personality. His walk with God had quickly become a distant mist he tried to reach every now and then...but couldn't. But God reveaed himself through this burden to William. And with new eys, Wilberforce saw. Not only did he see, but he began to act. He knew that taking on the trade would mean losing his faithful friends and House popularity, but it gained him more than he ever thought possible. His loyalty was in the Lord now...and he knew that this cause would have to be as well.
So what can we learn from Mr. Wilberforce of 1833? I have learned more than I ever thought possible after doing several papers and presentations over him.
1. His passion never relented, his dreams and days were focused on his cause...and he was consumed with it.
2. God became his ally and he knew in his heart what he had been called to do.
3. He loved justice and hoped for peace and making a better world. He didn't just hope though, he acted!
Point is my friends...let your faith in the Lord and your passion for this world drive you to make a difference far beyond what you think you can do! God is with you all the way, we have no reason to doubt or fear. Trust in Him and run with Him into the face of your burden...and don't look back.
Have a blessed weekend!
"Canvas is a bank piece of life. Waiting for someone to throw color and ambition on it. It waits anxiously for itself to come to life. Now is the time. Let the journey begin."
I love this post so much. When I'm having a rough day, or just going through a difficult season, I always go back to James too. That book has been such an anchor to me. I remember loving it in high school. I'm in my late 20's now, and I still love it. I love how God's word is unchanging but STILL molds to situations I face at different points in my life. Crazy amazing how that works. I love what you wrote about William Wilberforce too. I read a book by Andy Andrews called The Traveler's Gift. One of the characters said, "I have a decided heart." It made me think of people like William Wilberforce. Even though I can look back and see what an impact he made, he didn't always see it while it was happening. He didn't know how it would turn out, but he pressed ahead anyway with a decided heart. I've given up much battles that are nowhere near that significant. Thanks for this reminder to press on, to know what God calls me to do and then do it no matter the opposition.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that Natalie!! That was sooo good for me to read, like you don't even know. I needed to read that tonight:) You are such a bright light, and your wisdom is definitely from above. Thanks so much for the comment!
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