Read James 1:1-4
Paul wrote to the Gentile churches and James wrote to the 12 Jewish tribes. One day God showed me that we are all spiritually a member of one or more of the tribes of Israel and have the ministry of that tribe. I am of the tribe of Levi with some Judah in me. I would encourage you to ask God what tribe you are from. It is very helpful to know.
James starts right off with encouraging us to see the bright side to what is going on in our lives. He says to "count if all joy when you fall into divers temptations". That word "count" means to "command". So we are to command delight into our different adversities. We can do that if we understand that when our faith is being put to the test it is working cheerful and hopeful endurance. And if we let this endurance complete the job we will be complete in every way lacking nothing at the time we need it. That is a pretty good promise! It reminds me of the blessings in Lev. 26. I especially like Lev. 26:10, "You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new." There is no famine or want when you walk in obedience to God and trust him. It doesn't matter what is going on in the world around you, we have a hiding place in God. That is why we can command joy into our trials.
So we command joy into the trials that come our way today. Work patience into our being that we might mature into the perfect man of God.
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