Count it all joy

2"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience".  James 1:2-3. NKJV

William Barclay gives us insight into these two verses from James:

'Here is a great and uplifting thought. Hort writes: "The Christian must expect to be jostled by trials on the Christian way." All kinds of experiences will come to us. There will be the test of the sorrows and the disappointments which seek to take our faith away. There will be the test of the seductions which seek to lure us from the right way. There will be the tests of the dangers, the sacrifices, the unpopularity which the Christian way must so often involve. But they are not meant to make us fall; they are meant to make us soar. They are not meant to defeat us; they are meant to be defeated. They are not meant to make us weaker; they are meant to make us stronger. Therefore we should not bemoan them; we should rejoice in them. The Christian is like the athlete. The heavier the course of training he undergoes, the more he is glad, because he knows that it is fitting him all the better for victorious effort. As Browning said, we must "welcome each rebuff that turns earth's smoothness rough," for every hard thing is another step on the upward way'    

                                                                               Copyright William Barclay. The Daily Study Bible - James

Suffering has a way of emerging when our anointing increases. God will test us to check if we are ready for this. Let me explain, James said that we should count it all joy when we fall into various trials. Why is this? Because, it increases our faith. When God is ready to use us for a particular task, He will give us the anointing so that we can carry this out. This can be seen at Pentecost (Acts 2) when the Holy Spirit fell on the people and it was like dynamite exploding. The disciples, especially Peter, John and James, were transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and their anointing gave them the ability to be able to do this without being killed or at least imprisoned. Throughout the book of Acts, we see people being healed, set free from demonic control and eventual imprisonment and flogging for Peter and John. You see, Jesus never said it would be easy for them but, He did say that He would be with them always (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus also told them that, without Him, we could do nothing (John 15:5). Hence, the reason that we need the anointing. However, with this, we are tested, but we need to consider it with joy. Jesus isn't punishing us, He is actually blessing us. He wants us to do things for Him and so, He gives us the wherewithal to carry this out and, this is the anointing. Therefore rejoice.

There will always be a stigma to being a Christian. A lot of unbelievers do not like us telling them about Jesus. They may persecute us, ridicule us, in fact, in some countries you may be imprisoned or killed unless you renounce your faith. Look at Peter and John -'we forbid you to speak in this name (Jesus) Acts 4:13-20.

Therefore, be prepared to be persecuted and even hated for your faith. We belong to Jesus so, never let anyone tell you any differently. CT Studd is famous for quoting this: 'If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to make for Him' How does this sit with you? Can you Amen it?

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

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