After taking our first look at the book of James, what struck me was the fact that James got to literally watch the son of God grow up. The fact that he was Jesus’ half-brother is something we hear, know, and could probably answer in Bible trivia, but have you ever sat and thought about the weight behind that statement? James got to be there while Jesus grew up and learned. James probably made fun of him so many times like all brothers do, probably even more so when Jesus mentioned His future purpose, not realizing that Jesus wasn’t kidding about that Messiah stuff.
And yet, James didn’t become a believer until later in life. All that truth was in front of him, and it fell on deaf ears. I wonder when the lightbulb moment was – the point in time, after James got saved, that it all clicked. The memories floating back, all the truth he heard but never knew becoming tangible and real. I can imagine that being a very overwhelming moment.
I think that’s something we all struggle with; we miss what is happening in front of us because our focus is elsewhere. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve felt like God has me in a situation I don’t deserve to be in only to look back later and see His fingerprints over everything I refused to see. I remember how I felt and what all of that really meant, and a wave of regret washes over me because of the joy I could have experienced but missed out on because my focus wasn’t in the right place.
There’s a lot to unpack from the book of James, but my prayer going forward is that we wouldn’t miss what is right in front of us because we’re not focused on Jesus. Our natural tendency is to fear what unknown lies ahead, but “tomorrow will be anxious for itself” (Matthew 6:34). Instead, I pray that we are ready for what Jesus is doing right now, and walk with him into what He has already written.
-Chris