James Chapter 1:1 Who Are We?

Intro

The Book of James is a great book for better understanding how we should approach and view our time here on earth as Christ followers.

Jame's is also a great book to read through & meditate on by yourself - before reading commentaries or studies like this. Reason being, it seems like when you read James uninterrupted by outside voices it can:

• convict us

• move us

• help us better understand God's wants - unedited or filtered by the Church's views that have been formed over the years.

In other words, James seems to be able to stir up God's Spirit inside us - giving Him a more audible voice than at other times.

Study

James 1:1

In the very 1st verse of James we find something that can not only be convicting, but give us something to really consider in our own daily walk with God.

How do we present ourselves?

Before saying anything else James makes one thing clear - he is a "servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ".

Yes, you could argue he only stated that because he is writing to a group that would want to hear that, or that it would be important to share with. However, reading this verse recently it felt like this was truly something to meditate on.

Doesn't Jesus say "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32)? Then why not acknowledge Him as often as possible?

Really, this is something we really need to be cognizant of - especially when we consider what Jesus also explains - "but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33).

Can denying Jesus be as simple as not mentioning Him at times? If your feeling a conviction and asking yourself why you didn't mention your religious practices & belief in Jesus during your day, you should really meditate on if it's due to shame, or embarrassment. You need to fight through it if that is the issue, because as Jesus states, He may do the same before God the Father with you

TAKEAWAY

Who are we as Christ followers? We are exactly that & all of what it means.

We believe our Father God sent His Son down in human form to give us an example to follow, and give us hope as we now have a direct path to the Father through salvation found in His Son. His Son who died in our place on a cross.

Let's not be ashamed. Let's make it clear.