Today's Verse: James 1:4 (NIV)

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

The Bible Exposition Commentary suggests that James provides us with a picture of the marks of the mature Christian:

I. HE IS PATIENT IN TESTING—chapter 1

• A. Trials on the outside—1:1–12
• B. Temptations on the inside—1:13–27

II. HE PRACTICES THE TRUTH—chapter 2

• A. Faith and love—2:1–13
• B. Faith and works—2:14–26

III. HE HAS POWER OVER HIS TONGUE—chapter 3

• A. Exhortation—3:1–2
• B. Illustrations—3:3–12
• C. Application—3:13–18

IV. HE IS A PEACEMAKER, NOT A TROUBLEMAKER—chapter 4

• A. Three wars—4:1–3
• B. Three enemies—4:4–7
• C. Three admonitions—4:8–17

V. HE IS PRAYERFUL IN TROUBLES—chapter 5

• A. Economic troubles—5:1–9
• B. Physical troubles—5:10–16
• C. National troubles—5:17–18
• D. Church troubles—5:19–20

Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Heb 13:20

Today's Comments: When one reads the previous verses in James, Chapter 1, he or she realizes that, unlike what the prosperity gospellers, for instance the Kenneth and Gloria Copelands of this world, would tell us, we should expect our faith to be tested. Only in testing do we become mature in our faith. When we are tested, we will either give in, or we will persevere. Sometimes, I think, we often give in, only to be tested again and again, until we finally realize our errors and finally do that which the Lord wants us to do. God perseveres to work in us as much as we think that we persevere to do His will.

The bottom line is that in whatever God wants us to do, He will win, even if we resist. Consider the reluctant Jonah. It was God who persevered to teach him a lesson. All Jonah did was persevere in running away. It was not until Jonah had no place to go (he was trapped in the belly of a fish) that he finally gave in---- and even then, reluctantly. In whatever God wants for us, He will persevere, even if we don't.