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Steadfast:

1

a

: firmly fixed in place : immovable

b

: not subject to change

2

: firm in belief, determination, or adherence

Despite the fact that his audience is undergoing trial and persecution, James does not send an empathetic letter of commiseration. Quite the contrary, James exhorts his audience to be steadfast in the face of persecution! Was he unfeeling or uncaring about the very real plight of his audience? Not at all! Rather, he understood what was at stake.

When compared together, James fully understood that the eternal good of his brothers and sisters in Christ was infinitely more important than their comfort or ease in this life. It is because of this understanding that he challenged them to stand firm, be strong, and endure to the end. His approach flies in the face of human conventions. Closer inspection of his words, however, shows that he chose love over empathy, the eternal over the temporary, and ultimate good over temporary comfort.

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You remember it like it happened yesterday: the whirlwind ministry of your half-brother, Jesus. His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Then the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, and you witnessed the birth and growth of the fledgling church. That wasn’t very long ago. Your journey has been no less incredible; from doubter to believer, you were called to lead the Jerusalem Church.

Then the persecution came. Your church family was arrested, imprisoned, killed, or driven out of their homes. How can you encourage them? What can you say to them? How can you keep them focused on living for their Lord and Savior?

It is impossible to know every thought that coursed through the mind of James as he penned his letter to his brothers and sisters in the Christian faith undergoing persecution and hardship. However, his incredible letter to the church has given encouragement and guidance to hundreds of millions of Christians throughout the years.

Through this Holy Spirit-inspired letter, we catch a glimpse of James’ heart for persecuted believers. The letter has also given believers a roadmap to righteous living for the past 20 centuries. The words of James are brief, strong, and sometimes downright sharp, but the love driving this incredible pastor is plainly evident through his deep concern for the eternal state of his audience.

For the next few months, we are going to take a journey through this amazing letter. We invite you to join us and be blessed by the words of this incredible pastor of the early church, a man who was brutally martyred for his faith in Jesus: none other than the Lord’s half-brother, James.

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A central theme of the first few chapters of Genesis is the complex relationship between God, the Creator, and man, His uniquely created creature. Humans were created according to God’s pleasure. They are God’s image bearers, a feature of their nature that is completely unique from every other created being.

God designed man to be in a relationship with Himself, and as such, worshiping God is the central purpose of humanity. However, when sin entered the world and humanity fell, the separation from God became impassable by any ability that humans possess.

The introduction to Genesis stands as a microcosm of the entire Scripture: the story of the one true God pursuing His disobedient creation, driven by love to stop at nothing in accomplishing their salvation.

Through these chapters, the love of God is on full display as He continually pursues a relationship with humanity. His holiness, justice, love, mercy, and sacrifice are evident as He works His will to accomplish His ultimate purpose: to save and purify a people for Himself as a priestly inheritance.

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