(James 1:2-4 NIV) 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.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” by continuing with “The Big Picture.” When we are faced with a difficult challenge it is very easy to get consumed by it. Sometimes even the best of us focus too much on the challenge in front of us, without remembering that God is still God, that He still has a plan, that we are still his child, and that we will still come out on top. The purpose of these messages on the big picture is to remind us that God is bigger than what we are facing and if we remember that, then we will be able to face whatever we face with the confidence of knowing that we will get through it and we will come out on top.
In this text James tells us to do something that is counterintuitive to most. When faced with all sorts of trials, instead of doing everything we can to reject them, James urges us to ‘see the big picture’ long enough to appreciate who we will become on the other side of the challenge. As we face and overcome challenges we develop patience, perseverance, and endurance. The J. B. Phillips translation of this passage reads, “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance.” While it is not natural to welcome challenges as friends, it is encouraging to realize that God is with us, that He will not allow us to face something we cannot handle, and that if we are facing it, then it is evidence that He trusts us with it. If we look at the challenges from that perspective then, yes, we will be able to welcome them, knowing that they will not destroy us, but rather help to develop us.
The Contemporary English Version of this passage reads, “My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways. You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance. Endure until your testing is over. Then you will be mature and complete, and you won’t need anything.” Don’t we all want to be mature in Christ? Don’t we all want to get to the point where we don’t need anything? Well, James tells us that to get to that point we must endure every test and trial, understanding that our faith is what is being tested.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. The enemy is not going to idly sit by and watch you maximize your purpose and potential.
2. Once you claim to be a child of God and a person of faith, know that your faith will be tested.
3. The testing of your faith produces patience, perseverance, and endurance.
4. If you can maintain your faith switch in the “ON” position and refuse to give up while your faith is being tested, you will come out on the other side of the challenge much better than you went in.
5. Instead of telling God how big your problem is, why not try telling your problem how big your God is?
Closing Confession: Father, I am Your child and I am committed to living by faith. I will never allow any test, trail, or challenge to cause me to give up, cave in, or quit. I see the big picture. I understand that You are bigger than what I am facing. With Your help I am able to overcome every obstacle, rise above every challenge, and pass every test. What the enemy brings at me to destroy me actually winds up working for my good; helping to produce patience, perseverance, and steadfast endurance in my life. I keep my faith switch in the “ON” position while my faith is being tested and I am developed more and more with every challenge I overcome. Even though things get hard sometimes, I thank You Father for blessing me to win every time! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
