The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:4,
"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James here speaks of a maturity, a completeness that all believers should grow into. The trials and testing of our faith have design with purpose to bring this maturity to our lives. We all have need of this maturing process. The trials that come our way are intentional, as we learn from Jesus' letter to the Laodicean church "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." The writer of Hebrews points out, "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness." Hebrews 12:10.
In another place the writer of Hebrews points to a maturing process that should accompany the life of the believer. He says the believer plays a prominent part in this process, "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:13-14. Here we are told that together with the trials and testing of our faith, our efforts at putting into practice the "teaching about righteousness" is something that brings maturity to our lives. God does his part and we are to do ours.
As opposed to those who view believers as being solely puppets animated by God, I see in the pages of Scripture a wonderful collaboration between himself and the believer that God has instituted. God provides the tools and the believer is to do his part. As the writer of Hebrews goes on to say from the earlier passage, "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity..." We are to do our part.
Here are some examples of this collaboration that come to my mind:
God provided his Son as a sacrifice of atonement for our sin and offers us forgiveness through his call in the gospel, "God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." Romans 3:25. We are to do our part by embracing him in faith. "We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20. "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure." 2 Peter 1:10.
God provides us the Scriptures, "men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:21. James tells us to do what it says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22.
God insures we are not tempted beyond what we can bear, "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.", 1 Corinthians 10:13. We are to do our part, "So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." 2 Peter 3:14.
God has sent his Holy Spirit to dwell within us, "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-15. We are to do our part by yielding to the Holy Spirit, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25.
A divine collaboration by God's design! God initiates and does his part and we are to do ours!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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