Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
James 1
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Commentary:
1:2–4 Joy in Trials. Trials are designed to produce spiritual maturity and should therefore be counted as joy.
1:2 Trials are “tests” that challenge faith (vv. 2–5). When trials occur, one should count it all joy—not meaning mere worldly, temporal happiness, but rather spiritual, enduring, “complete joy” in the Lord who is sovereign over all things, including trials.
1:3 Testing of your faith defines the meaning of a trial for the Christian: as Jesus was “tested” in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1–13), so believers are tested. The Greek dokimion (“testing”) denotes a positive test intended to make one’s faith “genuine” (cf. 1 Pet. 1:7). The result is steadfastness, a life of faithful endurance amid troubles and afflictions.
1:4 Steadfastness leads ultimately to perfection. Believers grow in holiness but are not yet perfected in it; such perfection will be realized only when Jesus returns.
1:2 Trials are “tests” that challenge faith (vv. 2–5). When trials occur, one should count it all joy—not meaning mere worldly, temporal happiness, but rather spiritual, enduring, “complete joy” in the Lord who is sovereign over all things, including trials.
1:3 Testing of your faith defines the meaning of a trial for the Christian: as Jesus was “tested” in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1–13), so believers are tested. The Greek dokimion (“testing”) denotes a positive test intended to make one’s faith “genuine” (cf. 1 Pet. 1:7). The result is steadfastness, a life of faithful endurance amid troubles and afflictions.
1:4 Steadfastness leads ultimately to perfection. Believers grow in holiness but are not yet perfected in it; such perfection will be realized only when Jesus returns.
Questions:
- Paul and Barnabas told the believers to expect hardships and suffering, and boy did they know a thing or two about the subject. Throughout church history, following Jesus and suffering have gone hand in hand. But many Christians in our culture today don't suffer for their faith. And the reason for this is simple... they aren't often obedient. Obedience brings suffering because it will ALWAYS require you to live your life counter to culture. Is there evidence in your life of obedience to God and scripture? Are there times you avoid suffering by being DISobedient?
- On the other side of suffering, however, is a great gift... MATURITY. Trials that we endure in this life will automatically test your faith. This isn't a decision you make. When you're surprised by a trial you discover something about your faith and confidence in God. You discover what you really believe, what you pretended to believe, the truths you haven't really embraced. When your circumstances deteriorate, a counterfeit faith will deteriorate right along with it. James is saying to embrace the process; don't short change it, because maturity is on the other side of it. Because of this there is JOY to be found in this self-discovery process. Have you found this to be true in your own life? When you endure suffering, are you using that as an opportunity to INCREASE your faith in God? Or do you, instead, question Him?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would be obedient even when it leads to hardships.
- That you would consider suffering an opportunity for great joy.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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