In His wisdom God has set us in our current station. -Thomas Watson
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
Do you have any unbelieving family members?
According to the Apostle John, during Christ’s life and ministry on earth not even Jesus’ brothers believed he was the Son of God. His own brothers did not believe in him. John 7:5 However, after they witnessed his crucifixion and his resurrection from the dead, his brothers understood who Jesus was and worshipped him as God. Their earthly brother was, in fact, God incarnate, God in the flesh, who had ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Explaining the situation, Luke wrote: All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers… Acts 1:14
James along with Jude, who also wrote a letter bearing his name, were the brothers of Christ. Here James identifies himself as Jesus servant. This is quite a change of heart, from skeptic, who did not believe that his older brother was the Messiah, miraculously begotten by God, to Jesus’ servant. And as Christ’s servant, James became the pastor of the Church in Jerusalem. If you have unbelieving family members who do not understand why you are a Christian, don’t lose heart. Dedicate your life to living as a servant to Jesus Christ. Continue in your faith, living the truth, praying for them, and demonstrating the love of Christ, because you do not know the plans that God may have for your family members. You don’t see the end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:10. You do not know how God will use you.
Do not lose heart. Remember, James and Jude, Christ’s own brothers did not believe
in him. Yet, once they understood the truth they became his servants. Are you willing to
become Christ’s servant, following him wherever he leads?
Reza was imprisoned in Iran for murder. Knowing that he would soon be executed, Reza was violent and angry. He had a bad temper and all of the inmates feared him. Days before his execution his brother, Masood, visited Reza to read him verses from the Quran. To Masood’s surprise Reza didn’t need comforting. Reza told his brother, “Two days ago, I received new life and I am no longer afraid of death.”
How did this happen?
Amir was a Christian. His only crime was that he had converted from Islam to Christianity. When Amir was locked in the cell with Reza, Reza asked, “What are you doing here, what have you done.” Amir replied, “I am here just for you, so that you can hear about Jesus and be saved from the fear of death and set free.”
Reza grabbed Amir and said, “Do you think God puts value on a bad, wicked person like me… that he would send you as His representative to me?” Amir then shared the story of the lost sheep Matthew 18:12-14: If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go look for the one who wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about the one sheep than the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. Amir then explained how the angels in heaven rejoice over one lost sheep that is found.
Next Amir told Reza the story of the thief on the cross, condemned to death for his crimes, who committed himself to Jesus in the last moments of his life, while in agony on that cross. Luke 23:39-43: One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Christ: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save us and save yourself.” But the other criminal rebuked him, “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” The he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
“Please pray for me,” Reza said tearfully, “and help me to find salvation like that thief. ”Reza committed himself to Christ and received new life that day. When Masood came to comfort him, Reza told him, “I know that the Lord Jesus Christ has accepted me and that I am going to be with him.” Reza then urged Masood to put his faith in Jesus and seek forgiveness for his sins so that he, too, could find salvation in Christ. The next day Reza was executed.
After Reza’s execution, Masood placed his faith in Christ. He read articles about Christianity on the internet and watched Christian satellite TV. “Before all this, I was addicted to drugs and sold drugs,” Masood said, “but Christ delivered me from all these bondages.”
Return to The Letter of James.