I am excited that Pastor David is teaching on the book of James for the next few weeks in the Sunday morning services! As David said last Sunday, I have thought a lot about, too, “How would you like to be Jesus’s brother?”
Can you imagine trying to live up to Him? We joke, but really, we can’t. It is impossible for us to be as loving, and full of grace, and patient and all of the other qualities that Jesus possesses. James couldn’t be exactly like his brother, either. But James shares such great encouragement for us! I cannot help but imagine that James learned first hand by spending time with his brother and learning from him.
James encourages us to live out the new life we have in Jesus! James calls us to live out genuine faith through good works. Faith should produce authentic deeds. He reminds us that those of us that call ourselves "followers of Jesus", if we truly belong to God, our lives should produce fruit. Now through our own ability, we cannot withstand adversity, or produce anything positive, but through Jesus we can do all things.
I appreciate all of the wisdom that James shares in the Bible and I am looking forward to learning more. I want to be more like Christ and I know you do, too. And I pray that you and I can live consistently with all that Jesus has taught us.
Blessings, Beth