The sermon we heard before we left for Boston was from James: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." - James 1: 2-6.
The Greek word used for patience is
or hupomeno, literally meaning under (hupo) and abide or remain (meno). It is an action word, not passive, and it speaks to fortitude that undergirds you, not a facade of resignation or stoic denial. To me it seems like the "guts" of faith, something that can't come from you alone. It has to come from God.This passage in James is tough...but it rings true. Believers and unbelievers can reach the point of resignation or surrender, but joy has to come from faith.
Thank you all for your prayers on behalf of us; we are closer than ever, deeper in our faith, and grateful for the blessings of each day. I discovered Great Songs of Faith in a Boston bookstore, and found the daily Bible passages and stories behind the writing of hymns to be an inspiration. We've been reading Psalms and meditating on hymns individually and together as a family. Our daughter is a big Amy Grant fan, so we'll share this link YouTube video of Thy Word.
Reflections on James
Endurance, Perseverance, and Patience
Prayer in Paintings
Thank you...that is something I needed to hear today.
ReplyDeletePatience to me at the moment seems like passive resignation.