I am not lightning quick when I study through a book. I would say a snail’s pace describes me. 🙂
But, I am going to attempt to review a a thought or 2 from a few verses at a time… and there will be several references for looking up, if you choose.
The best way to explain Scripture is with other Scripture!
James 1:1-12
¶ 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
¶ 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James is speaking to Jews. But he is also writing to CHRISTIANS… of which I am one. I pray you are also!
And he is starting with the basics… having Joy ~ facing trials ~ learning patience. {It’s a circle of events in my own life. 🙂 }
As a believer, my joy will not come from the circumstances around me.
It will not come from the people around me.
It will not even come –from inside me.
My joy will come from following God
–into and through the storms that rage.
And when I follow Him, there will arise temptations [1 Corinthians 10:13].
…count it all joy when ye fall… Count: to see the end of a matter. We must look ahead and… | when: KNOW it WILL happen
We will have need to rebuke one who desires to devour our very soul [1 Peter 5:8 & 9 | James 4:6-8].
…into divers temptations… diverse: various types- the devourer knows our weaknesses
We will have a fight on our hands…but God did not leave us defenseless! [Ephesians 6:10-18]
But it will be a JOY to us to have these temptations, these tempestuous times, because they work PATIENCE in us.
And Patience wishes to have HER way with us,
in completing a perfect work,
that will make us whole.
The devil wishes to devour our testimony so that we may not [or so we choose not to] serve GOD. Satan desires that we serve him. Satan uses our mistakes and folly to make us think we are no good for the Work of God.
But Patience… oh, sweet Patience, she wants to bring about perfectness in our hearts so that we lack nothing we need, thus bringing perfect Glory to our Savior.
My friends… rejoice in the difficulties that come... even when they arise from our own foolishness, because Patience works.
And God can cause ANYTHING bring Himself Glory, when we are following His call. [Romans 8:26-28 & 31]
[EDIT: if you click over here, I have this drawing available as a coloring page.]
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and I’m on Twitter!
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