Contemplative Bible Reading

James 1:3 (New Living Translation)

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

James is writing to Jews who believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God. These groups of believers had been scattered to the winds and found themselves in little groups here and there. No roots in the local area and no connections to help them through the politics and culture. They were all stranded.

They were double refugees. Cast off from mainline Jews and cast off from their homes.

They believed something they weren’t supposed to believe. “Oh, how quaint. You are one of those losers who believe in that silly stuff! No wonder you ended up living in that part of town with nothing to show for your ideas.” Their faith was tested everyday.

The daily tests of faith were an opportunity to grow. Huh? Pretty naive thought, huh? This is no fun. This weighs on us daily. Opportunity? Grow? Really?

Yes, an opportunity to grow. When faith is tested today, it endures. When it is tested again tomorrow, it endures more. With each day of testing, endurance increases. This is sort of like with each day of doing pushups, muscles grow. And I don’t like doing pushups, but I like muscles to grow. And I don’t like reading, but I like knowledge to grow. And I don’t like that, but I like this to grow.

Of course it is simple. Of course it is nuanced and complicated and not naive. Of course it is difficult when others scoff at my belief in Jesus Christ.

And Jesus Christ is with me every step of the way. Thank you Jesus.