Count It All Joy
“Count It All Joy”
These words ring differently today, as we still grieve the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk. One of a handful of voices that boldly stepped forward in a public way these last years, sharing his faith and standing up for the clarity of the gospel message, when doing so got so easily labeled as “Christian nationalism”. In the United States we seldom faced persecution for our faith as Christians in many countries around the world do. But over the course of these last several years, it felt as though this concept came closer to the doorsteps of our churches and homes than ever before. But this is not a new thing, but rather as old as the church itself. Peter admonished his readers in regard to these trials already since the first century AD, when he wrote:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1.Peter 4:12-14 ESV)
What is curious though is that Peter, without blaming the cause of these trials on the government or specific circumstances of his time, simply said that these trials are part of a testing for us believers. Almost as though it were a natural part of being a Christian, and that it is the sort of exam we all need to pass. Furthermore, he admonishes us that we ought to “rejoice” in it, because these tests identify us in a closer way with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ than in any other way. Similarly, the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the church in Philippi wrote:
"...that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own..” (Philippians 3:10-12 ESV)
James also wrote regarding these trials, to:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV)
We see that trials and sufferings of various kinds are a common theme in the early church. Not because of their special historical circumstances of churches in the first century AD, but because it is common to being a Christian, a naturally occurring tool to refine our faith - like a blacksmith uses heat to forge iron, and like a person using a sandstone to sharpen the blade of a knife. It is not something Lord always spares us from, but something He uses to refine our faith. So that it would produce in us “steadfastness”, and steadfastness when it has its “full effect” like James said, will gradually “perfect and complete” our faith, so that we are not “lacking in nothing”.
Many of us strive to better ourselves, walk closer to the Lord, and desire to be more fruitful in our daily lives. We go to church, attend Bible studies, fellowship with other believers, and read and pray that we may grow up in Him who is the head and become more mature as believers. These trials, whether we like it or not, are a big part of it. They ought to produce in us something that will reshape our character, thinking, and the way we live our daily life.
We have seen this effect in many just recently that were affectated in this way by the death of Charlie Kirk. Suddenly it sparked in them a desire to go to church, spend more time in the Word, and be bolder in their faith.
We pray the Lord may comfort the Kirk family for their tragic loss, and for us as a nation, to learn from it and grow back stronger than before. But also, of us individually, that the Lord may use this grief and testing of our faith, to produce in us greater godliness, passion and love for the Lord.
"Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." (1.Peter 4:19)
These words ring differently today, as we still grieve the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk. One of a handful of voices that boldly stepped forward in a public way these last years, sharing his faith and standing up for the clarity of the gospel message, when doing so got so easily labeled as “Christian nationalism”. In the United States we seldom faced persecution for our faith as Christians in many countries around the world do. But over the course of these last several years, it felt as though this concept came closer to the doorsteps of our churches and homes than ever before. But this is not a new thing, but rather as old as the church itself. Peter admonished his readers in regard to these trials already since the first century AD, when he wrote:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1.Peter 4:12-14 ESV)
What is curious though is that Peter, without blaming the cause of these trials on the government or specific circumstances of his time, simply said that these trials are part of a testing for us believers. Almost as though it were a natural part of being a Christian, and that it is the sort of exam we all need to pass. Furthermore, he admonishes us that we ought to “rejoice” in it, because these tests identify us in a closer way with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ than in any other way. Similarly, the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the church in Philippi wrote:
"...that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own..” (Philippians 3:10-12 ESV)
James also wrote regarding these trials, to:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV)
We see that trials and sufferings of various kinds are a common theme in the early church. Not because of their special historical circumstances of churches in the first century AD, but because it is common to being a Christian, a naturally occurring tool to refine our faith - like a blacksmith uses heat to forge iron, and like a person using a sandstone to sharpen the blade of a knife. It is not something Lord always spares us from, but something He uses to refine our faith. So that it would produce in us “steadfastness”, and steadfastness when it has its “full effect” like James said, will gradually “perfect and complete” our faith, so that we are not “lacking in nothing”.
Many of us strive to better ourselves, walk closer to the Lord, and desire to be more fruitful in our daily lives. We go to church, attend Bible studies, fellowship with other believers, and read and pray that we may grow up in Him who is the head and become more mature as believers. These trials, whether we like it or not, are a big part of it. They ought to produce in us something that will reshape our character, thinking, and the way we live our daily life.
We have seen this effect in many just recently that were affectated in this way by the death of Charlie Kirk. Suddenly it sparked in them a desire to go to church, spend more time in the Word, and be bolder in their faith.
We pray the Lord may comfort the Kirk family for their tragic loss, and for us as a nation, to learn from it and grow back stronger than before. But also, of us individually, that the Lord may use this grief and testing of our faith, to produce in us greater godliness, passion and love for the Lord.
"Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." (1.Peter 4:19)
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