February 22, 2024 THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE
James 1:2-4, 12 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” “Blessed is a man who persevere under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Trials stink! (Pardon the slang.) However, there is something much bigger than the ‘uncomfortableness’ that trials bring. When we understand what’s going on behind the trial, we can come to a place where we can find some joy over what God intends as the outcome, or result of going through the trial. God takes no pleasure in the sufferings and the trials of His children. In the trial, our faith is tested. Do our trials defeat us, make us anxious, or discouraged, or causes us to lose our joy? Trials may make us question God’s goodness and cause us to doubt His word and His plans for us. If our faith is firm and unwavering in the trial, we are confident that God is doing a good work in us even in the most difficult times; we may not understand the why and how of the trial, but we know that our God is always working all things for our good if we are ‘called according to His purpose.’ (Walking in His ways.) Trials have a way of purifying us; our response to trials reveals what is in our hearts. And that is it—-God is transforming us and moulding us into His image-and that takes some fire. We must endure in the trial-not be defeated by it. Endurance is a great character quality. Endurance has a ‘perfect result;’ the amazing fruit of endurance is perfection and completeness. The word ‘perfect’ in the above passage does not mean that we are always ‘perfect;’ it has the idea of being complete or coming to the proper end. It is a fact; trials will come our way. The good news is that in the wisdom and power of God, He uses trials for our good. We must persevere under the trial; when in faith we endure the trial and persevere under the trial, we are approved before God and we receive the crown of life. (I can’t fully explain the crown of life-but I know it is good!) Enduring and persevering makes us better, and makes us complete where we lack nothing. Trials are unpleasant, but they are necessary in that it is in the trial that God does something really good in us.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Blessings, Buddy
James 1:2-4, 12 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” “Blessed is a man who persevere under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Trials stink! (Pardon the slang.) However, there is something much bigger than the ‘uncomfortableness’ that trials bring. When we understand what’s going on behind the trial, we can come to a place where we can find some joy over what God intends as the outcome, or result of going through the trial. God takes no pleasure in the sufferings and the trials of His children. In the trial, our faith is tested. Do our trials defeat us, make us anxious, or discouraged, or causes us to lose our joy? Trials may make us question God’s goodness and cause us to doubt His word and His plans for us. If our faith is firm and unwavering in the trial, we are confident that God is doing a good work in us even in the most difficult times; we may not understand the why and how of the trial, but we know that our God is always working all things for our good if we are ‘called according to His purpose.’ (Walking in His ways.) Trials have a way of purifying us; our response to trials reveals what is in our hearts. And that is it—-God is transforming us and moulding us into His image-and that takes some fire. We must endure in the trial-not be defeated by it. Endurance is a great character quality. Endurance has a ‘perfect result;’ the amazing fruit of endurance is perfection and completeness. The word ‘perfect’ in the above passage does not mean that we are always ‘perfect;’ it has the idea of being complete or coming to the proper end. It is a fact; trials will come our way. The good news is that in the wisdom and power of God, He uses trials for our good. We must persevere under the trial; when in faith we endure the trial and persevere under the trial, we are approved before God and we receive the crown of life. (I can’t fully explain the crown of life-but I know it is good!) Enduring and persevering makes us better, and makes us complete where we lack nothing. Trials are unpleasant, but they are necessary in that it is in the trial that God does something really good in us.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Blessings, Buddy
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