Building People of Substance for Works of Power
December 27, 2024
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 NKJV
As a pastor, I’ve always had a soft spot for James. His is the only epistle written by a man trying to lead a congregation. We’d probably call him the Pastor of the Jerusalem church. Can you imagine the challenge of leading the apostles and the thousands who came to the Kingdom in the early days of the church before any epistles had been written?
James’ writing style is straightforward and gritty, like he’s someone who’s really experienced life’s everyday challenges. Theology isn’t his end goal. He wants to help regular people live like Christ in this tough, dangerous world. That’s what a pastor does.
In this, the week before New Year, many of us are taking stock of how our lives are going. We rehash our victories and failures from 2024 and think of how to do better in 2025. We may set some goals, or even take time to pray for direction. Following tradition, many of us make New Year’s resolutions, promising ourselves and maybe others to change something old or implement something new. The failure rate of these proclamations is so high as to make them a joke for most people.
That doesn’t change the fact that we see things in ourselves that need to be changed, or things that we want to accomplish. It’s certainly a good thing to recognize what we need to do and make a decision to do it. That’s what a resolution is: a decision based on recognition of my need or desire, followed by a mental determination to take action on that decision. It implies that I will try harder to accomplish what I want to do.
As a Christian, if I see something in myself that needs to change to better align with God’s will — something He might not be too happy about — that’s a good time to take action. If I have a desire that I think is God’s prompting for my growth, the next step is up to me. Will I decide? Am I going to take action? /gid has provided me a better tool than a simple resolution. I can make a consecration. When I commit myself to do the will of God, that effort becomes sacred. Consecration means that God’s will is my guide, His power is my strength, and any success is for His glory.
I’ve made my fair share of decisions and resolutions that didn’t pan out. But I’ve also seen a lot of great things happen in my life. The key difference is that next step: consecration. I’m doing this because I believe God wants it done, and I have decided to follow Jesus. Now I can exercise my faith to do what I believe is God’s will.
As you search your heart in the approach to 2025, I pray that you will see some places where you can make a decision, develop some resolution, and step over into faith to make a consecration to the will of God. From a pastoral perspective, James gives us lots of good advice on walking out our faith. Here are four things that will help you fulfill your consecration in 2025.
- Cultivate patience: This James chapter 1 kind of patience (see above) isn’t just about putting up with delays or difficulties while feeling put upon and frustrated. It’s about staying calm and consistent when the heat is on. Stay steady! Notice that deciding to be joyful is the key difference between grumbling and perseverance. James 1:2-4
- Ask for wisdom: This is the wisdom that comes in the middle of the trial, allowing God to teach you, correct you on the fly, and lead you to solutions you didn’t know existed. Bible faith hears from God. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
- Be a doer: Almost every Bible promise is conditional: “If you do this, then I’ll do that.” Sometimes the only condition is to believe. If what I believe doesn’t change what I say and do, it’s probably just mental agreement, not true faith. Don’t kid yourself. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22
- Watch your mouth: Fill your heart with the word of God concerning what He has done for you, who He has made you, and what He wants for you in this life. Then, when you’re under pressure, you’ll speak God’s thoughts instead of your own. It will turn your whole situation around. “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” James 3:2
Here’s the point: Man-conceived goals, accomplished in man-mustered strength, are able to produce only man-made results. Make a decision to go a step beyond resolutions this year. Step over into consecration. Decide to follow Jesus, over, under, sink or swim. Resolve to fulfill His will. Then you can use your faith to get where He wants you to go, instead of using your willpower to fall short of your own fantasy. Even worse, you might sweat and strain and achieve something you desire at the expense of what He desires. There is no victory so hollow as that.
Pastor Virgil
3141 W. Ironwood Hill Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85741
pastorvirgil.com 