Whether or not humanity actually understands the Truth and embraces it, the purpose of life is to discover and know God and His infinite love for us, as well as love Him in return and be known as God’s children. Paul reiterates this for the believers in Corinth, “But if anyone loves God [with awe-filled reverence, obedience and gratitude], he is known by Him [as His very own and is greatly loved] (1 Cor 8:3 AMP). And, here is the cherry on God’s infinite love sundae; God created humanity and gave us the ability to recognize and know Him through everything He has done in creation (Ro 1:19-20). Everyone has the ability to take in the creative work of God, as it speaks love to human our souls, and know it was no accident.
Years ago, one of my seminary professors at Asbury said in a lecture, “Scripture is God’s self-revelation to His creatures.” It stuck with me. Our minds cannot comprehend the living God of all creation; we will never be able to grasp a comprehensive knowledge of God on our own. So, God uses natural and supernatural ways to help us make the journey of discovering the Truth about Himself and ourselves. Of course, the greatest self-revelation we have ever received of God is Jesus and His work of salvation to save us from sin, death, and eternal separation from our loving Creator’s presence.
Because of Jesus, God reveals and illumines Truth in the hearts of believers to bring infinite [unlimited] understanding to finite [limited] human beings. We will never be god, but my goodness it always amazing me that this mysterious and incomprehensible God lives in believing hearts! If you believe in the work of Jesus Christ to save you from sin, death, and separation, then this is the God who lives in you.
In our passage today, James wants us to remember this life of revelation with God requires the use of faith and endurance. If we never face things we cannot handle in our human strength, we will never know and recognize the power of God working from within. One of two things will happen: 1) We [our flesh] will take credit for it, or 2) We will run from every hard place and miss an opportunity to know God’s saving love for us. The testing of our faith is how God brings greater revelation to us. Grow in loyalty and trust, because there are no limits to what God wants to do in and through you. Receive this love from God, today…
James 1:1-8 NLT Greetings from James
1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.
Greetings!
Faith and Endurance
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the self-revelation of your Word to our hearts. We need to take the blinders off that hinder our ability to see you in unlimited ways. We want to be people of faith and we know it means we endure the testing that reveals you in greater ways. Holy Spirit, develop endurance within us and help us hold onto our joy! In Jesus’ name. Amen.