The Contrary Joy

Sunday, April 14, 2024

In James 1:2 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." It's the first thing James talks about. Consider it when? The Greek word for encounter is peripipto, meaning when you find yourself surrounded with troubles. Consider it pure joy when you're surrounded by trials, when you're surrounded by evil, when you're surrounded by adversity, when you're surrounded by temptation, when you're being attacked on all sides by the enemy. Usually, in those cases our reaction to being surrounded by adversity and trouble isn't pure joy. But James doesn't say it is pure joy, it says to consider it pure joy. Not that it seems that way, but consider it- you have to choose. When you're in the midst of trials, consider it pure joy. Why? If it naturally produced pure joy, you wouldn't have to consider it that way. It's the testing of your faith that will produce great and even more radical faith in you. Consider it pure joy and pure joy is exactly what you will end up having in the end.

From Message #996 - How to Pass the Test