1. I will be writing the text in each post for this study - and will be using the New Revised Standard Version. Feel free to keep your own favorite version open as you read.
2. The (P1) in the Title line refers to Post #1. (P2) to Post #2, etc.
3. We will only cover a few verses in each post. James packs so much punch in so few words ... to go any faster, I fear, would loose much of his content and purpose.
4. That slow pace will allow time for reflection. Plan to use the verses for meditation through the couple of days until we move into the next few verses. See where you can apply them. Watch for opportunities and examples of them in your own life.
5. Cover us in prayer ...
So, let's begin this "call to action"!
James 1: 1 - 4
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing."
Really, James? Joy? James does not try to convince us to celebrate the trials that often broadside us through life. He does tell us why we can reflect on them with a joyful mindset rather than a depressed or self-pity mindset. There seem to be two reasons ... before we look at the reasons, call to your mind any trial(s) through which you are currently having to navigate. These are things that you did not plan, they are not consequences for some bad decision on your part ... you fell into them. They are part of our exposed humanity. Got something in mind?
First, James told us that they are a test of our faith. When I taught Algebra and Geometry, I administered tests periodically. My students did not want them. I did not want the hours of grading them. But they were important. Why? Tests provided 2 vital pieces of information. They allowed me to know where my student's knowledge was. Where was he/she strong, where weak. But they also allowed the student to know where he/she was strong and weak. That was critical information if the development of their knowledge and skill mattered. Is your faith journey so very different? You need to know where you are strong and where you are weak. You need to recognize where you are depending on God and where you are depending on yourself. You need to be aware of how your faith holds up when circumstances become messy and painful. Aahhh ... so enter, trials. They test our faith.
How many of you look back into a past trial and are amazed that you stood it? Not only did it not bury you, but it strengthened you? Celebrate. Or have you looked back into a past trial and seen failure on your part? Seen self-reliance that could not stand rather than God-reliance that always stands? That, too, is precious information. Consider it nothing but joy ...
Second, James told us that the testing produces endurance and endurance matures us. When I was a girl, you could insult someone highly by calling them a "baby". Then in teen years, the insult was, "She is so immature" said with a sigh of pity. Even in our current, youth-obsessed culture, maturity is something to be envied and desired. Maturity matters. Maturity is beautiful. Maturity has stopped judging. Maturity can evaluate what is important and what isn't. James said that the endurance we develop as we face trials leads to maturity. So ... consider it nothing but joy.
Think again about the trials that came to your mind when we began today ... do you need to view them differently? Do you need to start seeing them through God-eyes? Let them do their work.
Lord, we ask today for eyes to re-frame our trials in our own minds. Let us take the words from James and work to put them into practice this week. Because of Your Spirit within us, we can stand up under the "test". Mature us ... and may it be to Your glory ...
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