Great Love Forever

31 Friday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 89, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Reading: Psalm 89:1-4 (NIV)*

I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever;
    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
    through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to David my servant,
‘I will establish your line forever
    and make your throne firm through all generations.’”

Reflection

The opening stanzas of Psalm 89 remind me of a little rhyme found in a children’s book. It goes like this:

“I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
as long as I’m living
my baby you’ll be.” 

The lines of that little song were first sung by Robert Munsch as he held his stillborn baby in his arms. Imagine the grief he felt when for a second time his wife gave birth to another stillborn child. Again, he took that little baby in his arms, and he rocked it back and forth and sang,

“I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
as long as I’m living
my baby you’ll be.”

The bestselling children’s book Love You Forever was birthed from that heart-wrenching experience. If you are a parent or a grandparent, this little picture book should come with a warning label: Impossible to read without tearing up.

There’s an element of forever in the bond between a parent and a child. I am a father forever to my two sons, Timothy, and Joshua. My love for those two boys hasn’t diminished as they have grown into young men. Though they have moved out of our home, they will be forever loved, and we will be forever linked by love and faithfulness. God’s love for us is that kind of love. It’s a forever love just as the psalmist declares. I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations (v. 1). 

Love and faithfulness are what marriage is all about. It’s one of those forever things along with parenthood. When God is at the center, these relationships last forever because they don’t end at the grave. I’m so glad we have the promise that they will continue on.

Response

LORD God, I am so glad that I’m your child forever. You have loved me and welcomed me into your family. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! Amen.

Your Turn

Will you sing of the LORD’s great love forever? Now is a great time to get started.

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look, click here.

Jesus Has Risen

30 Thursday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 88, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 88: 9-18(NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
when I am down,
I cry to you for help.
You are my hope when all hope is gone.
Come to me in the dark times of my life.
At such times I need you the most.
Amen.

   — — — —

 

Gospel Reading:
Jesus Has Risen

After the Sabbath,
at dawn on the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and,
going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples:
‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.
There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb,
afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 
Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said.
They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
(Matthew 28:1-10).

* * *

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
And this is how we know that he lives in us:
We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
(1 John 3:24 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Darkest of All Psalms

30 Thursday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 88, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Reading: Psalm 88:9-18 (NIV)*

I call to you, LORD, every day;
    I spread out my hands to you.
Do you show your wonders to the dead?
    Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
Is your love declared in the grave,
    your faithfulness in Destruction?
Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
    or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
But I cry to you for help, LORD;
    in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;
    I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
Your wrath has swept over me;
    your terrors have destroyed me.
All day long they surround me like a flood;
    they have completely engulfed me.
You have taken from me friend and neighbor—
    darkness is my closest friend.

Reflection

Psalm 88 is the darkest of all the psalms. Many of the psalms are bright and cheery, filled with joy and praise. If I were to assign a color to them, I would paint them bright yellow, dappled with hues of orange and red. On the other hand, Psalm 88 draws from a much darker palette of black, grey, and brown. This psalm is colored by loss, rejection, and sorrow.

Many psalms spring from a place of grief, trouble, and distress. This is only fitting since every life has such moments. Usually, the psalmist pours out his troubles and his complaint before God, but he ends on a positive note—a note of hope. But Psalm 88 does not follow this pattern. It ends on a downer. You have taken from me friend and neighbor—darkness is my closest friend (v. 18).

What are we to make of this ending? The sad reality is that not every book has a happy ending. Not every personal story has the Hollywood ending that we would like. Tragedy is real. Tragedy can strike anyone. We can live in a pretend world that says it isn’t so, but we are fooling only ourselves. This psalm adds a dark note of real-life integrity to the Book of Psalms.

But in the middle of it all—in the middle of his dark night of the soul—the psalmist takes his stand. But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you (v. 13).

Sometimes we don’t have answers. Sometimes all we have is prayer.

Response

LORD God, when I am down, I cry to you for help. You are my hope when all hope is gone. Come to me in the dark times of my life. At such times I need you the most. Amen.

Your Turn

Are you going through a dark time? How can you find help in prayer?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look, click here.

The Guard at the Tomb

29 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 88, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 88 1-8(NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
I need your comfort.
Hear my prayer and answer me.
In this time of sorrow show me a sign of your love and favor, Lord.
I confess that the never-ending love of Jesus sustains me.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Guard at the Tomb

The next day, the one after Preparation Day,
the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.
 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said,
‘After three days I will rise again.’
So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day.
Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body
and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead.
This last deception will be worse than the first.”

