James 1:2-4 AMPC Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
Though we know the sources of temptations are the devil or other people mostly operating by your own lust and desire, there is the beneficial aspect of temptation which the Bible shows us. Not all TRIALS are TEMPTATIONS, some are TESTS or EXAMINATION – and you must know the difference.
When James says,
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”
The word rendered “tempt” above can also be ” Prove ” or ” Try ” or ” Test “, which means to evaluate someone in order to approve or pass him/her for promotion or reward. For instance, you have taken a 4-year course in Economics and you now need to sit a TEST or EXAMINATION to ascertain what you have learnt in order to pass you and award you a certificate.
That’s not a bad thing and God allows some trials of our faith to HELP us. You must understand that the trial and proving of your faith has its benefits: It brings out endurance and steadfastness and patience. So you must let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
I pray for you, that
MAY ANY TRIALS YOU ARE DEALING WITH LEAD TO A STRENGTHENING OF YOUR FAITH IN JESUS NAME. Amen. Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you.
GRACEFUL MORNING