Scattered Seeds (James 1:1)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-15-03

 

                                                                                                           

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Scattered seeds

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  James 1:1

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings.”  (NASB)  “This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is written to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations.  Greetings!”  (NLT)

            I want to write about two things in this verse that I think are most important at this time as I begin the study of this letter:  First the author is probably James the half-brother of Jesus Christ who is the author.  There were three other James in the NT writings, but it does seem to those who have studied about this more than I that Jesus’ brother was the writer.  Second I want to write about to whom he is writing to, and that is to Jewish believers who had formerly lived in Jerusalem, but were dispersed because of persecution in the Church.  The word that is translated as dispersed is a word that Dr. Wiersbe says means to plant seeds, so these Jewish believers who were forced to move from their homes and country were now to plant the seeds of true faith in Jesus Christ as they moved to their new locations, and James was writing to instruct them and also to encourage them.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  One of the things that comes to my mind as I think of the books of Jude or James is how the Lord had worked in their lives in a way that they would not be puffed up about being a half brother of our Lord.  Humanly speaking this certainly could be something to be proud of, and I am sure that in some ways they were, but it seems to me that they cared more about what Jesus Christ had done for them in a spiritual way than what he was to them in being a part of their human family.

 

The Word of God was very convicting to me as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to be able to say as Paul said that if I am to boast it will be boasting about my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 121:1-7

 

1.      I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come?

2.      My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

3.      He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.

4.      Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5.      The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is you shade on you right hand.

6.      The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.

7.      The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.