I had recently written about joyful tribulations and that seems impossible to ever refer to a time of trouble as a time to experience joy.  It’s because most may see joy as just a “feeling” when it isn’t really that, but it is a fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22 states, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  These are all evidence of living in the Spirit, or walking after the ways of God. 

For most, as the older we get we are able to look back over our lives and see the good and bad times.  Some may have more of one than the other, but no matter how many “bad times” they can learn to be endured.  We keep on keeping on and learn through those times we can’t wait to get out of.   The half brother of Jesus who came to faith in HIM after His death and ascension became one of the first writers to the early church as most historians will tell to encourage the early “beginning” church to walk the walk and talk the talk if you are going to call yourself a believer in Christ. 

In James 1:3 he writes, “you know the testing of your faith produces endurance and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”   In our society and culture to hear the word perfect is a standard that none can really live up to and a belief that some mistakenly think they are without spot or blemish.  The Word lets us know that there are none who are perfect, but we all fall short of God’s glory.  God has a certain standard and we none can reach it.   This is the reason for salvation and yes we all need it, but it is a choice.  You don’t have to receive it.  Yet, it is still a gift that is offered to all.  

Once the gift is accepted then we can be made perfect, but not in the way we see the word.  The word can actually mean becoming mature.  As children grow we hope that they get more mature.  I’m sure we all know some that no matter their chronological age they are not so mature.  Maturity is something that takes effort to demonstrate.  

As we live through the good and bad times and learn how to navigate through life we can only hope that we learn to be more mature than we were the day before.  Even Google explains that maturity is being able to take responsibility for your own actions, having the ability to listen, being willing to have accountability, and respecting others.  All of these are also evidence of walking in the right Way and along with the fruits of the Spirit we can gauge our maturity and growth in Christ.  The closer we are to God and living in His light the brighter our lives will shine.

~TRS 9-14-24