Todays readings… Job 9, Micah 5, James 1

“THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES ….” 

As we near the end of 2017, most of us live in circumstances that are increasingly testing our faith – and we “meet trials of various kinds” [James 1 v.2]   James in his letter, which we started reading today, shows life was no different, in the sense of creating “trials” for the genuine followers of Christ – in those days – than it is today. James tells us what “the testing of (y)our faith” should be producing!

Let us examine ourselves to see if this is true for us in our lives today – whether the “testing of our faith ”produces steadfastness” and then, says James, we must “let steadfastness have its full effect, that (we) may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” [v.4] Let us have this aim!

Nearly all of us are surrounded daily by worldly “wisdom” – but we know the kind of “wisdom” we should be developing: let us make sure we are developing it.  James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.“ (or her) [v.5] But then, James adds a vital qualification!  “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” [v.6]

The “winds” of human attitudes and thoughts surround us on every side –the internet and TV are a particular source of these winds.. They can surround us – mentally – like “a wave of the sea”!  If we allow that to constantly happen, James says. “that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” [v.7]   

So let us make sure that the “testing of our faith produces steadfastness”  and then we will increasingly experience “its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”