Count it all joy -

When the phrase "count it all joy" appears in the first chapter of James, the context shows reference to trials and temptations. But when God is pleased to provide us with relative peace in this life, we can easily fail to remember this encouragement as it applies to other clearer "joys" in our lives. I have on previous occasions here expressed thanks for my wife and daughter and for my church family and for some of God's seemingly "mundane" provisions. And at the same time, I can sometimes allow my thankfulness toward God to evolve into presumption and I begin to count God's mercy as somehow owed to me. This is clearly a sinful view of God's bountiful lovingkindness. We ought to consider our source of joy and the many blessings in which we are graciously allowed to rejoice.

My joy is wrapped up in the rest granted to me through the finished work of Christ. The expressions of that joy are fleshed out in relationships; I have been blessed with an excellent wife, a wonderful daughter, and a faithful church. I cannot give sufficient words here to extol my Father in Heaven for the mercy He has shown me. It brings a tear to my eye when I consider the mutual love I share with my wife and the affection of my precious daughter, but a more peculiar privilege that I enjoy is a mutual love with my brothers and sisters in Christ at the church with which my family will soon covenant in membership.

I hope it cannot be reckoned as arrogant that I am so thankful to God for bringing my family to a church where the people of God actually believe the Bible. While I am aware that my brethren at Christ Church are not perfect and that I am clearly not perfect, it does seem that God has been pleased to grant a larger measure of Biblical faithfulness to the families of Christ Church than can ordinarily be found in most churches (hence the reference to a peculiar privilege).

May God be pleased to stir more professing believers to greater faithfulness. May His lovingkindness to us include persevering faith and preservation from wickedness. May the provisions of our Father be counted as joy.