2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of various kinds. 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you are mature and complete, lacking nothing. Did your mother ever tell you to grow up? What about your father or worse still, your girlfriend or wife? James, Jesus' half-brother, is telling us to grow up. He knew what he was talking about because he had been raised in the same house as Jesus. Even though they probably shared a room, James did not become a believer until his older half-brother was resurrected from the grave. Is that amazing or what? James grew up with the wonder boy and never thought he could be from another kingdom. James was there when Jesus, inside a crowded house, teaching and healing, was called to come outside to his mother. Mary had brought her boys, the “normal ones”, to pick up her lunatic son who thought he was God in sandals. Jesus, of course,...
These are devotional, and other, thoughts from a guy who lived in Brazil from 1997 to 2023. I recount personal experiences and Bible applications with most of my posts. These "posts" are mostly for me but if you want to, you can read them too!