Daily Encouragement: James 1:1-4

What should happen when you face a trial, should you react with anger or with Joy? I chose the latter. We, as Christians, should face trials with joy. James was writing the book James to alert the Twelve Tribes of Dispersion that they should consider trials as pure joy. James 1:1 evidences this truth.

James 1:1 state, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.”

This is a typical letter greeting in the New Testament. When, you look closer, it says to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion. To clarify this truth, what does James mean when it says the Twelve Tribes? James is referring to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The Twelve Tribes of Israel were Jewish People that were offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The twelve tribes are Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, and Manasseh. So, James is writing to these tribes in Dispersion. James is now giving the twelve tribes dispersed abroad a proposition. This Proposition is that the Twelve tribes should count Trials as pure joy.

James 1:2 states, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” Then James gives a reason why The Twelve Tribes should consider trials as pure joy. The Twelve Tribes should consider trials as pure joy because the testing of their faith produces steadfastness, in other words, perseverance.

James 1:3 states, “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Then, James wanted the Twelve tribes to persevere in their faith so that it can have its full effect, being perfect and complete. The only way we can persevere is only through Jesus Christ.

James 1:4 states, “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Andy Stanley, on April 26th, 2020, had an interesting perspective on James 1:1-4. He believes that Trials exposes the authenticity of our confidence in God. When the Twelve Tribes face trials, they should consider it pure joy because it helps persevere their faith for the better.

tune in tomorrow for another daily encouragement.