When Jesus said “you shall be perfect” (Matt.5:48, James 1:4) He meant
it. The primary purpose of the Christian
life, from salvation to death or rapture, is to be changed into the likeness of
Christ, to literally become like Jesus.
The Great Commission, our ministries and our Christian works all emanate
from and find their source in our ever increasing experience of the life of
Christ flowing through us. We are all in
the Potter’s house and God, the Master Potter, is using the fiery trials and
pressures of this life to test our faith
(1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:12-13), molding and shaping us into the very likeness... the
nature, of His dear Son (Rom. 8:29).
God doesn’t deliver us out of our troubles; God delivers us in our
troubles. Our strength is in the
strain! This is why James said, “rejoice
and be glad” and the Apostle Paul said to “boast” (James 1:2-4; Rom. 5:3-5) in
our troubles. They could see beyond the “natural”, the trials and tests, and
with the eye of the Spirit comprehend how God was utilizing these afflictions,
“all things”, to work together for good in their life, in accordance with His
purposes (Rom. 8:28, 2 Cor. 5:7). Just
as Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him (Heb. 12:2), they knew
their faith was being tested and they knew God was taking them to another level
of spiritual walk, another level of His glory.
They knew their steps were ordered by God (Ps. 37:23), that this was a
pathway they must walk, so they set their mind on things above (Col. 3:2) and
rejoiced! They boasted! They knew they were more than conquerors thru
Christ (Rom 8:37), they knew Jesus would never leave them or forsake them (Heb.
13:5), and they understood and wanted God’s perfection, their spiritual
maturity. They rejoiced!
OUR STRENGTH IS IN THE
STRAIN!
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