Years ago my son and I memorized a good portion of the book of James. I’ve always thought that James was a succinct description of how we should behave if we call ourselves followers of Christ.

Recently I took a few quiet times to read through the book again. But the next day when I sat down to read the next book, 1 Peter, I felt the Lord nudge me to go back and read James again….s..l..o..w..l..y. So I opened my Bible to James again, and was stopped in my tracks at the first verse!

James 1:1 NET – From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!

James grew up with Jesus. He was Jesus’ half-brother. He had never believed in or supported Jesus’ ministry. In fact scripture records that one day he and his brothers had actually mocked him: John 7:4 “…If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” Yet now, here he is writing a letter declaring himself to be his brother’s slave! What happened? What brought the change?

Jesus revealed Himself to James after His resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:7) Once James saw his brother alive again he knew that what Jesus’ disciples had believed was really true: His brother was the promised Messiah! He was God! And that revelation caused a change in his heart, so much so that in all humility he now declared himself to be his Lord, Savior, and brother’s, slave!

Peter, who had been Jesus’ disciple called himself His slave in his epistles. Paul had hunted Christians in order to execute them until Jesus interrupted him while on a persecution mission, speaking to him from heaven! The revelation changed the course of his life, and he then referred to himself as Christ’s slave. Both of these men remained Jesus’ “slaves” until they were executed for being His followers.

Lord, I want my heart to be humbled by Your truth. I want the humility it took for You to die for me to be the humility I choose as I take up my cross to follow You. Though it’s my choice and not Your demand, I want to have a heart that says “I am the slave of Christ”. For surely there is no one and no thing as perfect and powerful and loving as You to live for. Let me be Your love slave. I love You…teach me to love You more!