Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - REMAIN HUMBLE LIKE JAMES

 When did Jame become a loyal follower of Jesus?  After Jesus was raised from the dead, "he appeared to James, then to all the apostles." (1 Corinthians 15:7) That meeting with Jesus marked a turning point in Jame's life.  He was present when the  apostles awaited the promised holy spirit in an upper room in Jerusalem.  (Acts 1:13, 14)  Later, James had the joy of serving as a member of the first-century governing body.  (Acts 15:6, 13-22; Galatians 2:9)  And sometime before 62 C.E., he was inspired to write a letter to the anointed Christians.  That letter is of benefit  tous today, whether our hope is heavenly or earthly.  (James 1:1) According to the first-century historian Josephus, James was executed at the order of the Jewish High Priest  Ananias the Younger James, reained faithful to Jehovah until he finished his earthly course.

James was humble.  Why can't we say that?  Consider the contrast between the way  James eventually responded to Jesus and the say that many of the religious leadlers reacted. When James was confronted by irrefutable evidence that Jesus is the son of God, he humbly accepted it.  That was not the case with the chief priests in Jerusalem.  For example, they could not deny that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. Instead of acknowledging that Jesus was Jehovah's representative, they endeavored to kill both  Jesus and Lazarus.  (John 11:53; 12:9-11)  Later when Jesus himself was resurrected from the dead, they conspired to hide that fact from the people.  (Matthew 28:11-15)  The pride of those religious leaders caused them to reject the Messiah.

The lesson: Avoid pride, and remain teachable.  Just as disease can harden the arteries of a literal heart and restrict its abiltity to beat, pride can harden our figurative heart and prevent us from responding to Jehovah's direction. The Pharisees allowed their heart to become so hard that they refused to recognized the clear evidence  being presented to them by God's spirit.  (John 12:37-40) That was a dangerous course because it affected their everlasting future. (Matthew 23:13, 33)  How important it isthat we continue to allow God's Word and spirit to mold our personality and influence our thinking and or decisions!  (James 3:17) Because James was humble, he allowed himself to be taught by Jehovah.  And,  and we shall see, it was because of his humility that he became a skillful teacher.

Next time: Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - TEACH EFFECTIVELY LIKE JAMES

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