…but god James 1: 1-3
Transcript
“James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
James 1:1-3 NASB2020
This book was written by Jesus earthly brother James. This letter is written to the Jewish Christians who have been scattered through Judea.
After his greeting and superscription James gets right to the point. Our lives as Christians are not going to be easy. In fact it is just the opposite. We will have difficulty, persecution and discord as we well know. James is saying we are to rejoice in trial not because of the trials. There is a significant difference. If we rejoice even though we face trials, it helps us in our next trial. It also serves as a witness to those who don’t know God and finally and most importantly endurance through the power of the Holy Spirit allows us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. This advice refers back to what Jesus explained in his sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:48. “Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 NASB2020
Endurance and the willingness to sacrifice is what our faith as followers of Christ is all about. This reminds me of days like Memorial Day. On Memorial Day we honor all those men and women who served our country as soldiers, sailors airmen, guards and marines and gave the ultimate sacrifice. We all owe a debt of gratitude to those brave men and women. We still have the right and privilege to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in large part because of their sacrifice. We as followers of Christ can learn from their ALL IN sacrifice. I would also like to say thank you and give a salute to all of you who are part of this devotional who were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice and served our country with honor. Ladies and Gentlemen who served. I say THANK YOU!
We as followers of Christ need to be willing to give the ultimate sacrifice just as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did. Remember He did not rejoice because He was being beaten and brutalized and sacrificed. He was rejoicing and forgiving in spite of the brutality, because He knew what it meant. He endured the Cross for us. We must take heart, for as the writer of Hebrews explained; “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 NASB2020
Endure through the power of the Holy Spirit in the midst of trials because it’s what we as followers of Christ are called to do!
Lord, almighty we praise you and thank you for your perfect sacrifice. Thank you for setting the perfect example for us regarding what it means to endure. Help us to endure, give us strength in the midst of trials, help us to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit as we also endure. We pray all these things in Jesus most precious name Amen!
Shalom, Shalom blessings. Press in and Press on!
Hosted by Chad McBeam
