Unlike most of the letters by Paul and other writers, James is not writing to a specific congregation. He writes to all the Christians spread all over the world.

The circumstances of those times weren’t very favourable for Christians. They were hunted like animals and mowed down. They had to flee for their lives and in this way, the Gospel of Christ spread all over the world. One small piece of good news in such hard times.

In die Old Testament we see that when the Israelites went their own way, God allowed them to wander around a bit. It was hard for the Israelites and they suffered under the destructive hand of the enemy.

But even in those foreign lands God looked after his people and cared for them. See what Ezekiel says in Ezekiel 11:16, “Well, tell them this, ‘This is your Message from God, the Master. True, I sent you to the far country and scattered you through other lands. All the same, I’ve provided you a temporary sanctuary in the countries where you’ve gone. I will gather you back from those countries and lands where you’ve been scattered and give you back the land of Israel.

Often, it is people’s own fault that they end up in difficult situations. Often people choose against God’s will, but when they are forced to face those difficult circumstances, they crawl back to their Creator. Even when people took the wrong way, God was still with them. He cared for them and protected them.

But also, when people are forced to move by circumstances beyond their control, God cares for them. Even in this letter by James God cares for His people, although they ended up in remote countries.

Jesus brought about a new lifestyle and not everybody was familiar with it. That’s why James says:  ¹I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello! God never abandons His children.

But we always pull away from Jesus’ lifestyle. It must be our sinful nature, the sinful basis of our lives, that try and tempt us away from Jesus’ way of doing things.

But even if we go in the wrong direction, even if we have to live with the consequences of our own actions, even if we feel so alone sometimes, we can sing at the top of our lungs: “And by Your side I know You won’t shy away, I am never forsaken”.

This promise is for you. God will always be with you, even when it doesn’t feel like that. God will always protect us and look after us, no matter where we are in the world.

God will deal with the impossible. You can do the possible and pay close attention when reading James’ letter, because it is meant for you too.

Scripture
James 1:1-8

Reflection
What do your circumstances look like?
Do you believe that God is there for you?
Can you do your part too?

Prayer
Father, I need You so much. I long to live and work according to Your will. I believe that You are on my side. I will slurp up every word of the Book and make it part of my being. Amen.