Test of Obedience

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:2-5

I just started a series by Biana Juarez on the book of James. She titled the series The Scandalous Book of James because of the blunt language that James states the ways the church should be acting. Like in the above verses, how many times have we heard these verses…? How many times have we actually shown joy when we fall into trials…? Not too often, or at least I haven’t. However, it is so much easier to look back on the trial and see the hand of God upon it.

In subsequent verses James then states,

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:22

Jesus asks such simple things of us… Am I truly loving my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:39)? If I am, then am I “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19)?

I am truly being tested in these areas of love and obedience. I can actually see myself thinking through my actions rather than acting impulsively! The Lord is refining me and no matter how difficult it is, I am trying to count it as joy for I know that God is perfecting me into His image.

Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

1 John 2:5

How is God working in your life? Are you a doer of the Word? Please share your thoughts!