Do you ever wonder if James lost all his listeners in the second verse of his book? I wonder how many people got up and walked out upon hearing this verse read, knowing they could never relate to such an idea. Who counts it as joy when they meet a trial?
What a mindset that early church had. With everything that happened, they were trying to determine how it brought them closer to Christ. Their celebrations pointed ahead to the great celebration in heaven, and their trials helped them think about being purified for the kingdom. Every single thing -- none of it was lost if there was an opportunity to grow in discipleship through it.
I would love to have this kind of mindset -- to see everything through the filter of growing in discipleship, to waste nothing but always be waiting for the Spirit to lead me closer to Christ. May we find some semblance of this in our own lives, waiting and watching for God to work in the midst of it all!
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