Consider Trials

Consider Trials

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4
The author of the book of James is generally believed to be the brother of Jesus. The son of Mary and Joseph.
Who he is writing to is not all that clear. All he says it is to the twelve tribes. It is certain he is writing to Christians and quite possibly the Christians from Jerusalem who were scattered after the death of Stephen. If so these Christians would understand what persecution was.
He says here consider it pure joy whenever you face trials. Sometimes, especially when we face trials for our faith we are doing the right things.
In Acts chapter five the Apostles were preaching the word of God when they were arrested and they were punished.
The book of Acts recording,
“....They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” 
                                                            Acts 5:40-42.
I’m sure the Apostles didn’t like getting flogged but they still rejoiced that they were doing what Christ called them to do well enough that the religious leaders of their day punished them.
Unfortunately today governments and other religious groups feel threatened by the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Thus there is at times horrendous persecution of Christians in some places in the world.
These persecuted Christians despite the hardship they are going through still refuse to give up their faith in Christ.
We in the west have it easy and quite frequently we forget those of our faith that live under persecution.
Please remember the persecuted church. Lift them up in your prayers daily. Pray that God will give them peace in all they are going through.
        Pray that their persecution will end.