Kia Ora Tātou,
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
What a strange scripture. Suffering sucks no matter how you put it. It is not pure joy when your friend is dying of cancer, or when your marriage is struggling. It is not pure joy when life is hard. So what is James saying to us? Is he gloriously ignorant of pain?
James was the speaking to a persecuted, scattered people. These were a people that were struggling and suffering immensely. So what was James saying?
In Greek the word for Joy means the favour of God and the word for trials means the putting to proof of your faith. I believe that James was not telling the Jews that they should be happy about their state. I believe that he is suggesting that there is hope beyond suffering, and that there is hope through suffering. He is saying, I believe, the favor of God will be with you as your faith is put to the test by the things you walk through, even though its hard. Not only that, but through the suffering you walk through today, I'm going to grow your spirit, your mana, your strength so that your walk will be different, your talk will be different.
God is interested in you walking in freedom, and he will walk through the mud with you the whole way. You might find that you have a whole bunch of new muscles at the end of it too. Our Victory is in St Patrick's prayer...
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand
Ngā Mihi
Aaron
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
What a strange scripture. Suffering sucks no matter how you put it. It is not pure joy when your friend is dying of cancer, or when your marriage is struggling. It is not pure joy when life is hard. So what is James saying to us? Is he gloriously ignorant of pain?
James was the speaking to a persecuted, scattered people. These were a people that were struggling and suffering immensely. So what was James saying?
In Greek the word for Joy means the favour of God and the word for trials means the putting to proof of your faith. I believe that James was not telling the Jews that they should be happy about their state. I believe that he is suggesting that there is hope beyond suffering, and that there is hope through suffering. He is saying, I believe, the favor of God will be with you as your faith is put to the test by the things you walk through, even though its hard. Not only that, but through the suffering you walk through today, I'm going to grow your spirit, your mana, your strength so that your walk will be different, your talk will be different.
God is interested in you walking in freedom, and he will walk through the mud with you the whole way. You might find that you have a whole bunch of new muscles at the end of it too. Our Victory is in St Patrick's prayer...
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand
Ngā Mihi
Aaron