Lacking in Nothing
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2–4
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Lacking in Nothing
As fallen and sinful people living in a broken and corrupted world, we will have many trials and times of testing. And no doubt many of us have already gone through them or may in fact be going through them now. So it can be hard to count it as joy as James tells us. What joy is there in struggling, what joy is there in pain? The joy is not found in the pain and suffering but in the maturing of our faith as we rely on Christ to guide and see us through these times. As ones who Christ shed His blood on the cross for, as children of our heavenly Father we can rejoice in the knowledge that no matter the testing and trials we face we rest secure in the blessed assurance of the hope that lies in Christ Jesus alone. We learn patience as we go through the trials and know that we lack nothing. No in the sense that we lack no material thing but that our faith, given and strengthened by the Holy Spirit is not lacking. For when we have the forgiveness won for us on the cross by Christ and delivered to us through the Word and Sacraments we truly lack nothing. And in that knowledge, we can count it all joy.
James 1:2–4
+
Lacking in Nothing
As fallen and sinful people living in a broken and corrupted world, we will have many trials and times of testing. And no doubt many of us have already gone through them or may in fact be going through them now. So it can be hard to count it as joy as James tells us. What joy is there in struggling, what joy is there in pain? The joy is not found in the pain and suffering but in the maturing of our faith as we rely on Christ to guide and see us through these times. As ones who Christ shed His blood on the cross for, as children of our heavenly Father we can rejoice in the knowledge that no matter the testing and trials we face we rest secure in the blessed assurance of the hope that lies in Christ Jesus alone. We learn patience as we go through the trials and know that we lack nothing. No in the sense that we lack no material thing but that our faith, given and strengthened by the Holy Spirit is not lacking. For when we have the forgiveness won for us on the cross by Christ and delivered to us through the Word and Sacraments we truly lack nothing. And in that knowledge, we can count it all joy.
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