Reading Through The New Testament - November 2nd, 2016 - James 1

This “reading through the NT” is brought to you by Hawaii Tourism.

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Hawaii: no worries here!

And back to our scheduled NT reflection.

Ever felt the need to escape? To have a week of no worries? To run away from the trials and stresses of life?

Whenever I see an add for a vacation I feel a longing to get away from it all.

Ever notice how appealing it is to run away from trials? Or to live a life where we can minimize as many negative things as possible?

Today we start a new book of the Bible. This one was written by Jesus’ brother. He was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. He writes something peculiar to start.

Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials.

Why the heck would we do that?

James says it’s in the trials that we learn perseverance and if we keep persevering we will become mature and complete.

Trials lead us to maturity and wholeness.

Without trials we are incomplete. If we wince and run from everything that is hard we won’t develop maturity.

What will it take for us to face a trial and consider it a joy?

Perhaps we have to start telling ourselves “This trial is a gift. This trial is making me complete. This trial is teaching me perseverance.”

Blessed are those who stand through trials because they will inherit a crown of life from Jesus.

May you consider the trials this day presents to you as a joy — as a tool that is making you more mature and complete. May God give you the grace you need to keep going.

Don’t give up.