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered.
“Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
So they went and made the tomb secure
by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
(Matthew 27:62-66).

* * *

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
And this is how we know that he lives in us:
We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
(1 John 3:24 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Psalmist’s Cry of Anguish

29 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 88, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Reading: Psalm 88:1-8 (NIV)*

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music.
According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

LORD, you are the God who saves me;
    day and night I cry out to you.
May my prayer come before you;
    turn your ear to my cry.
I am overwhelmed with troubles
    and my life draws near to death.
 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
    I am like one without strength.
I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
You have put me in the lowest pit,
in the darkest depths.
Your wrath lies heavily on me;
    you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
You have taken from me my closest friends
    and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief.

Reflection

There are 150 psalms in the book of Psalms and one of the most remarkable things about them is their emotional span. They range from giddy heights of joy and praise to great depths of depression and sorrow. The full array of human emotion and experience is on display. Whatever state you find yourself in, there’s a psalm for that—a psalm for every situation and human need. If you are in desperate straits, there’s a psalm for that. If you are soaring in the presence of God, there’s a psalm for that too. They reflect our need for God and our desire to connect with Him in all of life’s experiences. 

Psalm 88 is a cry for help from the deepest pit of need. Hear the psalmist’s cry of anguish: I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief (v. 3–4).

For reasons that we are not told, the psalmist feels trapped in the worst of circumstances. At times I think we all have been there—feeling alone with no one to turn to. In such times, there is no one to turn to but the LORD. In our time of despair, He does not reject us or turn us away. He is a God who comforts us, even as Paul, the apostle declares, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

If you are in the depths of depression or despair follow the example of Heman, the psalmist. Call out to God. He is listening. He reaches to the lowest pit.

Response

LORD God, I need your comfort. Hear my prayer and answer me. In this time of sorrow show me a sign of your love and favor, Lord. I confess that the never-ending love of Jesus sustains me. Amen.

Your Turn

Are you currently facing a time of trouble or sorrow? Have you asked others to pray for you?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look, click here.

The Burial of Jesus

28 Tuesday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 87, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 87(NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for being so personal—so intimate with me.
I want to honor and serve you in my community.
Be present and active here.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Burial of Jesus

As evening approached,
there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph,
who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body,
and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
and placed it in his own new tomb
that he had cut out of the rock.
He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
(Matthew 27:57-61).

* * *

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
And this is how we know that he lives in us:
We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
(1 John 3:24 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Hometown Love

28 Tuesday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 87, Psalms

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Reading: Psalm 87 (NIV)*

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
The LORD loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:
“I will record Rahab and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—
    and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.”
The LORD will write in the register of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”
As they make music they will sing,
  “All my fountains are in you.”

Reflection

Do you love your hometown? I hope you do. I certainly love my hometown, or to be more accurate, my home city. I live in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. Though I wasn’t born or raised in Ottawa, I chose to live here. There’s a lot to love about Ottawa. Like any major world capital, there are plenty of grand museums, galleries, historic buildings, and monuments. But I think it’s their situation or setting that makes the city so attractive.

Ottawa is situated at the juncture point of three rivers. The scenic Rideau River winds its way through the city from the south before it plunges into the Ottawa River at the Rideau Falls. On the north shore of the Ottawa River the Gatineau River makes its entry after passing through the rugged Gatineau Hills. With three scenic rivers there’s an abundance of city parks and green space.

According to the psalmist, the LORD loves his hometown too. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, city of God (v. 2-3).

During the Old Testament era the LORD chose to dwell in Zion the citadel within Jerusalem. It was David who first brought the Ark of the Covenant to Zion after one of his successful military campaigns. (See 2 Samuel 6.) From that time forward Jerusalem has been called the city of God. It became the city of God because God dwelt there. In due course, His temple was built there.

What about your city or town? Does God dwell there? What truly makes a place remarkable or special is the One who lives there. The presence of God can turn a hut or a humble stable into the portal to heaven. If Jesus is enthroned in your heart, then God is truly with you. He is in your city.  

Response

LORD God, my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for being so personal—so intimate with me. I want to honor and serve you in my community. Be present and active here. Amen.

Your Turn

What do you like most about your community/city? Is God active in your community?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look, click here.

