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Daily Devotions

James

James 
Day 
Day 5

"That you may be perfect and complete..."

Text: James 1:4

GLORIOUS GOALS IN SIGHT

Trials may be hard to endure. However, they will become more bearable if we know that we can achieve glorious goals at the end of our trials.

“But let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:4

1. The order of events

a) Trials
b) Testing
c) Producing patience

2. “But let patience have its perfect work”

a) The different nuances of “patience” are in mind.
b) These nuances take time to be cultivated.
c) The word “perfect”:
i) It may be translated “maturity” or “complete”.
ii) Sinlessness is not in mind.
iii) No one is “perfect” except the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. “That you may be perfect and complete”

a) The two words are synonyms.
b) The first word is actually sufficient.
c) The second word was added for impact.
d) “Perfect and complete” would then become an idiom for “full maturity”.

4. “Lacking nothing”

a) This reinforces the idiom “perfect and complete”.
b) This is added to strengthen the idea of being fully mature.

SPIRITUAL MATURITY

It is hard to have such maturity. We are reminded of how the Lord Jesus Christ grew up.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature,
and in favour with God and men.”
Luke 2:52

Let us face the trials of our life with a greater sense of faith in the Lord. May we see much growth in spiritual maturity. To remain children in faith is not something that the Scriptures commend. Let us seek spiritual maturity as our quest in life! Let us never be afraid of the trials of life!