Becoming (Like) James

Greetings from James

This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.

Greetings!

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:1-4


This epistle, a letter included in the bible written by a certain James, was attributed to the James who was then the leader of the Jerusalem church.

There has been discussions if this James was one of the two apostles of Jesus who was named James (the son of Zebedee or James, the son of Alphaeus).

Today it is generally accepted that this was written by a third James, a brother of Jesus.

A Prophet is Not Accepted in His Home town or His Own House

The siblings of Jesus weren't followers of Jesus, weren't even believers of His (John 7:2-5).

But after Jesus came back from the grave, He miraculously appeared to several people in the flesh and He actually made a special (could even be one on one) appearance with James, His brother (1 Cor 15:7). James was among the other followers of Jesus during the upper room meetings after Jesus was finally taken back to heaven after 40 days of appearing to various people (Acts 1:12-14).

Later on as recorded in the Book of Acts, James becomes a leader of the church in Jerusalem.

So only after 30 years living with Jesus and after 3 more years that Jesus did His earthly mission and ministry (ending when Jesus was taken back to heaven), and after the Holy Spirit started His ministry, James along with his other family members finally came around. They became convicted, empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit and finally became believers and followers of Jesus.

In his letter, James refers
to himself only as "James, a slave (or a servant) of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."

In the bible it was recorded multiple times that Jesus said 'the last will be first, the last first'. 

We can actually say that literally this is true of James. He was among the last to finally believe in his brother Jesus and in the end, he became the first among those who all believed first.

To those of us who are in the same boat as James, those who are taking the longest time or the longest route to believe and follow Christ; be aware that the last could indeed be first. The Lord's plan for your life will come to pass. 

Who knows?  You too might be the leader of a group of believers -- a James in the making. (Heavenly Father, this is my prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth... Amen).

Becoming (Like Them) Series