James opened his letter with a self-introduction, describing himself as a bondservant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. This was appreciably explained in our meditation yesterday. What we left out was his immediate audience. He wrote, “to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad”. Why were they scattered abroad? We find the answer in the persecution that was unleashed against the early church as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. Stephen had been martyred in chapter 7 as was James (not the writer of this epistle) in chapter 12. An attempt was made on the life of Peter too. Only a concerted prayer of the church led to his supernatural release. The effect of the persecution was the scattering of the brethren abroad.
“Christianity without any form of persecution is suspect! Christianity is a call to live in the spirit, while the world left behind represents the flesh. These two cannot agree…Hence the persecution.”
It would appear that those who scattered in different directions faced a new set of challenges. This was what inspired James to write them to put the best construction on their situations. Rather than being weighed down by trials, they should count it joyful. Persecution has been an integral part of the faith. Jesus, the Captain of our salvation had more than enough share of it. Expectedly, those who follow Him must brace up for some manifestation of it. “For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”” (Luke 23:31 NKJV). Christianity without any form of persecution is suspect! Christianity is a call to live in the spirit, while the world left behind represents the flesh. These two cannot agree, the flesh must certainly seek ways to weigh down the spirit. Hence the persecution. It may be more dangerous in some corners of the globe to practice Christianity than in some others, but no Christian anywhere is immune to all forms of trial. If you live in a place that is less prone to persecution, it is your responsibility to uphold the brethren who are paying hefty price for their faith.
