Reason to Boast?
"James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ . . . ." James 1:1
Some people wear their self-importance on their shirt-sleeve. They name drop, trying to jockey for favored position by virtue of their relationship to important people. Others push their weight around by flaunting their job titles.
The New Testament identifies three men named James: the brother of John, son of Zebedee (Mark 3:17), James the Less (Mark 15:40), and James, the Lord’s (half) brother (Matthew 13:55, Acts 15:13). Bible scholars generally agree James, the half-brother of Jesus, authored this letter. It is a point well worth considering because James has much to teach us about humility.
Perhaps more than anyone else, James could have pushed his weight around. After all, if Jesus had been my half-brother, I might have done exactly that. The temptation to let others know of my family ties with Christ so that I might gain political, social and religious advantage might have overwhelmed my better sense. But James kept his sense. He simply called himself a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. James knew that apart from God’s grace, he would not even own a shirt-sleeve.
Lord Jesus, help us to remember the Cross above all else, and the Crucified One above our very lives. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory” (Psalm 115:1).
RNmaffeo@aol.com
Some people wear their self-importance on their shirt-sleeve. They name drop, trying to jockey for favored position by virtue of their relationship to important people. Others push their weight around by flaunting their job titles.
The New Testament identifies three men named James: the brother of John, son of Zebedee (Mark 3:17), James the Less (Mark 15:40), and James, the Lord’s (half) brother (Matthew 13:55, Acts 15:13). Bible scholars generally agree James, the half-brother of Jesus, authored this letter. It is a point well worth considering because James has much to teach us about humility.
Perhaps more than anyone else, James could have pushed his weight around. After all, if Jesus had been my half-brother, I might have done exactly that. The temptation to let others know of my family ties with Christ so that I might gain political, social and religious advantage might have overwhelmed my better sense. But James kept his sense. He simply called himself a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. James knew that apart from God’s grace, he would not even own a shirt-sleeve.
Lord Jesus, help us to remember the Cross above all else, and the Crucified One above our very lives. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory” (Psalm 115:1).
RNmaffeo@aol.com
posted by rich at
1:03 AM
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