Reflection & Study

For years I've heard of Beth Moore and her BBL studies. For years I avoided them because it was "trendy" and everyone was talking about it.

But my time has come and we're studying the book of James. Did you know it was one of the first books of the New Testament to be written? Did you know that many suspect the author to be the brother of Jesus. Or that the book was the last to be canonized because the way James writes is so unlike the rest of the New Testament authors? Different in what way, you might wonder. His writing is not unlike the tone of his brother, Christ Jesus in the gospels.

Did you know that James' brother actually denied or atleast mocked Jesus prior to this writing? It was James who said, "If you're the son of God then show yourself to the world." And yet James was also one of the first that Jesus appeared to after His resurrection. That is powerful and holds a powerful place in my heart.

Talk about rocking my world. Being authentic in faith and life is the theme to the book of James and it runs so deep that it is rocking my little world in such a good way.

Over the past five years, I've justified some things in my life and allowed them to linger. But now, I find myself looking Jesus straight in the eye about those things with renewed vigor for him to release me. This book is steeped with Christo-centric themes and I'm lavishing in the "ouch" moments that are prodding me closer to Him.