I love the book of James as it provides a practical guide to living a godly life. It draws a distinct line between talking about being a Christ follower and being a Christ follower. As a young Christian, I found this letter to be a source of great encouragement and strength. In the next few months, we will be working our way through the great truths recorded in this epistle.

Whenever one studies any of the epistles in the Bible, it is important to remember, we are reading someone else’s mail. This establishes the context of what was written. It provides us with a basis for understanding the truths which are applicable for us today.

The letter was written between AD 48-62, by James, who identifies himself as a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and is addressed to the twelve tribes which were scattered abroad. Tradition identifies James as the brother of Jesus, who became the leader of the church in Jerusalem at an early date.

Following the stoning of Stephen in Acts 8, the church was greatly persecuted. As a result, the believers in Jerusalem scattered abroad. Nevertheless, James as the leader of the church had great concern for the wellbeing of those who had fled the persecution. Understanding their circumstances, James addresses some very practical issues in this letter to the church. In the upcoming devotions, we will discover how these truths apply to our lives:

Faith and Trials

Rich and Poor

Trials and Temptation

Hearing and Doing the Word

Favoritism Warning

Living Faith -vs- Dead Faith

Danger of the Untamed Tongue

Heavenly Wisdom -vs-Earthly Wisdom

Impact of Pride

Power of Humility

No Judgement Here

Put God in Charge of Your Plans

Rich Oppressors Beware

Patience and Perseverance

Meeting Specific Needs

In my study of this epistle and the historical background, an unnamed contributor summarized the letter in a simple but profound way stating: “The message of James speaks especially to those who are inclined to talk their way to heaven instead of walk their way there.”

My hope is these devotions will remind us works without faith, and faith without works are both useless. However, when faith and works are combined, we are compelled to move from a backside in the pew religion to a boots on the ground relationship with the Lord and the world in which we live. I’m really excited to share the journey of discovery with you.