We are looking at the book of James, a Bible author who told it as it is. His teachings challenge the reader to act on and not only hear the Word of God.
In our previous message regarding James 1:13-15 we have discussed temptation. When we look at this passage in the context of James 1:2-18 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%201:2-18&version=NIV1984 we see that temptations actually form part of testing and trials and it links in well with the passage we discuss in this message: “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created,” (James 1:16-18).
When we are being developed by the Lord to be fruitful for the sake of His Kingdom, we are put to all kinds of trials to test our development. It’s the same as training a soldier for the army or a civilian for the career she is pursuing. The trainee needs to be introduced to all scenarios they may encounter. A soldier will encounter ambushes, landmines, personal mines, snipers and so on during his career in the warzone. He will need to be good at shooting, leopard crawling, climbing, swinging, swimming, etc. During training he will be mock-attacked, shot at whilst crawling or running, and whatever is needed to get him used to the real situation.
Training in God’s Kingdom is a lifelong mission and if we are serious about being fruitful and effective for the Lord, we will be introduced to new skills all the time and will respond well to training. Most of what I teach I have lived and believe me it is not always easy, but definitely exciting and worth the while. Living as a soldier of Christ is certainly an exciting lifestyle.
Therefore in the context of James 1:2-18 temptation, including the temptation to be rich and comfortable (verses 9-11), is the enemy and our sinful nature shooting at us during training, testing our reaction and skills. ‘Every good and perfect gift that is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, through the word of truth’ (verses 16-18) is the equipping we receive from our Instructor, birthing in us skills and capabilities that would make a vast difference in this world as we are prepared to work with Him. We are then the firstfruits that will lead to much more fruit as those, whom we reach for Jesus, also enrol themselves in the Kingdom’s army in order to be the firstfruits of those who will be born of them.
Sportsmen and –women as well as soldiers should understand this discipline well. In the limited amount of time I have spent watching the Olympics this year I have noticed a girl from Jamaica laying on the track, after she had won the race, whispering “thank you Jesus”. I have also learnt that one of the multiple gold medal winners from England is set to enter the mission field soon.
Paul compares our Christian walk with a race and Jesus said “’If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it,’” (Luke 9:23-24). To die on the cross was the purpose of Jesus’ existence on earth. What is the purpose of your existence as a Christian? What are you good at and interested in? Whatever you are created for to accomplish for God’s glory is the cross you are to take up. This is the good and perfect gift the Father of the heavenly lights has for you, which He wants to develop through the word of truth, the Bible, which He uses by making it alive to us so we could learn.
Lord, I am available. Please bring me to the point where I can be most fruitful.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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