Ash Wednesday

I hope I can keep the challenge laid before me and get a note on the blog each day and maybe even have couple people give there insight. Today's reading for the Lenten journey is James 1:1-4. I know any time I open an international discussion on a particular book or section of the Bible, there is the possibility of people arguing with the historical details. There are questions about who is James, who are the twelve tribes, when was it written, and many important historical settings. I am going to stick with the traditional beliefs on the letter. The author is James the son of Mary and Joseph making him a brother of Jesus. He is writing to the scattered people of Israel who have come to accept Jesus as the promised Messiah. the date of the letter and most of the New Testament writings is always inaccurate. I will leave the time frame to after Jesus' Resurrection and before the end of the first century.

This book of the Bible holds the tradition of looking like a letter of the New Testament time period where the author is introduced and then the recipient is named. There are books of the New Testament that do not carry this format and some commentators believe these are speeches or sermons delivered to the communities of the ancient Roman Empire.

Now, there are many more historical facts all of my biblical studies professors and teachers would love for me to explore in a "proper" examination of the text. Needles to say, I am not making a "proper" or formal examination. This is part of a spiritual exercise to study what it is God is speaking got us through the pages of His word during Lent 2009.

I am caught off guard by the idea of counting joy when we face trials and persecution. Last time I checked which was probably a few minutes ago, trials and persecution is not pleasant. When we are put on trial we do not find this great. Yet, James is encouraging us to consider it joy. This is definitely counter cultural.

In the world today we are to look for the easiest and best way to to be in pain. If we physically hurt, take a pill. We take pills for mental pain. We are told to look for the get rich quick scheme to ease our trails in finance. We are not to be in pain but seek ways to stay out of pain. This is not what the call of Christ is all about.

Jesus calls His followers to live a life based on towards Him for our needs and everything. This is why James is encouraging to consider it joy when we face trials. When we face a trial with pure joy, we are facing it with Jesus as our source of comfort and strength. This builds our faith which grows us into a closer relationship with Him.

The joy James is describing cannot come from a pill or a bottle. It can only come from Jesus.

Tomorrow’s reading is James 1:5-8.