Its Work Completed!

It is possible to greatly appreciate something that is in the process of being built. Sometimes people will even live in a house that is still under construction; enough of it being completed to make it livable while the rest is being finished. When the work is completed, then is the time for rejoicing and saying “this is what the LABORING ON was all about!”

Perhaps some of you guys might rather view this from the standpoint of rebuilding an old car. That car may still provide some transportation even though the engine might sputter a bit and the body still has a few parts in various stages of either being replaced, puttied, or primered. You know it is all a process that takes time. But oh the ride it becomes when all the work is completed and the satisfaction felt from PERSEVERANCE through the whole process.

As James began to encourage those going though severe trials, he exhorted…
“(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.” ( James 1:2-4 ESV)

Among several translations, the phrase emphasized above is given as: “let patience have ‘her’ perfect work” (KJV), “let patience have ‘its’ perfect work” (NKJV), “let endurance have ’its’ perfect result” (NASB), and “Perseverance must finish its work” (NIV). The Greek word translated “steadfastness” in the ESV is in its strengthened form indicating the act of abiding under or bearing up courageously in a manner that would require patient endurance or steadfastness. And, according to the Greek, James’ encouragement was toward allowing that patience or steadfastness to DO ITS WORK COMPLETELY or perfectly. I like how the ESV translates it as “HAVE ITS FULL EFFECT” on our life.

Let us not become impatient and give up before the process is complete. This calls for surrendering to God as we trust in His timetable for His Will to be worked out in our life while we PERSEVERE through whatever might be faced. God doesn’t want a half-way job done on our life, but a complete one. We therefore need to allow the STEADFASTNESS TO FINISH ITS WORK. We can be encouraged that we are still moving along in service to God while its work is being completed, but oh the joy when we will see the process is finally finished. As faith produces steadfastness, the steadfastness has its WORK TO COMPLETE as well; the SPIRITUAL MATURITY God desires to ultimately develop in every part of our life. May we allow that work to be done!

Have a great day OPEN TO BECOMING GOD’S FINISHED PRODUCT!
Carl

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