Evening Scripture

James, Chapter 1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Evening Reflection

We often think of tests and trials like those undertaken in school or the DMV. A test rates our ability, knowledge, or skill. Tests are designed for us to prove ourselves. Based on our performance, we earn the grade or the license we desire. Importantly, tests are essentially binary. Regardless of the range of letter grades or the number of demerit points, tests boil down to two options: we either pass or we fail.

Does God test us in the same way? Does God give us heavenly exams to prove our worth? Is God stretching us just to see what kind of stuff we are made of? If we think this, then we can so easily condemn ourselves. We think that if we fail the test, we disappoint God and prove that we are not worth God’s time. 

It’s true that scripture talks a lot about God testing us, but God’s tests are not meant to judge whether we will pass or fail.  God tests us to give us the opportunity to experience God’s presence and power. A test is the invitation to rely on God’s strength, not to prove our own. This is why we consider it Joy – because, as hard as the time might be, the difficult situations we face become places where we come to know the love of Jesus, and the power of the Spirit that upholds us. Tests and trials become the fodder for deeper faith and lasting perseverance.

Are you going through a time of testing? Are you facing a situation where you don’t know what to do, where to go, or what decision to make? What if, worrying about your lack of stillness or strength, you turned your attention to the Lord? What if you aren’t being asked to do it all, but to let God work through you?

Evening Prayer

Gracious God,
If you are Lord of heaven and on earth, why do I often feel that the weight of the world is on my shoulders? As I rest this night, I give to you my day, with all my decisions and tasks, my hopes and my worries. I give to you the work that I have accomplished, but also the work that stretches me past my own ability. I give you my questions and my doubts.
Lord, I thank you for your guidance. I thank you for the places where I am empowered to work, where the talents you have given me can shine. But I also thank you for those places where I feel tested and tried – for in those places I turn to you. Help me to look to you in all things, and in every work, every task, every event, give you glory.
This I pray in Jesus name.
Amen.

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