James 5:10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophetswho spoke in the name of the Lord.
It is unclear which prophets James means in this verse. Most likely, he is referring to the Old Testament prophets who brought a two part message to the people of Israel and Judah: hope for those who repent and judgment for those who continue to rebel. These prophets were often ridiculed, beaten, and imprisoned. Jeremiah is a good example of this. They suffered because of the words of warning and judgment they brought. They were so convinced that their words were from God and were correct that they would not change when faced with threats and suffering. They patiently endured because they served a higher authority than kind, religious leaders, or people. As Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:12: “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” The application of this idea is powerful. We often feel ashamed because of the word of the gospel. We are afraid to share our testimony and speak about Jesus. We basically do not speak in the name of the Lord because we do not want to suffer. In some places, speaking this way may cause us to even suffer physical harm. When we face trials because of our faith, we must be patient and ask God for strength and wisdom (James 1:2-4). God will help us. We will ultimately win the war although we may be wounded in the battle.
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