Monday, September 17, 2007

God's Boot Camp

James 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
  • The book of James has been called God's Boot Camp. Why do military units have boot camps?
  • How does this passage remind you of a boot camp?
  • Do you struggle with finding joy in trials? If so, why?
  • What is there about trials that makes you want to avoid them?
  • Why would God allow you to endure trials? What does He want?
  • How are what you want and what God wants different in regard to trials?
  • What sort of perfection and completeness is this talking about?
  • How badly do you want to be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing?
Harold's Musings:
I'm not big into exercise and that sort of thing. I have not been very motivated by the statement: No pain, no gain. As you would expect, I'm not very fond of this passage. Joy in suffering or trial is difficult for me. When I'm honest, it is because I am more focused on self-protection than self-improvement. God knows what is best for me. Do I trust Him to take care of me? Do I believe that His training is going to help later? Tough stuff for me on a Monday.

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