It took me about 10 minutes to read the introduction of James’ letter. Eugene Peterson’s rendering of James 1:2 is eye-opening; “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.” Our culture is suffering adverse.(although I’m not sure that this aversion is limited to North America) I have noticed in my own life, and among others, when things in life go wrong we are shaken, and downcast. But the Holy Spirit prompted James to give us God’s view of difficulties; they reveal our true selves to ourselves and to everyone around us. As the mechanism to reveal the work that God is doing in our life we have cause to rejoice; to receive difficulties as gifts from God. If we really want to be clear in the expression of our Christian faith we need to wait for suffering. When it comes, and it will come, we will shine as a city on a hill at night. We will stand out in the midst of a suffering world and display God’s joy. But to shine that brightly in the middle of suffering we will have to suffer first. Like all other skills and gifts joy and faith while suffering is a learned exercise. I wonder if the abuse, insults, and scourging that Jesus received were the tests that God used to prepare Jesus to face the cross?
Stuart
No comments:
Post a Comment