Regrets

"We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check."
James 3:2

    The book of James is thought to be penned by the very brother of Jesus. As he wrote about the power of evil speech in the third chapter, I wonder if he spoke from the experience of regret and shame? When Jesus walked the earth "even his own brothers did not believe in him." (John 7:5) Perhaps James ridiculed Jesus, along with the other scoffers.

     Imagine if you were one of Jesus' siblings? Would you have felt like James? Not only is Jesus the eldest, but he's perfect, too? After years of following in Joseph's footsteps as a carpenter, suddenly he goes off on some bizarre ministry? Maybe we would be skeptical too, not believing in Him.

     Thanks be to God that Jesus paid for our sins and remembers them no more. James evidently became a believer and author of the epistle. God is patient with us, not willing to let any of us perish so we don't have to let our regrets rule over us. Let Jesus do that instead!