How to Learn the Right Lessons from Every Situation (James 2:1-5)
How do we allow the Lord to teach you His will through every circumstance, relationship and personal problem?
Illustration:Learning usually passes through three states. In the beginning you learn the right answers. In the second state you learn the right questions. In the third and final stage you learn which questions are worth asking.
Bits & Pieces, April 2, 1992.
1. Instead of concluding that someone is a bum use your encounters with everyone as an opportunity to thank God for giving you this "sandpaper person" to refine you more into the image of Jesus Christ. (James 1:2-5) Learn to see how critical people are useful for helping you identify areas that need to be brought more into complete conformity with the will of God. "Count it all joy when you encounter various trials knowing the trial of your faith works perseverance and perseverance proven character. Let patience have its perfect work so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
2. Instead of growing discouraged about what you do not have take the opportunity to thank God for all of the rich resources you already enjoy in Christ - Your salvation, redemption, purpose, blessings and encouragement, love, fellowship, affection, compassion, healing, forgiveness, hope, faith and fruits of the Spirit. Be grateful for the good things that you have with songs of praises and testimonies of God’s goodness, answers to prayer and ministries that are making a difference for eternity. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thes. 5:16-18)
3. Instead of choosing to become depressed over disappointments elect to let the Lord lead you to places of greater wisdom about how to minister to the millions of hurting people in your own country. God may allow you to go through various let downs to increase your ability to empathize with the hurting. (2 Cor. 1:3,4) "He comforts us in all our affliction with the comfort we receive from God so we can comfort those who are in affliction."
4. Instead of allowing your fears to determine how to make decisions choose to use scary experiences to teach you greater reliance on the Lord for your courage, determination and strength in all things. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7)
5. Instead of allowing worry to dominate your thinking about finances, let your money problems draw you closer to the stewardship principles of the scripture. God wants each of us to be faithful in little things before He will entrust to us more responsibilities. (Luke 16:10)
6. Instead of allowing circumstantial pressures to cause you to give in to peer pressure ask the Lord to make you an example of one who can stand out from the crowd for positive change. Jesus Christ experienced more pressure to conform to the religious traditions and legalistic ways of the Pharisees than any other man, but he used their pressures to show the masses how simple faith can bring great change. (Heb. 12;3) "For consider Him who endured such sufferings of sinners against Himself lest you be wearied and faint in your minds."
7. Instead of allowing unexpected events to frustrate you use them as a catalyst for gaining greater insight into how to prepare yourself for the next unusual circumstance. Prior preparations usually prevent poor performance. Learn how to successfully take up the full armor of God so that you can stand firm in the evil day having equipped yourself with all of God’s weaponry. (Eph. 6:10-18)
8. Instead of allowing temptations to overwhelm you remember that God always provides a way of escape so that we can come triumph through any situation no matter how bad it seems at the time. Sometimes God allows condition to get worse so that they can make us better rather than bitter. (I Cor. 10:13)
9. Instead of succumbing to the worries, riches and pleasures of this life choose to sow your seed in riper fields for the harvest so that you can yield greater fruit in quantity and quality for eternity. (Mark 4:18-22)
10. Instead of becoming bored with your job ask the Lord for wisdom, knowledge and creativity to make the most of every opportunity for God’s greater praise, purpose, love, kingdom and righteousness. (Luke 2:52)
11. Instead of fretting over lost love ask the Lord to help you develop a deeper appreciation for the richness of His grace to be sufficient for any inadequacy. (2 cor. 12:9,10)
12. Instead of growing resentful that you are not getting the proper promotion or job that you sought allow the Lord to use one closed door to lead you to a greater open door. (Rev. 3:7-11)
13. Instead of turning away people who you do not like allow the Lord to give you the patience to give people an opportunity to prove their responsibility with assignments that test their spiritual, emotional, mental, financial, and behavioral maturity. Learn to gain greater discernment through every new relationship. (Phil. 1:9-11)
14. Instead of judging people allow the Lord to judge people using His own sovereign will and perspective . Paul wrote, "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity." (Rom. 11:35,36)
15. Instead of becoming angry, irritable and annoyed with people and circumstances be prepared to use each rejection as an opportunity to find a silver lining behind every dark cloud. (James 1:2-5)
16. Instead of growing weary in well doing fix your eyes more closely on Jesus who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and is now sitting in His promoted position with God. (Heb. 12:1,2)
17. Instead of thinking about simply finishing your tasks ask the Lord to find ways that you can grow in all aspects into Christ as you speak the truth in love. (Eph 4:15) Never stop pressing onward and upward for the high calling of God in Christ. (Phil. 3:14)
18. Instead of settling for mediocrity in order to be acceptable in the eyes of your family; ask the Lord to excel in every aspect of your
personal, family, cultural, employment, and ministry lifestyle.
19. Instead of being content with your present friends ask the Lord to lead you to people who can take you to a higher level of spiritual, social, mental, financial, emotional, ministry, writing, reading, and physical greatness. Remember Jesus said, "He who believes in Me the works that I do will He do also and greater works than these will he do because I go to intercede with the Father." (John 14:12)
Conclusion: Jesus learned obedience through the things that He suffered. (Heb. 5:8) Surely, none would presume to be any better than our Lord Jesus.
