I've decided to once again tackle the book of James. I find myself going back to this book every so often for a fresh look, as each time I go back to read it I find new insights and it brings new and painful convictions. I had only gotten to verse three when the first painful stab reached my my gut. Perhaps you've had this experience as well - you start reading a passage of Scripture, and suddenly you realize that it hits just a little too close to home, and you sort of jump over the passage to go on to more pleasant, less convicting passages!
The word that stopped me in my tracks this morning was the word perseverance. It occurs first in verse three, where James tells us that the trials we have develops perseverance. OK, well, that's not so bad, you say. But it's the next verse that really is the kicker: perseverance must "finish it's work" James says. So what does that mean? It means that whatever that trial is that has caused you to begin persevering, it's going to take a while to accomplish it's mission.
I've never been great at this persevering thing. When I was a boy and learning to type, I wanted to be able to time 120 words per minute by the end of the first lesson. Same thing with the piano. I wanted to be able to play Mozart and Beethoven after three weeks of practice. I'm still that way now. I get a new software program to learn, and I refuse to read the 500-page manual - I want to be an expert at it NOW! I sort of group "persevering" with the word "practice". "(I'm a musician afterall, and that's what we do)
In order to become proficient at anything in music you have to practice. Practice is boring. Practice can be painful. Practice can be monotonous. Practice can be disheartening. However, it is that commitment to keep going - that inner drive to get something right - that intrinsic motivation to perfect - that is the essence of perseverance.
In the Christian life, nothing is automatic. God knows this, and has designed an individualized training program for each one of us called TRIALS. No two programs are alike. You can't borrow someone else's training program, you have to do your own. Your training program is customized to your personality, your strengths, your weaknesses, and your inclinations. Your training program will not be done in 24 hours.
Don't you love those commercials that promise you life-changing results in days? Whether it's weight loss, weight gain, muscle growth, reading speed, smoking cessation, I.Q. scores, or anything else that people aspire to - it doesn't happen overnight. And that's why James tells us that "perseverance must finish its work."
Right now, you are in perseverance mode. I don't care who you are, how many years you have been a believer, or how many sunday school pins you've earned (Oops, I forgot, anyone under the age of 40 would have no idea what a Sunday School pin is)
you are in perseverance mode RIGHT NOW. God is working on you. He's got a plan, and he wants you to stick it out. It will result in great things in your life. But you need to stick with the plan. Are you up for it?
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