Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– James 1:2
Dump the Doubts
When we put our trust in Christ, we have our sins removed as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12), meaning that they gone forever. God doesn’t keep bringing them up, over and over again. That’s what the enemy does. Dump your doubts when trials come, knowing God has forgiven you, and through Christ, you are cleansed from every bit of your unrighteousness (1st John 1:8). That should help you dump the doubts. Your eternity is set.
Testing of Faith
Everything in life is tested. We test drive cars to see if it’s a good buy. We put a new coat on to see it if fits and looks good. Metal is tested, and more importantly, our faith can be tested by trials, but it’s not so that God would learn how strong or weak our faith is. He already knows that. It’s so that we will see how strong or weak our faith is. It is through tests that we learn to be steadfast in His sure and certain promises, for “all the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2nd Cor 1:20).
Striving for Perfection
We will never reach perfection in this life. We can’t even keep the speed limit perfectly, but that doesn’t we don’t strive to drive whatever the speed limit is. James wrote, “let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4), and by the steadfastness that came through the testing of your faith, you produce perseverance, because you persevered through the test or trial.
Why Joy Remains
What can take away our joy? We don’t realize that Jesus’ have given it to us, so it’s not ours to lose and it’s not a self-manufactured joy. That type of joy is as fleeting as life is. Jesus’ disciples were very sorrowful because Jesus was going to go to the cross and die and then return to the Father. He was leaving them. Jesus had been all they knew and know He was going away! Jesus knew their thoughts and said, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). Jesus is coming for you too. That should really boost our joy, right?
Conclusion
The word that James uses for “consider” or “count” is a word that someone working with numbers would use. It’s like they add a certain amount to a total, so James is saying, let it all add up to joy when the trials come (if not in one now), by dumping the doubt, the testing of your faith, striving toward perfection (never reaching it this side of heaven), and no one will ever take your joy away.
