We are now are starting a powerful and very colorful book of the Scriptures, the letter of Jacob, or James (Yaakov in Hebrew). It opens us up to the world of the first century, through a man of God endowed with a great love and seasoned with such godly wisdom, especailly for those living through trials. Jewish believers outside the land of Israel (in the Diaspora) were particularly hard pressed because of persecution from the Jewish leadership and from the Gentiles as well. In all these diverse trials, James/Yaakov focuses on an age-old problem; the heart of man. The message is clear; if one first takes care of his relationship with God, the rest will be so much easier to deal with. Persecution, poverty and abuses will have less effect on the person who has God as his friend. Someone once noted that it took only one day to fashion man in God’s image, yet since the Fall, God has been working continuously to restore us. Spiritual growth takes time and James/Yaakov supplies us with some powerful recipes for such a needed growth.
Welcome to Messianic Viewpoint and to our series on the letter of James with Messianic leader, Jacques Isaac Gabizon. Be blessed as you listen in and shalom.