James begins his brief letter to the scattered and battered Jewish Christians with a radical and seemingly irrational command—Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds. Below are a few words from the sermon on 2/21/21 that show the brilliant rationale to such a radical command.

Scripture

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance - Romans 5:3

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. - Colossians 3:1-4

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Quotes

“Frankly, many of us would prefer that this passage was not in the Bible! But it may also be one of the most profound and crucial for truly mature Christian living.” - Craig Blomberg

“James is commending the conscious embrace of a Christian understanding of life that brings joy into the trials.” - Kent Hughes

A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love

By Vincent, Milton

Buy on Amazon

“More than anything else I could ever do, the gospel enables me to embrace my tribulations and thereby position myself to gain full benefit from them. For the gospel is the one great permanent circumstance in which I live and move; and every hardship in my life is allowed by God only because it serves His gospel purposes in me. When I view my circumstances in this light, I realize that the gospel is not just one piece of good news that fits into my life somewhere among all the bad. I realize that the gospel makes genuinely good news out of every other aspect of my life, including my severest trials. The good news about my trials is that God is forcing them to bow to His gospel purposes and do good unto me by improving my character and making me more conformed to the image of Christ. Preaching the gospel to myself each day provides a lens through which I can view my trials in this way and see the true cause for rejoicing that exists in them. I can then embrace trials as friends and allow them to do God’s good work in me.” - Milton Vincent, The Gospel Primer

“I wish the pastor went a little deeper with that thought!”
“What was the verse he cited?”
“Did they announce…”
“I can’t remember that quote.” 

Sound familiar? I’m sure it does. Whether it is a thought that misses the final sermon cut, an announcement cut for time’s sake, or our memory just not cutting it, we can miss a lot on Sunday morning. 

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