We are not the Hero

I was sitting in church and my pastor began a new sermon series on Hosea and Gomer.  In our traditional way of thinking, we always want to put ourselves in the position of Hosea. We want to be the hero in every story.  However, my pastor challenged us all to look again and put ourselves in the position of Gomer. At first glance, we never want to admit that we have those types of problems. But upon further investigation, it was easy to see how we turn our back on God to pursue things that are not Godly. I am so thankful that God is a God of unconditional love and pursues me despite of my flaws.  I found myself searching scripture to find verses on how to live out the Christian faith. The book of James is where I landed. James had the perfect example of how to live out your faith. His example was his brother Jesus. James, in the first chapter of his epistle, talks about how our faith can be tested and the results of that test.  As students, we all hated tests. As a teacher, we realize it’s not particularly the test itself but the results of the test that matter. James gives us the some encouragement that the test helps us produce perseverance.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  –James 1:2-3

Consistency

James tells us it’s not a matter of if, but when the test happens; it will help develop our faith. So, I turned to find the definition of steadfastness. By explanation, steadfast means that you have consistency in your life. For me, in my own personal walk, it can be difficult to have consistency. I also think that the test helps us produce endurance in our journey. Endurance, by definition, is the ability to do a difficult task for an extended period of time. I began to notice a theme of consistency and endurance. I don’t know about you, but living out the Christian faith is a difficult task over an extended amount of time.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. –James 1:4

Through the Trial

James would challenge us to not look at the test itself, but the results. How incredible is it that after the test we are matured in our spiritual journey? In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the disciples to follow him you have to deny yourself daily. Paul would write in Romans that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope. To challenge our traditional way of thought, maybe we should not look for God to deliver us from a trial/test, but let Him redeem us through the trial/test.

Photo by Steve Halama on Unsplash