PASSIONATE PURSUIT...AND WHEN YOU'RE TRIED...

James 1:1-5
 
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James first introduces himself in the letter that he is the servant of the Most high and that he is sent with a word to address the chosen men and women of God. He specified that his letter is the tribes in particular that have been scattered.
Matthew 26:31
Then saith Jesus unto them, all ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepperd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
Therefore, this is at a point when Jesus Christ had been crucified and people had been scattered soon after. However, the Lord still says regardless of circumstances and situations he is still there as a guide to his people by His Spirit. When warfare comes, the adversary comes with his fiery darts and wiles of temptation. Yet the Apostle James is an encouragement to say stay the course and count it all joy when we encounter diversities of temptations. Many of the temptations didn’t come while Jesus was walking with his disciples during his ministry in the fleshly body. The disciples often questioned him during that time, asking questions concerning miracles, signs, and wonders. However, the true test of persecution didn’t take place until after Jesus had ascended and he said wait for the promise and he also said to watch and pray the ye enter not into temptation. The spirit is willing indeed but the flesh is weak. Yet the Lord has allowed such trials and test to build us on our most holy faith so that we may lay hold on eternal life.
Then James mentions that patience may have a perfect work. That perfection works for the edification of the body to present us as a perfect man unto the measure and stature of the fulness of Christ. This patience established is to get us to our expected end that we may overcome the care of this life and have a right to the tree of life.

So, then how does patience have its perfect work? When we are tried, we must not just be hearers of the word but doers also. Therefore, James says that if any man desire wisdom, let him petition the Lord Jesus who will give freely all things. The wisdom is the application of the word. Praise the Lord Jesus. Seek him for His Holy Spirit that distributes the gifts that we are able to stand in the last and evil day. Pray without ceasing. Do not lean to your own understanding of things when you cannot see the finish line. Trust the Lord that He who began a good work will perform it. In due season, we shall reap if we faint not.