No Higher Calling

[297 words] James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In the introduction, we learn a great lesson.  James tells us that he is a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have already learned something vastly significant. James lived to serve God and Christ. There is no greater vocation than this. Note carefully that James is a voluntary slave. Just as Jesus called everyone to “take up your cross daily and follow me,” James willfully pursued pleasing the Lord above all else.  I wonder if, in presenting ourselves to others, we start by identifying our purpose in life is to serve God and Jesus. Unfortunately, this information often comes much later in the conversation, if at all. It is striking that James, who was a physical brother of the Lord, does not introduce himself as a brother but a slave of Jesus. James is…