Trials
And so I will purify the hearts of my people just as gold is purified in a furnace. ~ Jeremiah 9:7(CEV)
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. ~ James 1:12 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
Those who remain faithful through the hard times will be amply rewarded.
PRAYER:
God, your Son was faithful through the greatest test of all time. Because of his trailblazing experience we can be faithful through trying times, too. Yet, we fail way too often. It's like we are oblivious to the significance of what we're going through. We are inclined to complain about how unfair and painful the situation is. So I would ask that you would take my hand and walk me through the trials and temptations - just as you are inclined to do. I'm going to come out on the other side with a strong and robust faith. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
