She Reads Truth: JamesSample

James, a Servant

Do you know James?

The Book of James may very well have been the first book of the New Testament to be written. And despite it having been written so long ago, it might arguably be the most applicable book to the time we live in today. It’s a book ripe with James’ commands on how to navigate our fallen world, whether they are commands that are easy for our ears to hear or not.

Maybe it’s just me, but when I am asked to receive commands, I like to know the credentials of the commander, or even better, his or her testimony. So before we dig into James’ explicit instruction manual, let’s answer the question, “Who is this James?” And “What or Who compelled him to write this guide on how to deal with many unpopular topics like hardship, gossip, hypocrisy and wealth?”

We need not look further than the very first verse of James.

James.
A servant of God.
And of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And that right there, friends, is James’ testimony in a nutshell. What he doesn’t share, whether out of humility for being related by blood to the Messiah (read: the ultimate in nepotism) or out of shame for his own unbelieving past, is that he is Jesus’ half-brother.

He grew up with Jesus. 

And yet, though James refused to believe Jesus was who He said He was, Jesus showed him. As if the resurrection wasn’t enough, Jesus came to him. By His grace.

Now those are some credentials. And those are all lines we, too, can add to our spiritual resume. 

You are related to Christ, my sisters.
He will sow the seed of the Word in your life, it will take root and bring change.
He will show you miracles, but He won’t just stop there.
He will come to you, by His grace.
And you will be transformed, my sisters, into servants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You may have read James before, but have you ever really read it? Join us as we open our hearts, pray for conviction, work towards understanding and free ourselves for transformation in the coming weeks.
By His grace.

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