September 29, 2025 | Be God's Family
Persevere with Faith
Scripture: James 1:1-8(NIV)
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Devotional
Welcome to the book of James! This is one of my favorite books of the Bible. It contains considerable advice and admonishment on practical Christian living. I like to refer to James as “New Testament Proverbs.”
James doesn’t waste time getting to his task. The first message seems like a rather harsh slap to the face. “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds….” It sounds a lot like my mom serving up my least favorite dinner: “That’s what you get and you’re going to like it!” But James has a valid point. While it might be a stretch to look with joy at the trials in our lives, we should have appreciation how those trials develop our faith.
You can’t really appreciate the view from the mountaintop unless you first climb out of the valley.
In late 2016, my life seemed pretty good. My sons had launched their own lives, financial security and a good retirement seemed to be on the horizon for my wife and me. And then in a moment of silent prayer during church service, God spoke to me, and said “You are going to go through a trial.” A week later my wife was in the ER, beginning the journey of gastric cancer that would eventually claim her life. I knew it was up to me to walk with her on that journey, until it was time to part ways. I would not consider this time of my life to be “pure joy,” but it was possible with God being with me on the way. And it was possible because of the trials I had endured in life up to that point.
In my life, each challenge is eventually followed by a bigger one. I wondered why I had the trials I went through, until I had the next one and realized I couldn’t have gone through the later trial without having endured the former. I didn’t really realize how God was perfecting my faith through trials until after I started my spiritual journey as a Christian. That realization brought the “pure joy” to which James refers.
So, if you are still climbing out of the valley in your faith, don’t give up. Keep the faith, persevere, and keep climbing. The mountaintop is within reach.
Poem
I Do Not Need A Genie
Proverbs 9
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.She will give y ou a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”
Proverbs 4:5-9
I do not need a genie, three wishes to supply
For my God gives me all I need while I in Him abide
So here is what I’m given; a triad symphony
It all is given gen’rously, as I on Christ rely
The first gift I’ve been given: SALVATION, free and clear
From Christ who died upon the cross and holds me ever dear
The second, WISDOM’s promise: fear-faith in God alone
A constant guiding Spirit; Christ’s righteous path I’m shown
The third gift, all encompassing--- God, neighbor, friend or foe
Outpouring of God’s grace in me, Christ’s image to bestow
What is this gift? Why LOVE, of course! Unconditional and free
I have the pow’r to share with all, since first given to me
So genie, stay inside your lamp, No fairytale for me
I need not gamble with my life nor play a lottery
For all I need has been supplied, I in contentment rest
My “all for good” I trust to God, for He knows what is the best
