Lemonade

I'll stick this picture in here for those of you that cannot read. You'll wonder what we're writing about.



Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker: “When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!” It is easier to smile (or snarl) at that statement than to practice it, but the basic philosophy is sound. I’ll even go so far as to say that it is rooted in a Biblical principle. Throughout the Bible are people who, with the help of the Lord, turned defeat into victory and trials into triumph and suffering into success. Instead of being victims, they became victors.

The Epistle of James tells us that we can have this same experience today. Whether we are dealing with trials on the outside or temptations on the inside through faith in God and Jesus Christ we can experience victory!

The key to turning trials into triumph is to obey four imperatives that James lays out in the opening paragraphs of his letter.

An imperative is a very important necessity. Sounds repetitious. James’s four imperatives are:

1. Count (or consider) - 1:2

2. Know - 1:3

3. Let - 1:4

4. Ask - 1:5-8

Starting with verse two, then, let’s look at the first imperative.

“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials”

Notice that James assumes that we will experience trials. He doesn’t say “if” but “when.” This is because Christians must expect trials. Plan on it.

Jesus said the same thing only different in John 16:33. “I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”

Paul said something similar too in Acts 14:22. "They returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, calling on them to continue in the faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God."

The nature of these trials are “various” – all different kinds, many different types.

Some trials come simply because we are human: trials such as sickness, accidents, disappointments, death, and so on. Other trials come because we are Christians; read 1 Peter 4:12 and 2 Timothy 3:12.

"What persecutions I endured! But the Lord delivered me out of all. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

But because Satan fights us, and the world opposes us, and we live in fleshly bodies on this earth, we can expect trials!

What is supposed to be the Christian’s response? “Consider it all joy!”

Chew on that for a while. I’ll be back later.