The Death of Jesus

27 Monday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 86, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 86:14-17(NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
I want to see you as you are,
full of compassion and grace.
Help me to show compassion and mercy to others.
I want to meditate on your word
so that I can know you as you truly are.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Death of Jesus

From noon until three in the afternoon
darkness came over all the land.
About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”
(which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

When some of those standing there heard this,
they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge.
He filled it with wine vinegar,
put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
 The rest said, “Now leave him alone.
Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice,
he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.
The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection
and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him
who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake
and all that had happened,
they were terrified, and exclaimed,
“Surely he was the Son of God!”

Many women were there, watching from a distance.
They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 
Among them were Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James and Joseph,
and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
(Matthew 27:45-56).

* * *

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
And this is how we know that he lives in us:
We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
(1 John 3:24 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

God is Slow to Anger

27 Monday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 86, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Reading: Psalm 86:14-17 (NIV)*

Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
    show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Reflection

Living or working with an angry person can be extremely difficult. You can never tell what might trigger an angry reaction. You can be going about your normal routine and suddenly something will set them off. Next thing you know you are getting the full brunt of their fury for something done in complete innocence or for which you bear no responsibility. Life is full of stress. No one likes being around someone who gives full vent to their unchecked anger.

Anger Issues (Wikimedia)

Unfortunately, many Christians live their lives as though God has anger management issues. They are convinced that at any moment God may smite them for some minor misstep or indiscretion. The truth is God is far more patient and compassionate than we realize. Here in Psalm 86 David reminds us that the LORD is slow to anger. But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

If you want a short one sentence description of God, here it is. It is well worth repeating. But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Take that sentence and memorize it, repeat it and meditate on it. This is the essence of God. He oozes compassion for the broken and hurting. The LORD is gracious. He shows favor—undeserved grace—to His people. He is slow to anger. He is more than patient with us. He knows that all too often we are slow to learn the ways of God. But despite that, He abounds in love. There is an ocean full of God’s love, when we imagine there’s only a thimble full. Finally, the LORD is faithful. He sticks with us through thick and thin. In a changing world, God and His faithfulness remain constant.

Does your picture of God need to change? It may be time to switch that picture of an angry God for a picture of the God of compassion and grace—compassion and grace for yourself and for others. His love is bigger than our shortcomings.

Response

LORD God, I want to see you as you are, full of compassion and grace. Help me to show compassion and mercy to others. I want to meditate on your word so that I can know you as you truly are. Amen.

Your Turn

Do you believe God is angry with you? What characteristic of God do you love most?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look, click here.

A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

26 Sunday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Day 1: A Servant First

From James, a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. (James 1:1a)

Reflection

Like most New Testament epistle writers, James begins his letter by introducing himself. There is something different, noteworthy, even startling about his introduction.

In his epistle to the Colossian church, Paul introduces himself with these words: From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is also a follower. (Colossians 1:1) Peter begins his first epistle with this introduction: From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:1) But James simply states that he is “a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The casual reader may well conclude that James does not call himself an apostle because he is not an apostle, but that is not true. Like Paul, he had a direct personal encounter with the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:7-8), and Paul lists him first among the three esteemed apostolic pillars of the church. (See Galatians 2:9.) Proof of his authority can be seen as he presided over the Council of Jerusalem that welcomed Gentiles into the church. (See Acts 15.) In short, James occupied the highest earthly position in the New Testament church.

Furthermore, Paul identifies James not only as an apostle but as the brother of Jesus: I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. (Galatians 1:19) None of the other apostles can claim this familial relationship with our Lord.

But in his introduction James mentions none of this. Rather than refer to these extraordinary qualifications, he simply calls himself “a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

A servant—that’s a genteel, sanitized description. The Greek term δοῦλος (doulos) translated here as servant might better be translated and understood as slave or bondservant.

Jesus in prayer before his arrest.

Why does James assume this lowly position? Why not announce his authority and declare his pre-eminent role in the church? The answer is James knew Jesus. He knew Jesus deeply—like no other human. Jesus came as a δοῦλος, a male slave. He did not exalt himself. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:8b) Jesus calls his followers to do the same—to humble ourselves—to die to ourselves.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

James got the memo. Have we?

Response

Lord Jesus, I humble myself before you. Help me assume the position of a humble servant before others. You have shown us the way. We praise and thank you now. Amen.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.