Thy Will Be Done

James 1:2-4

"2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

We want to live the Christian life; from Paul we learned: giving with "SIMPLICITY," desiring only God’s glory, "DILIGENCE" we need to be attentive to the duties of our calling and mercy with "CHEERFULNESS!" NOT our temperament of the day, but is kindness and a lighthearted quality we need to cultivate as a duty our neighbors, friends and family.

We want to live the Christian life; from Peter we learn to be "GOOD STEWARDS;" God gives us gifts and talents, we will see to it that the Church is the beneficiary our blessings. 

The unknown author of Hebrews teaches we learn we need to be teaching and learning all the time! We want to learn about our FAITH so we can teach others. We want to advance to higher studies. From the milk of spiritual infancy to heartier nourishment; "strong meat," or red meat. The food of adults, the food of carnivores!

Today we turn to what is likely the first New Testament book written! James was the brother of Jesus. James did not come to FAITH in Jesus until after the Resurrection! But, when he did he went on to be the leader of the church in Jerusalem! He wrote this letter around 45 AD, before the the Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts fifteen where James made the deciding speech! 

Some compare the book of James to the Old Testament book of Proverbs. It features a focus on practical action in the life of faith! The verses of James are filled with direct commands to pursue a life of holiness. James encourages God’s people to act like God’s people and he makes no excuses for those who do NOT measure up!

Today's verses; "My brethren, count it all JOY when ye fall into divers temptations;" Wait! Don't we pray in our Saviour’s words, “Lead us not into temptation”? Instead think of the seasoned professional who has faced danger after danger and withstood it all. They are more trusted than a new recruit. As Christians we have to learn to endure!

When we do; "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." Our emotions and feelings have a place in the beginning of a Christians life, but as life wears on we have to learn to endure any attack from the Devil. We must develop the conscious strength of patients and trust in God that is able to say; "Thy will be done." And, mean it.