Thoughts on James 1:1-8

¹ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
 ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

What does it mean to be a servant? The word servant here in Greek literally means a bond servant. A bond servant means that someone has paid the price, they have been bonded out from their punishment. James has been bonded out from a life of Sin by his brother Jesus. James is the first book of the New Testament and was recorded between 55-65AD.

When I think about the trails I have faced in my life. I can say for sure that perseverance is produced by the testing of life's trails. When I was not in right relationship with God my maturity in making decisions was based solely on my desires. After coming to faith in Christ, wisdom was developed by not doubting God's plan for my life.

Trails do toss us around on the waves of life's temptations, but it is Christ's outpouring on the cross of grace that brings about pure joy of the assurance of salvation. When we are not stable in a relationship with the all knowing, all powerful, ever present Lord we are unstable. We can not stabilize anything apart from Him, but through Him we are stabilized by His grace.

Pray with me: Dear Lord, I have felt the lack of joy when making the decisions about life's obstacles. I lack the ability to press on towards victory apart from You. My joy is found in knowing that I can turn to You to finish the work in me, as I live out real faith. Continue to mature my wisdom to persevere in all that challenges my faith. Thank You for bonding me out of sin's snares, so that I can serve a risen savior. Amen...