James 1:2-5 My  brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

No one enjoys difficulties. (What an understatement!)

Yet in light of our aversion to problems God always has a plan.

He is continually seeking to produce Christ-likeness in our hearts and lives through the pressures He brings to bear.

God is always working all things together in our lives for His glory and for our good.

Today let us surrender to the instruments of God’s choosing.

Don’t seek to run from the problems of God’s choosing.

But pray that God will show each of us what we need to see and make us what we need to be.

II Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

In II Peter 2 believers are being warned to avoid  “playing the part” of a good Christian.

 

In our verse today we see one of the great dangers Christians must continually face, “the wages of unrighteousness”.

The bible teaches that there is pleasure in sin for a season.

 

We must be alert to this reality and guard our hearts, minds and lives.

Are we content with the consequences of doing right or are we seeking the pleasures that come from doing wrong?

 

Today let each of us examine the sincerity of our walk with God in light of our love for doing what is right and our hatred towards sin in every form.