Last Day's Essentials-22
Our Mission
Testing of Your Faith
Jas. 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Attitude In Trials
To persecuted Jewish believers scattered among pagan peoples, James gave the surprising advice, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Trials should be faced with an attitude of joy. Trials should not be seen as a punishment, a curse, or a calamity but something that must prompt rejoicing. Furthermore they should produce “pure joy” (lit., “all joy”; i.e., joy that is full or unmixed), not just “some joy” coupled with much grief.
My...
μοῦ
mou
moo
The simpler from of of me: mine, my; of me: - I, me, mine (own), my.
brethren,...
ἀδελφός
adelphos
ad-el-fos'
From the first (as a connective particle) and δελφύς delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like [Father, chief]): - brother.
count...
ἡγέομαι
hēgeomai
hayg-eh'-om-ahee
Middle voice of a (presumed) strengthened form of properly to lead, to bring, drive, go; to lead, that is, command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is, consider: - account, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think.
it all...
πᾶς
pas
pas
Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole: - all (manner of, means) alway (-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no (-thing), X throughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
joy...
χαρά
chara
khar-ah'
From to be full of cheer, that is, calmly happy or well off; cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: - gladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous).
when...
ὅταν
hotan
hot'-an
From at which thing too, that is, when: - after and denoting a supposition, wish possibility, of uncertainty; whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causative (conjugationally) inasmuch as: - as long (soon) as, that, + till, when (-soever), while.
To fall into; to be caught by. Here; Luke 10:30; Acts 27:41.
ye fall into...
περιπίπτω
peripiptō
per-ee-pip'-to
From properly through allover, that is, around and the idea of alighting, to fall; fail; to fall into something that is all around, that is, light among or upon, be surrounded with: - fall among (into).
Trial; attack; put to proof; examine; question (see, Gal. 4:14). A trial of any kind, not necessarily temptation to sin (Jas. 1:2-4, 1:12; 1Pet. 1:7).
divers...
ποικίλος
poikilos
poy-kee'-los
Of uncertain derivation; motley, that is, various in character: - divers, manifold.
temptations;...
πειρασμός
peirasmos
pi-ras-mos'
From to test, that is, endeavor; scrutinize, entice, discipline; a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity: - temptation, X try.
We are constantly faced with temptations. It’s just a part of life. And in each temptation there has to be a decision on our part, whether or not we are going to walk in the flesh or to walk in the Spirit. For temptation is any situation that would draw me into the flesh and into a fleshly reaction. I have to choose. Will I walk after the flesh? Will I walk after the Spirit? And we realize that there are all kinds of temptation. They come from all directions.
As I shared this, driving I think can be one of the greatest temptations in the world to get in the flesh. It’s interesting we were recently in Show Low and these people are an extremely gracious, wonderful people. They were so kind and gracious to us. But when they get in a car, they’re totally different. I mean, I owe a great deal of my spiritual development to riding in a car in our area. I really learned to pray. The temptation of responding or reacting in the flesh to the foolish moves of other drivers.
Temptations that come because of our possessions. Something happening to my possession because we try to possess our possessions. We so often find ourselves angered, responding in the flesh because something has happened to my prized possession.
Temptations that come because of interpersonal relationships. Temptations that come from so many areas. Divers temptations where I am prone to respond after the flesh. I want to respond after the flesh.
Now we are told to count it all joy, a strange response to temptations. Usually I don’t like to be tested. I would rather that everything went very smoothly. I would rather that no one got in my way. I would rather that no one cross me. No one cut in front of me. That I would much rather see. But it doesn’t happen that way. Life isn’t that way. Life is filled with disappointments. There are always those that are going crosscurrent to you. There will always be those who will be irritants to you. An irritating situation. I cannot rule and order my life, as I would have it.
If I did, I would become so spoiled and rotten and pompous. Wanting everybody to bow. Wanting everybody to yield. Wanting everybody to submit. Doesn’t happen that way. And so for my growth, for my development, temptation is necessary. It’s a part of the testing and that’s what we are told here.