James 5:10

"As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord"."As an example" -a model, pattern, "in. good sense as something that does or should spur one on to imitate it" (Arndt p. 34). "take the prophets" -See 2 Chronicles 36:16; 1 Kings 2:10; Matthew 23:29; Acts 7:52. "Most of them were persecuted severely in their lifetime, despite the fact that they were God's messengers (Matthew 5:11)" (Kent p. 179). Draper notes, "In essence, James says, "Surely, if anyone ought to have. good time in life and ought to avoid suffering, the prophets would be the ones. Yet they suffered too.' This is. side of Christianity that we do not like to think about-----the suffering side. We like to think that when we are saved, everything is going to be glorious….When we get. new Savior, we also get. new enemy" (p. 153).

Points To Note:

1. The prophets spoke in the name of the Lord or by the Lord's authority, therefore their messages were inspired (2 Peter 1:20). 2. It is. myth to think that faithfulness will prevent bad things in this life from happening to us. Many people in the past have suffered for doing the right thing (Acts 14:22; 1 Timothy 3:12). 3. Since the prophets spoke the truth and were persecuted (often by professed believers in God) we must realize that everyone isn't going to embrace and admit the truth when they hear it. We must reject the idea that the truth is what most people believe or that the "mainstream" is to be always equated with the narrow way (Matthew 7:13).