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MORE FRUITS OF TRIALS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
James 1:4

John 17:20-26

 

“I in them,

and thou in me…”

 

MORE FRUITS OF TRIALS
 
James encourages the believers to let “patience” (James 1:4), i.e. endurance, to bring out a perfect work so that they will be complete and entire, lacking nothing. Patience is not the ultimate aim of the trial. Patience is to make the saints “perfect” (James 1:4; Matt 5:48). Through trials, the Lord moulds and hammers us to be conformed to His image. His trials will surely bear the fruit of maturity, manifesting a life more and more like the Lord Jesus’. It is a fruit most sweet before God and man.
 
Excellent: The Greek word translated as “perfect” has the idea of spiritual maturity (1 Cor 2:6; James 1:4; 1 John 4:18). It does not, however, connote moral or spiritual perfection or sinlessness. It instead refers to that which is fully developed. This depicts a result in the believer who is being fully prepared or ready for the Lord’s work (Col 1:28; James 3:2). It is God’s grace granted to His children. Thus, it is excellent, for it produces a more profitable product: perfection.
 
Entire: The word “entire” (James 1:4) carries the idea of being whole in all its parts. The result is a complete package, where nothing is missing. The Greek word for “entire” has the prefix “holo,” where we get the term “holograph,” a 360-degree, three-dimensional depiction of an object. This helps us to understand that trials lead to outcomes that are complete or full. Such a fruit of trials may not be sweet to the taste, but it is full of nutrients, which are the best for the spiritual life of the believer.
 
Thus, this must be the Lord’s work. The believer’s hardships do not happen by chance. God has laid out everything according to His gracious and merciful nature. Therefore, no Christian facing problems should doubt and question God for allowing them to happen.
 
Dear reader, look beyond your trial, see the good hand of our loving Father, and see the fruit that you can bear. It will be a great blessing for you and the people around you who will see your God working beautiful things in your life!
 
THOUGHT: Can I see beyond the sufferings of my trial now?
PRAYER: Father in heaven, open my eyes that I may see Thy hand arranging and preparing the best in my life for Thy glory.

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