James 1:2-3
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James is saying that with all this going on right now, consider it pure joy. With all the trials that this virus has brought into our lives we ought to rejoice because it is stretching our faith and is producing in us perseverance. It is making us stronger and more unmovable.
The word, testing, is interesting. It was a word that the Silver Smith used back in the day when they would test silver. The way they would test silver is they would put the silver in a pot and they would heat the silver with fire. When the silver reached a certain temperature all the impurities would rise to the top, and the Silver Smith would scoop the impurities off. Then he would repeat this process over and over again until the silver was pure and all the impurities were gone.
The Silver Smith knew it was pure when he could look down and see his own reflection in the silver. Isn’t that what God is doing with us? He is taking what our enemy meant for harm and He is using it for good.
Right now, Jesus is using this time to bring to the surface in our lives our impurities so that one day, He can look down and see His image in us.
Let us pray!
Blessings,
Pastor Lee & Gidget Athey