Joy?

Really? I threatened to comment on James 1:2-4, 12 recently, so Let’s do it. Back to The Plumb Line. James says this:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing…Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

I won’t fully exegete this passage. I think that the implication is more than obvious: We undergo various trials as a process of being tested. When we fight the good fight for our faith, a process is constantly being generated within our inner nature. We are having endurance generated within. Further it will result in ever-increasing perfection and approval by God. The word perfect here is better translated as being completed up. Let us not be intimidated by having to be perfect. We need to be in a condition whereby our inner self is being completed up and is closer to bearing the fruit of the Spirit so that when we are observed by the heavenly court, we will be approved. This approval is a function of our being tested, and when we fight the good fight, sometimes failing and then repenting, and sometimes being faithful to the prompting of His Spirit, our entire being is being changed over into His Image. (Rom. 8:28-30) It is a function of time!

Let us not be discouraged. God is doing a great work within us. Our Christian walk is not a religion. Religion is what we do; the bearing of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is what we are. (Gal. 5:22-23) That fruit-bearing will forge our personalities forever and forever. It’s who we are.

Paul words it like this: And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom. 5:3-5)

Jesus words it like this: I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit…By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (John 15: 1-2, 8)

It doesn’t seem pleasant to be pruned, does it? Neither does it seem pleasant to be put constantly under trial, but the completion of this process (and it is a process) is fruit-bearing. As Paul would say “stand firm”. Now here is great news: The trials are FREE!! We don’t have to seek them out, we don’t have to pay for them, and they are abundant. That’s not too terrible, awful bad, huh? We are a blessed people. Again, we are not a religion; we are people belonging to a great King Who is preparing us for participation in that kingdom forever and forever. Consider it all joy!!