12/27/12. James 3:13-18. TWO TYPES OF WISDOM-my devotional
12/27/12. James 3:13-18. TWO TYPES OF WISDOM-my devotional
| James 3:13-18 |
Thursday, December 27, 2012 |
Key Verse: 3:13 Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
Dear Lord Jesus. Thank you for a wonderful Christmas time with family and friends and your church. Thank you that Christmas shuts out evil for a short time and we can focus on the important issue of loving and giving; sharing and caring. Lord, I pray that you be with John on his new pilgrimage in life as a husband and a professor in a distant land. Guide him and reveal your love, joy and glory to his heart. Lord, help me to be a culturally sensitive person who can transmit the Gospel to others. Please grant me one word of God to hold onto through this passage. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Part 1: Earthly, Unspiritual Wisdom (13-16).
This passage reveals some great insight into Christian living. One of the most important Christian traits is humility that comes from God’s wisdom. Verses 13-16 read, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
Humility comes from real wisdom. One who claims to be wise, but wields his knowledge out of selfish ambition and only enjoys intellectualizing the truth for their own glory, has only earthly, demonic wisdom. (15) There is one trait that accompanies true wisdom. From wisdom and understanding, good behavior should issue. Who can argue with this? Real wisdom cannot come from a heart full of envy or selfish ambition. When we are proud of our positions as teachers, thinking we are “so wise”, we cannot have true wisdom from heaven, but rather we promote discord. It’s better to be quiet then to give unspiritual advice.
I thank God for spiritual wisdom. Wisdom is different than knowledge and intellect. Wisdom is how we apply knowledge and intellect. Before meeting Jesus personally, I only wanted to get Biblical knowledge, from Proverbs, so that I could exploit that wisdom and use it for my own glory and honor. (But God used that desire to lead me to himself.) But then I met Jesus and realized that God wanted me to use the wisdom he gives me so that I may know his nature and his see his glory and reveal these to the world.
Now God gives me his wisdom every day. Mostly I get it through Bible study and especially daily devotionals. He brings it all together through the Holy Spirit of God. This is a wisdom that only God can give. It is a wisdom that cannot be contrived by human beings on their own. Why? It is because our wisdom is based on self preservation and selfishness. It focuses on living in this world. But God’s wisdom is based on unconditional love and sacrifice. It has its foundations on our hope of eternal life in the kingdom of God. This does not make sense to mankind whom don’t know God. But God’s wisdom makes perfect sense to those who know the Lord. God’s wisdom brings everything together.
Part 2: Wisdom That Comes Down From Heaven (17-18).
Verses 17-18, “17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
Wisdom that comes from heaven is pure and peace-loving. It is considerate, submissive, and full of mercy. It shows no partiality. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
If I hold onto God’s perfect wisdom then the fruit of God’s wisdom will be born in my heart. There will be purity, peace, consideration of others, submission, mercy, impartiality and sincerity will be born in my heart and in my life. The wisdom of God will be like a light that dispels the darkness of sin death from the crevices of my heart.
God’s wisdom will help me to sow in peace. Sowing is like sowing seed. It is like planting a crop and later on the crop grows and a harvest of righteousness is obtained. What is a harvest of righteousness? Righteousness is having a right relationship with God. It is brought about by forgiveness and grace. It is something given to us by God. It brings about the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts, spiritual fruits like, love, joy peace, kindness, goodness brotherly kindness and love. Does this mean that the numbers of your church will grow if your sow in peace? Maybe and maybe not. There are a lot of people sowing in peace who are alone on the mission field. God may bless the growth of your church. Growth may occur beyond your life time. But, to be certain the fruit of the spirit will grow in your heart.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for access to the wisdom that comes from you. May I live my life with and bear the fruit of this wisdom.
One Word: Apply heavenly wisdom
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