Dr. Dan Hayden •
Contrary to popular opinion, practice does not make perfect. It’s only when you practice it right, that “practice makes perfect.”
James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
Did you notice that God connects the experience of joy with developing endurance in life; and endurance in turn, is produced by the testing of your faith? So – what is the testing of your faith?
Well, this word “testing” has more to do with the results of a test than with the actual process of testing. It’s a word that means “genuineness; sterling quality.”
Someone may say, “Is that real silver?” and the jeweler says “sure, I tested it – it’s sterling quality.” That’s the idea of this word—it’s the testing that proves that it’s genuine.
You see, the testing of faith alone does not produce endurance. It’s only when you respond with genuine faith to that trial that it produces endurance. If you complain and fuss and throw a hissy-fit – that will never produce endurance. But if you stay calm and trust God, and work through the problem – that will produce an endurance that will make you stronger and more mature in life. And that’s something to be joyful about. So remember – the testing of your faith is the means of discovering if it is real faith.
So, how are you doing on your test? Is your faith proving to be genuine?