The Study of James Starts Now

James 1:1
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings."

James was the brother of Jesus, in earthly terms, and wrote this to many of the Christians scattered throughout the lands that faced heavy persecution, so bad as they probably lived meagerly and sometimes even running from people intended on taking their life. This message was written for Christians everywhere and applies even today though we might now be in such bad terms as those he wrote it too it still gives us great insight into our walk, I would even say to those confused about what living for Christ really meant. Who else joined Christianity thinking it was easy street here on?

James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Maybe easy street if you find "trials of many kinds" enjoyable? To talk in this tone about it upsets me, for these trials he referred to of that time correlate to many horrors done now. We just don't see it here. The first thing that sticks out to me is that we are to consider it PURE JOY when facing these trials. Seriously we are suppose to be enjoying possibly being killed, harmed, or ridiculed? Sounds like something hard to grasp but it comes at a part about the 'power to serve under' has a greater power over the "power over." Scared for your life, a man holding a gun to your head might persuade you, but does not transform your heart or just create hate for them? Thats what the power over creates is this hateful society, but the one Jesus laid down uses love and serves them.

Like the story Pastor Nate said about the Christians Soldiers forced to stand on this lake in the middle of a storm, given the choice to renounce faith and get warm or die. Out of the 40 on the lake only 1 of them choose to get warm. Another soldier not of the 40 was so moved by their faith that he stripped his clothes to go stand with them singing praises to God. I don't know the source of this story but why can't our faith be like that, Something about having immovable faith gains respect among people so far that many find our faith attractive for that reason alone.

The next thing that spoke to me was what was spoke about perseverance brought to us by those trials. "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Christian life from this verse does not make it seem so "easy or happy" but rather that our maturity comes out of serving others and experiencing the "pains" that might come through it. Witnessing requires lots of sacrifice, such as comfort, luxury, and even up to your life.

This will be a start of a study through James. I feel moved to finish studying it in this manner and might have to make references in future ones so please keep in prayer and maybe studying along side with me. Their is a lot of stuff packed into such few verses that I decided to cut this off at verse 4 instead of my original 8 verses. Since Nevada is pushing its annual rainfall this year I was thinking aboutGrace Like Rain worship song. Hope you enjoy.