The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 2:1,
"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism."
James admonishes his readers to keep from favoritism. As our faith is tested to bring maturity and completeness to our lives, verse 1:4, it should have an impact on us. Here is but one way our lives should change.
The author of this letter is not the James whose brother was John that we read so much of in the gospel accounts. That James was a part of Jesus' inner circle, along with his brother John and Peter. If you recall, he was the first apostle that was martyred prior to this letter being written, Acts 12:2. This James is the Lord's own half brother. We see him listed with his other siblings, Joseph, Simon and Judas, Matthew 13:55.
What is striking to me is how James had changed so much following the death of Jesus Christ. On one occasion the contempt of Jesus' half brothers for him was evident as they taunted him John 7:1-9. But following the Lord's resurrection we see James in this passage call Jesus, "our glorious Lord Jesus Christ".
As James tells us of maturity and completeness in the Lord and about "religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless", 1:27, he knows of what he speaks. James is a changed man. It isn't that James is wonderful - it is the Lord that brought transformation to the life of this man. This is what the Lord does: he transforms lives!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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