Knowing GodPrøve

Day 5: Remaining Loyal to God Yesterday we discussed God's word as our primary resource to know him in Christ. Today, let’s turn our attention to one of the most important postures we can undertake to help us stay the course. Let’s consider the place of loyalty in our walk with Christ. The bible describes our walk with Jesus as a narrow road. It tells us we should expect much difficulty and distractions that might lead us away from pursuing a relationship with God. In these difficult moments, we will surely face temptations to go our own way, or any pathway of least resistance we may see within the contexts that surround us. The tension brought on by disappointment and pressure may cause doubt in God, his goodness toward us, and even our ability to follow him. The book of James has much to offer us in the face of suffering and difficulty. The opening of James instructs us to consider suffering and trials as joyous occasions. Then as we get to verse 5, we're told to see moments of lack and ignorance as invitations to dialogue with God to bring the wisdom we need. It's tempting to see this as a transactional affair; however, a biblical understanding of wisdom would lead us back to a relationship with God. The book of James is similar to the book of Proverbs which opens by saying, "the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God." This means that true wisdom is not something we get from God but something we get through God by remaining loyal to him throughout life's circumstances. By prioritizing loyalty in our walk with God, we can begin to see moments of doubt as an on-ramp to deeper faith and trust instead of an exit that may potentially sideline our faith. In difficult times, it's important to shift our understanding of doubt to an invitation for dialogue with God, and rightly apply scripture as he guides us with all kindness into a profound confidence in his presence, if not for answers, then to generously care for us despite our circumstances. Meditate on the following Scripture: James 1:5-6 (5 minutes) Read: James Chapter 1 (25 Mins) Reflect on the following: (10 minutes) 1\. How do you usually respond to difficult times in your life? Have you cultivated the patience to dialogue with God in difficult times and wait for his guidance? 2\. Have you experienced a lack of loyalty in your life by refusing to wait on God for guidance? Pray: God, I thank you for the opportunity to walk in relationship with you and discover the many ways you have provided trials and challenges, in order to perfect my faith and confidence in you.