James 1:1

Have you ever been skeptical, possibly saying whatever just to fit in, scared that if you said something wrong you would be mocked? Well, you’re not alone, just like me and a lot of other people, including James, have done these things. The most ironic part is that James was Jesus’s half-brother, and James was the first born son after Jesus (Matthew 13:55). James grew up in the same house, they probably wrestled, chased, and climbed trees together, there wasn’t any doubt that he didn’t know all about his brother. Yet James wasn’t the first one sticking up for Jesus when he was being persecuted, he sat towards the back and watched, he didn’t believe Jesus was the Savior (John 7:5).

It wasn’t until just before Christ died that James came to his senses and realized, “you know what, mybother isn’t crazy. He is who he says he is!” Jesus forgave him and from then on James goes on to tell about Jesus, he calls himself “a servant of God” (James 1:1).

In only five short chapters, James gives us a guide for practical spiritual living, it’s the “cliff notes” for how to think and live like Christ. The theme is how to be a doer of the word, having an outward expression of your inward convictions. I like to think of it as my “check list”, and ask myself am I living the way God desires me to, are what I say and my actions matching his? Would I stick up for my Heavenly Father? After all, I am his daughter (2 Corinthians 6:18).

James is encouraging us as believers to stay strong, and live right. Jesus is coming soon!

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Photography: @mattglenn