Evidence of Salvation: James – Growth is more than feelings!

James 1:1-3 From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings! My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Baby Steps: I have always loved babies…especially my own. One of the areas I found so enjoyable was watching them as they begin to take their first steps. They look like their head weighs a ton and they are trying to balance it. So many falls, and because I loved them, I wanted to do something to help. I learned very quickly that if I wanted to love them…I must allow them to fall! If I stop them, they will never learn how to balance. My “love” would become detrimental to them, hindering them to mature and learn how to balance.

This statement by James: “because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance” is many times difficult to accept because what we “know” versus what we “feel” can be very different.  

However, the more we meditate on what we know, the greater our desire will be to live by that Truth, then the fleeting emotions which can be tossed about so easily by circumstances do not control us! I have always illustrated it this way: “Nathan, you just won the lotto, you’re rich!” Wow! Do I feel great! One minute later: “Nathan, the IRS is at the door!” BOOM! My joy is dashed with concerns of what I may owe, and the fact that now I am on the radar of the IRS…have I made mistakes in the past, will I be audited, will everyone expect money from me… ad infinitum! How quickly feelings can change! 

Don’t count on your emotions, instead count on what growth God will use them for as you learn to depend on Him, no matter the feelings or circumstances!

Consider what these two words mean: 

*Test – The means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined

*Endurance – The ability to bear pain, hardship, or adversity; this is a lasting quality.

How does this produce endurance? 

The only way to “prove” something is to test it. I am so glad they test airplanes! I prefer to take medicine that has been tested. 

All of us wish that our character would strengthen and mature only through the good things that happen to us. But we know that is not reality. In fact, my greatest growth has been in troubled times, when I am stretched and must depend on God instead of myself. Peter said it like this: 

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ  

Notice though, not joy over nothing – God always gives a purpose! Not some plastic fake lifestyle. We have joy because we know that the end of the trial brings Spiritual Growth!  

The picture is clear! Like silver or gold being purified, the greater the heat, the more dross burns off and the silver or gold is made purer. 

Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

Evidence # 1 – How you handle troubles is “evidence” of  what you believe

* Evidence #  2 

Purposeful living is an “evidence” of what you believe.