#gospelcenteredlife

[imliman]

I had no hope that You would own A rebel to Your will And if You had not loved me first I would refuse You still But as I ran my hell-bound race Indifferent to the cost You looked upon my helpless state And led me to the cross ~Sovereign Grace - All I have is Christ #Gospel #gospelcenteredlife #redeemed #sovereigngrace #gospelreminder

[imliman]

Remember who you are today!  You're made in the image of the One that surpasses all. (Genesis 1:26) Your name is a precious choice of One who chose gave away His own (Philippians 2:5-11) Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us to be called His own (1 John 3:1) Cover model: Charlie the cat copyright@moraesvalerie #art #imagodei #gospelcenteredlife #truth #gospelreminder #catgospel #catlovers #quote #cattyquote #nyan #meow #nyan #nyancat #imlichutneydiaries #nekochan #neko

[musingsofaregenerateheart]

Digging Deep Into James 1:1

In D-Group we are memorizing the first chapter of James. I have to admit that when I first heard that we would be knocking down an entire chapter, I started shaking in my snow boots. I can't remember the last time I memorized something on purpose. I mean, in this Information/Technology Age, there really is no need for memory space in our brains because we literally have gigs and tetras at our fingertips! But I knew there had to be something golden about this process--the memorization of Scripture. There are several scriptures that admonish us to "hide the word in our heart" and "meditate on the word day and night." What better access is there than to call it up right from our brains? 

So the process began. I have memorized James 1:1-5, and I am quite proud of myself *pat on the back* 

But that's not what I want to talk about. 

I grew up in the Church, which means I am no stranger to the book of James--especially not the first few verses of chapter one. But I asked the Lord to help me look upon this text with fresh eyes, and no sooner than I prayed this prayer and start my memorization did verse one hit me:

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the Twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings." (James 1:1)

In all the years I've ever heard James 1 preached or referenced, I had never heard anyone really talk about or mention verse one. Who are the Twelve Tribes in the Dispersion? What is the Dispersion? I started doing a little background research and discovered this:

The Twelve Tribes in the Dispersion are the early Jews-turned-Christians who were scattered abroad (widely presumed the after the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr). These were the first Christians who had enjoyed the peace and harmony of the gospel together in Jerusalem for some time and then came the outbreak of the persecution and the killing of Christians (Stephen among the first). When news spread of the persecution in Jerusalem, the Christians began to flee. The word dispersion comes from the word diaspora which means "scattered."

James, the half brother of Jesus, was writing this letter to the many scattered Jews-turned-Christians to encourage them in their faith as they were facing this very huge, life-changing, terrifying trial. This letter is thought to be the first letter of what we would later come to know as the New Testament. 

This brought whole new meaning and understanding to the rest of the letter for me--particularly verses 2-4.

 "Count it all joy, my brothers (and sisters!) when you face trials of various kinds for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). 

"Counting it all joy" has nothing to do with being happy about the trial. There is not way those scattered Christians, who were fearing for their lives, were happy about the circumstance. It was deeper than that. That joy is the sustaining power of the hope that is bigger than the circumstance, namely Jesus Christ. These trials are also something to rejoice in because they test/prove our faith in order to increase our steadfastness (patience).....and according to that last verse patience is EVERYTHING. It completes us and we are satisfied (in Christ!) not lacking anything or worrying/focused on the implications of the trials. 

Digging deep,

jm