Tag: James 1

Remain Steadfast Against Temptation

On By BrianIn PASSION ReflectionsLeave a comment

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
(James 1:14-15, ESV)

Our own desires lead to sin which leads to death.  How can we overcome?  James gives us a number of strategies in the first 18 verses of his book: 

We must recognize our responsibility.  It is our own desires that lead to sin (13-14).  We are not victims.  There is no one to blame but us.  So we must stand up and fight.

We must recognize the terrible result.  Sin may look fun and enjoyable, but it is the path to death (v15). 

We must receive a new heart.  This is where it starts.  We need to trust in Jesus and be made new with new desires (v18).

We must remember whose we are.  We are God’s servants (v1), so we must reject any desire that opposes Him.

We must rejoice in the goal.  God is using even temptations to make us mature in Christ (v2-4), so don’t despair.

We must request help from God.  We need to pray (v5-8), turning from our sinful desires to the One who can help us overcome.

We must reset our desires.  We need to turn from what the world chases after (v9-11) and set our desires on God and what He desires.

We must remember our hope.  The crown of life is coming (v12).  Sin and temptations will one day be over forever, so press on!

We must remain steadfast against temptation.  Don’t slack off.  Use the strategies given and keep fighting temptation.

Purpose in Trials

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
(James 1:2-4, ESV)

Notice that there is a purpose in our trials.  Our trials are a testing of our faith.  Not to see if we have faith, but to test our very real faith.  The word has the idea of refining or purifying.  You put metal in a fire to melt it down and drain off impurities.  In the same way, our times in the fire are designed by God to refine and purify our faith. 

And this testing produces steadfastness or endurance.  You are more able to endure the same trial today than before because it has developed in you this steadfastness.  It is like lifting weights – you can endure more repetitions and more weight as your muscles are developed.  And you can endure more trials and harder trials as your faith is developed and strengthened.  You are gaining the ability to faithfully endure, to remain steadfast.

And this steadfastness then must have its full effect.  It must keep developing so that you might be perfect or mature – mature in this life, and perfect in the life to come.  So that one day you will be complete, lacking in nothing.

Your trials exist to help you grow in your faith and steadfastness to make you mature in Christ.  There is a purpose in your trials.

So rejoice expectantly.  Rejoice when you have trials because you know that it brings maturity.  We rejoice not in the trial but in the purpose.  We rejoice in expectation that our suffering is for our ultimate good.  Which means that we might at same time be weeping, struggling, crying out to God, and lamenting before Him.  We are not denying the hardship and all sorrow and struggle of our trials, we are just remembering the purpose.  So even as we wrestle, we can rejoice expectantly.

A Servant

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
(James 1:1, ESV)

Notice James’ self-description: “A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  That is his self-description.

Now that is not how I would do it.  If I was James, I would open it this way: “James, a brother of Jesus.”  Let me just remind you of how close I am to Him.  Recall my intimate connection to Him – we are brothers, you know. 

Wouldn’t you be tempted to play the brother card? 

That is how our world operates.  We try to impress each other with our connections – I know so and so, look at me!

James, a servant of God – just a servant.  And of the Lord Jesus Christ – not my brother but my Lord!  He is the master; I am just a servant.  He is the Christ, the promised King; I am just his servant.  I am a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is that your self-description?   Is that how you see yourself?  Would you introduce yourself that way?  Hi, I am a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As His servant then, let’s humbly serve him.  It’s not about you or me; it’s all about Him.  It’s not about what we want, but about what He wants.  It’s not about our amazing ideas, but about His truly wise plans. 

So let’s join James and humbly serve the Lord.  Serve Him in our homes.  Serve Him in our church.  Serve Him in our community.  Serve Him with our time and money.  Serve Him with our words and actions.  Serve Him even in our suffering.  Serve Him with whatever strength God gives us. 

We are servants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.  So let’s humbly serve Him with all of our lives.