1:2-4 Perseverance Is Hard When we face trials and hardships, our instinct may be either to take control and solve the problem or to run away from it. James says such trials help us develop maturity and perseverance. The key is to endure suffering faithfully, remaining focused on the final goal: to become more and more like our Savior.
1:17-18 Our Faithful Father God’s goodness is revealed in his creation—from the stars that glimmer on clear, cloudless nights to roses that sprout colorful new blooms in season. But while the stars eventually burn out and roses must be handled with care, we can trust completely in God’s goodness and the fact that he will never change. As his prized possession, we must never let the evil one or difficult circumstances convince us otherwise.
1:22-27 Do Not Be Deceived Our words matter, but our actions matter more. James cautions believers about reading the Word but failing to live according to its precepts, especially when it comes to caring for the vulnerable. We can deceive ourselves and continue to live as slaves to sin, or we can find freedom in living according to Scripture.
1:27 True Worship The book of James highlights works that accompany faith. He even goes so far as to say that true worship is about what you do for people whose lives are hard. Are we practicing true worship in our inclusion of and involvement in the lives of persons with disabilities?