James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:
James 1:1 CSB
To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad.
Greetings.
A few months back, I was engaged in a conversation with a new acquaintance. As they talked, I quickly became more and more disinterested in the exchange. After I walked away, I realized why; every other word was the name of a ‘celebrity’ or ‘notable’ person that they had worked with. They were so concerned with name-dropping that they never got to the point of sharing what they were truly gifted in.
As I reflected on James 1:1 this week (Read Here – Rooted in Christ), I recalled this conversation and I was struck with this thought, ‘James was so rooted and confident in his purpose, calling, and identity that he didn’t feel compelled to name drop.’
James had every right to share who he was. He was the half-brother of Jesus Christ. He had the opportunity to grow up alongside him firsthand. He was a leader within the body of Christ. Several passages refer to James being involved in pivotal moments within the early church. James was a minister to not only the local church but to Jewish Christians abroad.
Yet, with all of these distinctions, he chose to see himself as a slave. A servant. The lowest of low.
In just one verse, James is giving us a lesson on ultimate humility. He’s operating in awareness of who he was(sinner) and who he is(under the authority of Christ). What James also highlighted was how God gifts us, equips us, and commissions us. When you operate in the direction of God, there’s no need to name-drop. The anointing speaks for itself. There’s no reason to worry about others. We simply need to be obedient to God’s instruction and all will fall into place.
Today, I want to encourage you to be obedient to God’s instructions! Find your confidence in staying rooted in who God has called you to be and execute it to the best of your ability. I challenge you to be so rooted in God’s purpose and calling for your life that you let the anointing speak for itself.
