READY: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says” –James 1:22
SET: Cal Ripken, Jr., who broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive-game
record (Gehrig’s 2,130 –Ripken’s 2,632 straight games in the
line-up), credits his father, Cal Ripken, Sr., for the
mentoring, coaching, and example to break the record. Junior
remembers that his father had many mottos and pronouncements.
One of his favorite sayings was: “Do two million little things
right, and the big things take care of themselves” – his point:
pride in the fundamentals.
All of us face the game of life each day with its tests and
temptations. Being a Christian doesn’t guarantee that we’ll
never have problems. But, as Christians, we have biblical
guidelines, fundamentals, to help us have victory over our
trials.
Here are eight fundamentals from God’s Word that will help us
overcome the tests of life.
1. Rejoice when trials come. They will bring strength to your
life (James 1:2). 2. Ask God for wisdom. You won’t receive if
you don’t ask, but God is quick to answer those who seek His
wisdom (James 1:5). 3. Be single-minded in serving the Lord. A
wishy-washy believer cannot stand when trials come (James
1:6-8). 4. Endure with strength and patience those difficult
times. Your perseverance will be rewarded with victory (James
1:12). 5. Realize that temptations don’t come from the Lord. He
is there to strengthen and help you (James 1:13). 6. Don’t give
in to temptation. Defeat can only come if we yield to our own
lust (James 1:14-15). 7. Claim the power of the Word of God. In
it we have the victory (James 1:21). 8. Do the Word of God.
Hearing is not enough. We must be doers of the Word (James
1:22).
Doing the fundamentals of God’s Word will always give us
endurance, strength, and victory. Upward bound, Coach Street
GO: 1. What is James trying to teach us about our “attitude”
toward trials? 2. What does it mean to be single-minded? 3. Why
is hearing the Word of God not enough according to James 1:22?
WORKOUT: 2 Timothy 3:14-15; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians
5:7; Mark 11:22-23
OVERTIME: Lord, teach me the fundamentals of Your Word. That
I may be pleasing to You and be victorious in my walk. Amen.
