- Are you joyful for the difficulties that come your way?
- James, in these verses, is telling us that there is purpose in your pain!
- There is a promise after you go through your problem.
- Something is being developed in you that goes far beyond your Moment of testing.
- It is like an athlete who goes to practice and trains.
- They are developing their skill, and conditioning their muscles for the real test that lies ahead...The Game.
- No matter how hard the last practice or training session was, they always return for more, because they know what it is producing and they look forward to it.
- Their goal is to be a fully developed team member who does not lack anything!
- That is what it means to consider the trials you go through as "Pure Joy".
- God is developing you!
- There is purpose in it.
- What you may think is insignificant, is very significant.
- Can you handle your trial & difficulty without complaining and without gossiping?
- Can you handle it without losing your temper and blowing your testimony in front of your friends, family, school mates or co- workers.
- Realize that God is allowing you to face that test so that you are mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- God is developing your Character.
- So that you can face some of life's greatest challenges without fear and totally dependent on His Power.
- As you go through it, He wants His character to rise up from within you, so that everyone sees Jesus, not you.
- This morning, is a morning to look at your greatest trial and difficulty as an opportunity!
- An opportunity for you to be mature, complete & lacking nothing.
- Be Joyful because Godly character is being developed in you.
- Galatians 4:19 says that "Christ is fully developed in your lives."
- See yourself, right now, as mature and complete not lacking anything.
- Now live out what you see.
- How does a mature and complete follower of Christ act and react to difficulty?
- You are giving others an opportunity to see Christ in you.
- Run head on into the storm, don't run away from it.
- Have a great Tuesday!