notes

Main point summary

Because WE KNOW God works through our trials to grow our endurance (our character), we should view trials with joy, allowing the testing of our faith to help us reach spiritual maturity.

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NT

James 1:2-4

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mine

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e Count it all joy, my brothers, 1

Consider it a good thing, something to be joyful about,

a Consider it all joy, my brethren,

Πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε, ἀδελφοί μου,

when you meet trials f of various kinds,

when you face all kinds of difficulty,

when you encounter b various 1 trials,

ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις,

temporal

for you know

because you can KNOW--you don't have to guess or wonder--that these trials are testing your faith,

knowing that a the testing of your b faith

γινώσκοντες ὅτι τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως

that g the testing of your faith h produces steadfastness.

and this testing is designed to build endurance in you.

produces 1 c endurance.

κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν.

ideaexplanation

And let steadfastness have its full effect,

Do not fight this, but let this endurance build to reach its desired effect in you;

And let 1 a endurance have its perfect 2 result,

ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ ἔργον τέλειον ἐχέτω,

that you may be i perfect and complete,

that is, that you will grow in Christian character to be mature,

so that you may be 3 b perfect and complete,

ἵνα ἦτε τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι

lacking in nothing.

not being in want of anything from an endurance perspective.

lacking in nothing.

ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι.

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As we can see from arcing James 1:2-4, the idea of "KNOWING" in verse 3 is the key to counting it all joy when we meet trials. But several questions arise. One is this: do we KNOW what the Bible says about how we should think in our trials? These verses in James 1 help us with that. Secondly, once we KNOW what God says, do we BELIEVE Him? That is a matter of faith. But knowing and even believing are not sufficient if we don't REMEMBER what we know and believe when we're in the trials; that is, if we don't appropriate and apply what we KNOW when in a trial . Though this passage doesn't directly address remembering, an important key to actually doing what is said in these verses is to meditate on them and treasure them in our hearts so we will not sin against God (Ps 119:11). So let's memorize these wonderful verses, believe them, think about how to apply them in the trials we tend to face, rehearse how we will count it all joy, and then see how God is faithful to grow us. Without KNOWING, believing, and remembering what God says, proper application of the Word most likely will not occur. But KNOWING, of course, is the first step. God bless you.

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