After reading "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur, I find it nearly impossible not to compare myself to these men.
MacArthur analyses the men in order of how they're usually referenced in Scripture. As such, he starts with Peter and ends with the traitor Judas Iscariot.
For me, I found myself identifying with each disciple in some way as I read their respective biographies. At times, it was surprise that I didn't know a certain feature about that person. Other times, it was shock at the extremes from where Christ called them from. In all of them, they made a journey.
Starting with Peter, it's easy and comforting to see the mature Peter as that human standard of who to look up to. Sure, he's rough around the edges as a younger man, but after Jesus gets done molding him, Peter is a model worthy to emulate. He's a leader's leader. He's confident. He's bold. He's respected. There's a lot to like in Peter the elder.
On the other end of the spectrum, James the Less wasn't in the spotlight. He was a faithful servant content to give his Lord the spotlight and his leader the front of the stage. Yet, he was diligent and trustworthy. He didn't grumble. In fact, he didn't say much of anything. He just did. He served. He obeyed.
Finally, Judas Iscariot is all too identifiable. Yes, he was the traitor that sold his Creator for little more than table scraps. Yes, he was the one that stole from the disciples' treasury. He's the icon of deceit and deception in the Bible, second only to Satan himself. He's a favorite target for hate in the Church. Yet, he's not that far removed from many of us. How many of us steal from Christ in how we tithe? How many of us deceive others about our relationship with God? How many of us sell our relationship to Christ for even less than Judas did? At times, I'm afraid we're all too like Judas.
...yet, we want to grow up to be a "Peter". We like seeing ourselves as the mature, refined Christian. We want to be thanked for our wonderful, glorious service to God. When we should be content to be "little James". We don't work for the accolades of men. We don't serve for honor on this earth. We should be content to quietly see that Christ is glorified and that we fade into the background.
Just my thoughts.
Later.