James 1:1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
(NIV)

James, the earthly brother of Jesus, did not believe in Him (consider John 7:1-5). He was a skeptic all the way to the end of Christ's earthly ministry, I am sure, all the way to the cross.

Most believe that it was the resurrection that changed his mind, but regardless of what finally brought him to Christ, here he is now, attaching the title of Lord and Christ to his brother. Before I did into this chapter of the Bible, I don't want to skim over the significance of this initial statement. James the skeptic is not a fervent believer, and he writes one of the most practical books in the Bible.

Notice also that James only claims servanthood. The fact that he was Christ's earthly brother isn't even mentioned here. As James titles himself, he sees himself only as a servant to this great Lord.

How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as servant? ... As simply a minister of the word?