Scripture:
James 1:2-8 NKJV
[2] My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. [4] But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. [6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Observation:
Before we get too deep into the SOAP I have to say that the letter James wrote to the church has to be one of my favorites. When I first started to read the bible, I did not read real well so the fact that it was a short letter was rather appealing to me. It was something that I could accomplish. I had no idea that the information that he had placed in this letter was so power packed, I was just trying to start reading the bible. As I began to do so GOD knew exactly what HE was doing by leading me to this particular letter. I needed to see what it looked like to actually live a Christian life, and the letter that James wrote didn’t sugar coat that. After reading it and starting to understand that the Christian life doesn’t always equate to an easy life, I began to come to expect ups and downs, trials and tests. This scripture is one that consistently dances around in my mind, and honestly has been deeply rooted in my heart. I believe that part of the reason for that is, it’s a scripture that I have to remind myself of frequently, because it’s not the first thing that comes to mind when we start to face a trial. So let’s dive in. As James begins to teach the church, I believe his desire is to prepare them for what “IS” going to happen in their lives and how to handle it “WHEN” it does. That’s my desire as well. I’m not here to tickle your ears or manipulate the bible to fluff up your life. I am a truth seeker. Looking at the very first verse in what James is teaching, I can see how his desire is to change the perspective. By looking at the trials differently. Rather than seeing it as something that has happened to you. His instructions are to see it as something that has happened for them. Something that is designed to shape godly character. Let’s look closely at it, because what he is asking the church to do is rather difficult, or at least I find it difficult. It’s not the first thing that comes to mind when life starts to do what life starts to do. Counting the trials as joyful moments of learning changes the way the church looks at the hard things. The scripture that comes to mind is one I wrote about just a short time ago in Jeremiah chapter 18, the potter’s wheel, and how GOD shapes those who are HIS. Moving on to verse 3 we can see a word that a lot of us don’t necessarily want to hear or believe that GOD will do. The word is, “testing” James uses that word in a positive fashion. The testing of your faith produces patience, another way that the word they use here is translated is long suffering. It’s that same Greek word that is found in first Corinthians chapter 13 when describing exactly what love looks like. Now when longsuffering has had its time to work, the true believers will be lacking nothing, in other words their faith will be complete. Now what James wants the church to know is that inside the trial they can still find answers. Asking GOD for wisdom is where to start as a trial begins. It’s something that HE will not rebuke them for, in fact HE will give them what is needed liberally. However there is one catch. You have to believe that HE will give you what you have asked for. I honestly love the way that James teaches. He brings it all right back to faith, and how to put that faith into action, by saying, why would GOD give you something that you doubt HE can give you. A double-minded man should not expect to receive anything.
Application:
This morning I am not challenging anyone but myself, however if you feel like this is challenging to you as well. I believe that means you are human. I have learned over the years that wisdom is found in the Bible. GOD has already given us everything to answer every question we will ever ask. Every situation we ever face, someone in the Bible has faced that same situation and if we will pray to HIM and ask HIM to reveal that to us and then take action by getting in HIS word and searching for the answer, HE will lead us right to where we need to be. You see there is always more to learn. No one has the bible or GOD completely figured out and if you think you do you are probably more lost than you think you are. Facing trials is not easy in and of itself, but counting them as a joyful moment in life is even harder. I have started to approach them a lot differently than I used to years ago. Thanking GOD for finding me worthy to continue to teach me mold me and shape me to be more like HIS SON, a man who faced all kinds of struggles that HE did not deserve. Not one of them was without purpose. Everything that Jesus went through was to show us how. I’m not sure HE ever looked at something HE was up against and said why are you doing this to me Father? Instead HIS stance was thank you Father for doing this for me. The joy HE had to do the Fathers will was beyond what we can understand. My point is this, we are going to go through stuff in life. I’m going through stuff right now, today I ask HIM what HE wants me to learn from it, rather than asking why is this happening to me. HE is writing a story with my life, sometimes I can’t help but feel like it’s the book of Hoshea all over again. Teaching me how to love the way HE loves. I’m going to be honest, it’s hard to do. Loving someone who is openly rejecting you is not an easy thing to do. But that’s what GOD does. I can only imagine how HIS heart brakes everyday as HE just continues to love those who deny HIS love for them. How does anyone do that? Well I’m starting to realize exactly how. You have to look past who they think they are into who HE has made them to be, and just count it joy that HE has found you strong enough to carry that cross. I’m not going to say it’s easy. My heart brakes daily. But GOD is bigger than my trials and HE knows what HE has made me for. With HIM I can endure all things. No matter the pain I feel on this side of eternity. The other side of it is what I live for. Come LORD Jesus.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for trusting us to suffer for your name sake. Thank you for thanking that we are strong enough to get through this with you by our side. This morning all we can ask for is wisdom. Help us to see how to navigate the trials that we face. When all we can see is our humanity, show us what you see. We know that life is not always easy nor was it meant to be. You have a wonderful way of making diamonds. We trust that you know what you are doing for us. You are shaping us to be more like your son. What an honor it is to suffer for the namesake of Christ. Give us wisdom Father. Help us to see the other side of this. We know that you are next to the brokenhearted, so you are close to us. We abandon our lives to you. Your will be done in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.