Faith and Endurance

Meditations in the Season of Lent 

March 9, 2023

Faith and Endurance

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

James 1:2

Read: James 1:1-8

The Apostle Paul had very high expectations for himself and for the followers of Jesus. He was unwavering in his appeal for the church to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. He also invited the church to go deep into the heart of God with their spirituality. If Paul was in the Marine Corp, he would be the Chaplain.

James, if he was in the Marines, would be the Drill Instructor. James goes straight to the bottom line. James was concerned that the moral conduct of some people in the church was no different than the rest of their culture. James was concerned that these people may be deceiving themselves that they were in a right relationship with God, and he doesn’t hesitate to call them out.

James’ style of cutting to the chase is revealed in today’s reading. Here James gives us two aphorisms that he developed more fully in later chapters. The first is an encouragement to consider it an opportunity for great joy when troubles of any kind come our way. Why? Because it is an opportunity for spiritual growth as we trust God more fully with our lives. (James expanded on this theme in 2:14-26)

The second is an encouragement to ask God for wisdom. This aphorism is expanded in 3:13 – 4:10, but here in verse 6, like a Drill Instructor, James provides a sharp warning: “But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver.” (v.6)

Taken together, James’ encouragement to consider troubles an opportunity for joy, and asking for wisdom with faith in God alone, reveal that seeking the life in Christ as our way of life is hard work. (This is like the single-minded devotion to God noted in Luke 9 and 10.)

My Takeaway: I recall Henry Blackaby, the author of Experiencing God, noting that when we face a crisis, our first response reveals what we believe about God. He called this a crisis of belief. My goal for my Lenten journey is to gain more awareness of my response to the troubles or obstacles I encounter. Do my responses reveal that I am fully trusting in God?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.