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     “(2) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (3) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (4) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4 ESV Text

     When we read the word strength, often the first thing that comes to mind is one’s ability to impose his/her will on another. And while this is true, be it an excavator removing boulders from a hillside, Superman lifting a boat out of the water, or Eddie Hall deadlifting over half a ton, strength can also be used to denote an object's ability to withstand pressures. It was this version of strength that was being tested when scientists at Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California discovered an incredibly reactive property in lead (Pb).¹

     Lead is a notoriously soft metal. It ranks at 1.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, can be dented with a fingernail, and is so easily deformed that it is used in applications such as firearm bullets, where rapid deformation is advantageous. In short, lead is far weaker than diamonds or the high-strength steel used in aerospace and military applications. At least, that was the common belief until LLNL released a study that claimed lead, when exposed to extreme pressures, reforms its crystalline structure to more closely resemble metals like tungsten, chromium, and tantalum. This change increased the pressure-strength of lead by more than 250 times its original, making it 10 times stronger than typical high-strength steel. One source noted that the sample’s internal pressure reached 400 gigapascals during testing.² To better conceptualize this value, a single gigapascal is equivalent to the pressure exerted by water at more than six miles below the surface.

     In this way, the additional pressure did not destroy the lead but strengthened it to epic proportions. Likewise, God seeks to strengthen us to such an extent that we can handle pressures often difficult to conceptualize. Through the trials in our lives, the failures, missteps, persecutions, and tragedies, God is rearranging our atomic structure. He is strengthening us, allowing the moments of discomfort to become a catalyst for something altogether more powerful. And it is through this rearrangement, which cannot be replicated by human hands – it is a naturally occurring phenomenon that scientists can only hope to provoke into action – that we “may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

     It is, however, worth noting that the lead, while strengthened, was measured by its rate of deformation. That is to say, the sample was not free of markings, just as we will never walk through life without gathering scars. God has not guaranteed a trouble-free life, nor has He promised to only allow as much as can be handled (1 Corinthians 10:13).³ Instead, He calls us into the deep water, knowing we are unable to swim but ready and willing to lift us from its depths. He wants us to persevere so that through those trials we are strengthened beyond their ability to affect us.

     As you continue throughout your week, reflect on James’ divinely inspired wisdom. What trials are you facing? Have you neglected seeking Christ’s guidance? Are you avoiding your life's trials rather than facing them boldly? Have you allowed deformation without reformation? If so, there has never been a better time to call on God. Bolster your faith, lean on Him, and allow the fortification of your soul so that you, too, can let steadfastness have its full effect.

References:

Bishop, B. (2019). New research finds lead toughens up under extremes. https://www.llnl.gov/article/45811/new-research-finds-lead-toughens-under-extremes 

Conover, E. (2019). Lead becomes stronger than steel under extreme pressures. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/lead-becomes-stronger-than-steel-under-extreme-pressures

The Holy Bible. (2001). Crossway. English Standard Version

Jeremiah  3:10(KJB1611) “And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD”.  

The passages before this verse reflect on the spiritual unfaithfulness of both Israel and Judah. Israel was called to repentance, but they did not hearken unto the Lord, on the other hand, Judah "repented" but the repentance was regarded as "feignedly" meaning "with falsehood", "a sham", or "deceitful". Judah's repentance was not with her whole heart, but rather hypocritical. 

The repentance was insincere. "This borders on the fact that their hearts were still in love with the idolatry, and the spiritual adultery that plagued them. They were not fully persuaded as to the wickedness of their sin and the worthiness of the Lord for their obedience." Genuine repentance has to do with a change of one's mind toward God and sin. 

This is not sinless perfection.  It is that desire to consistently live to please God rather than the world and the flesh. A person who still wants to sin more than he wants fellowship with God is not penitent or repentant.
The Lord will have us be sincere in our repentance. We must be truly sorry and penitent for our sins. We should remember that nothing is hidden from God. Rather than be double-minded and unstable in our spiritual lives, we should sincerely acknowledge to God what He already knows, and be determined to move on stronger for Him, and pliable in His hands. Judah here is a picture of believers who appear to be repentant but inwardly still frolicking with the world and sin. There is a price to pay for living a lie. Every direct or indirect disobedience to the Lord does not go unnoticed. There is a consequence that awaits us. There is always that due season of reaping what we have sown.

Thought
May we sincerely repent of our wrongdoings wholeheartedly with a determination to live exemplarily. God works with sincere hearts.
©️Missionary Pastor David Orus(1Thessalonians 5:24/Mark 9:23)

2 Timothy  2:4(KJB1611) 

No man that warreth entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

This timely admonition brings to mind in a succinct way how the spider sets its web trap, and what happens to its prey when it gets caught. 

The more it tries to wriggle itself to get out of the web, the more it gets entangled. The affairs of this life are those distractions or attractions that lure the gullible believer into the web of sin that eventually entangles and chokes our spirituality. 

The Lord warned us in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to abstain from all appearance of evil. Interestingly, we can become careless and disregard this wise counsel to our peril.
Most of us do not know that from the moment we put our faith and trust in Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are automatically enlisted into the Lord's army. We are chosen soldiers of Christ. This puts us directly in the war zone. The battle rages unend, and we are expected to be focused, following the instructions of the Captain of our salvation. ( Hebrews 2:10) He is the one we are to please. He is the one we are to listen to. There are a lot of conflicting voices, but we must listen to Him, and He alone. Ephesians 6:11ff encourages us on the need to put on our armor for the battle(the whole armor of God). The battle is real, and we must not be sidetracked.
Thought
May we as soldiers of the Lord be mindful of our duties, and may we be ever conscious of the reality of the raging battle so that we do not get entangled in Satan's web of distraction.

©️Missionary Pastor David Orus1Thessalonians 5:24/Mark 9:23

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In 1898, U.S. troops wearing blue coats were easy targets during the Spanish-American War. To conceal themselve, they put mud on their uniforms to blend in with the surroundings. This was one of the first attempts to camouflage by the US Military. By definition, camouflage is a type of military deception to hide and protect soldiers and equipment from the enemy. Today, the most common camouflage technique is concealment by using colors, patterns, and shading to alter physical characteristics. As a result, troops can easily hide, blend in, and disguise the appearance of military targets.
Follow along with me for a couple minutes as we consider the thought of camouflage from a spiritual perspective. First of all to camouflage something means that the outside appears different than what's underneath. If you are a born again child of God, what does your life reveal?  Do you put on the outward Christian face while secretly disobeying God and walking the way of the world?
The book of Joel shares God’s strong encouragement to the wayward children of Israel: “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments” In Bible days, people expressed sorrow by tearing rending their clothes. Everyone who saw them knew they were grieving. If someone wanted to demonstrate their repentance and sorrow over their sin, they would publicly tear their clothes.
There is a different way of restoring a broken relationship with God today. I encourage  you to consider the biblically based response. It’s a rending of your heart. You must see your sin as God sees it and humble yourself in confession and repentance. Take off the religious camouflage and be genuine before God with your life. Return to the Lord your God today with sincerity and purity. 

Anthony Jarret