Studies from James:

Chapter 1

Verses 2- 4: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James doesn’t tell us that we will experience or feel pure joy. He tells us that we are to consider it pure joy. In other words, regard the trials that come our way as something that can ultimately bring about a good thing. Then he tells us what the good thing is: maturity and completeness in our spiritual walk with Jesus.

It’s the road between the trial and the maturity that hang us up. That road is perseverance. We must persevere to handle the trials in a Christian way in order to allow it to finish its work of maturity and completeness.

Notice that our faith is tested when trials come our way. How is our faith tested? By how we handle what happens, our reaction to it!

Possible reactions when something bad happens:

● Why did this happen to me? I’m a Christian, I didn’t do anything to deserve this. Why did GOD let this happen to me? Etc. etc.

● Well, I’ll take care of the person that did this to me…give them what-for!

● Tell everyone that you meet about this thing that happened to you, play it up to be something awful, something huge. Sounds bigger than the GOD that you serve, when you talk about it. It becomes a way to talk about “me” instead of talking about GOD. It also becomes a way to talk about other people (gossip).

● Quietly rest in the peace of the LORD, praying to him about the situation and the people involved, waiting on Him to handle it or show you what to do, not looking to others for the answer. Knowing that you are His and He is in control so you must be in control also …of your thoughts, your words, your heart.

So how are you going to react to the person that is the cause of your trial? If you really believe in Jesus, your faith will cause you to treat them as His teachings teach. (First identify, are they a brother, a neighbor, or an enemy?)

Based on your faith, what is your internal reaction to trials? Are you resting in the assurance that you are GOD’S praying about it and exhibiting composure to the world?

OR

Are you flapping your jaw to everyone around you about what is going on?

Remember that it is perseverance that brings maturity. Perseverance in “walking the walk” .

Maturity in Christ is not developed by looking for answers to the situation from everyone else but GOD. It is not developed by yakking the situation up into a crisis oriented self-centered story to entertain others.

Remember the fruit of the Spirit: Love, which is shown in loving, being joyful, peaceful, patience, being kind, exhibiting goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These things come about by persevering!

May you prosper in Christ’s Spirit.

Judi