"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 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. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3:13-18 (NIV)
James teaches that there is a difference between being wise and knowledgeable in things of the world and in things of God. A person's thoughts, speech, and behavior depend upon the source of their knowledge and wisdom.
One can know a lot of facts about man and the world or about God and His Word, knowledge, but wisdom is knowing how to apply what you know to your life. How one uses the knowledge that he has suggests the source of its origin, Godly or Satanic. How are you using that which you know? If our efforts and applications are Godly, then they will produce good fruit.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
No Man Can Tame The Tongue We Need Help
"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell ... no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water." James 3:5-12 (NIV)
In his teachings on Christian living and Godly behavior, James points out that the tongue, though it is small, is powerful and it is evil. The tongue can destroy the whole person. It cannot be tamed. That which is spoken reflects that which is inside of the person.
We cannot get both fresh water and salt water from the same spring and fruit that is produced reflects the nature of the plant on which it grows. Likewise, that which comes our of our mouth reflects that which in within us. Our conversation is a reflection of who we really are. We may pretend to be nice at times, but our true nature will soon reveal itself. We need to pray to God to change us, to guide our thoughts, talk, and walk. Only He can help us and save us from ourselves. We say that we want God in our lives, but we want Him in the backseat while we drive. What we should do is let Him drive, let Him guide, direct, and control our lives. Out of the mouth come issues of the heart. (Matthew 12:34; Matthew 15:18; & Luke 6:45) We need to get our heart cleaned and only God can do that.
In his teachings on Christian living and Godly behavior, James points out that the tongue, though it is small, is powerful and it is evil. The tongue can destroy the whole person. It cannot be tamed. That which is spoken reflects that which is inside of the person.
We cannot get both fresh water and salt water from the same spring and fruit that is produced reflects the nature of the plant on which it grows. Likewise, that which comes our of our mouth reflects that which in within us. Our conversation is a reflection of who we really are. We may pretend to be nice at times, but our true nature will soon reveal itself. We need to pray to God to change us, to guide our thoughts, talk, and walk. Only He can help us and save us from ourselves. We say that we want God in our lives, but we want Him in the backseat while we drive. What we should do is let Him drive, let Him guide, direct, and control our lives. Out of the mouth come issues of the heart. (Matthew 12:34; Matthew 15:18; & Luke 6:45) We need to get our heart cleaned and only God can do that.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The Word Of God Can Build Us Up
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Acts 20:32 (NIV)
On his way to Jerusalem, the Apostle Paul spoke to the Ephesian Christians. He warned them of the attack on the church that would come after he left. He said false prophets would come, wolves in sheep's clothing, from without and from within their ranks, twisting and distorting The Word of God. Therefore he was committing them to God and to The Word of God.
Today we need to understand that we are under attack by evil forces, and that only God and The Word of God can build us up, strengthen us, and protect us. Praying, reading and studying The Bible will provide us with the spiritual growth, knowledge, and understanding that we will need to guide and direct us in this world of many sinful distractions and pitfalls.
On his way to Jerusalem, the Apostle Paul spoke to the Ephesian Christians. He warned them of the attack on the church that would come after he left. He said false prophets would come, wolves in sheep's clothing, from without and from within their ranks, twisting and distorting The Word of God. Therefore he was committing them to God and to The Word of God.
Today we need to understand that we are under attack by evil forces, and that only God and The Word of God can build us up, strengthen us, and protect us. Praying, reading and studying The Bible will provide us with the spiritual growth, knowledge, and understanding that we will need to guide and direct us in this world of many sinful distractions and pitfalls.
Monday, May 28, 2012
One Blessing After Another
"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17 (NIV)
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, states that by the grace of God, we all have received blessing after blessing. Not because we were so righteousness or deserving. We were and are utterly unrighteous. The law, the ten commandments which were given to Moses for mankind, were designed to show the unrighteousness of man and our need for a Savior. Grace, the unmerited favor of God, was displayed to mankind by Jesus Christ.
We have all enjoyed countless blessings, one after another, spaced out by trials and tribulations which are, or lead to blessings. Unfortunately, we tend to focus on our troubles and not on our blessings. Every breath and every heart beat is a blessing. Every act of random kindness shown to us is a blessing. Protection from dangers seen and unseen is a blessing. Closed doors to things that we want are blessings that keep us from some things and direct us to open doors that are opportunities for greater and better things for us. Even the death of a loved one can be a blessing, it frees them from suffering and it causes us to look to and depend on The Lord. God has blessed us with one blessing after another. We just need to be thankful for the blessings that we have received because we did not deserve any of them.
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, states that by the grace of God, we all have received blessing after blessing. Not because we were so righteousness or deserving. We were and are utterly unrighteous. The law, the ten commandments which were given to Moses for mankind, were designed to show the unrighteousness of man and our need for a Savior. Grace, the unmerited favor of God, was displayed to mankind by Jesus Christ.
We have all enjoyed countless blessings, one after another, spaced out by trials and tribulations which are, or lead to blessings. Unfortunately, we tend to focus on our troubles and not on our blessings. Every breath and every heart beat is a blessing. Every act of random kindness shown to us is a blessing. Protection from dangers seen and unseen is a blessing. Closed doors to things that we want are blessings that keep us from some things and direct us to open doors that are opportunities for greater and better things for us. Even the death of a loved one can be a blessing, it frees them from suffering and it causes us to look to and depend on The Lord. God has blessed us with one blessing after another. We just need to be thankful for the blessings that we have received because we did not deserve any of them.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Fear The Lord And Be Blessed Beyond Measure
"Fear The Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek The Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of The Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of The Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry ..." Psalms 34:9-15 (NIV)
This psalm of David deals with the happiness of those who fear and trust in The Lord. He begins with a personal testimony and ends with public teaching on Christian behavior.
We are blessed in more ways that we can count, and yet there are still some blessings that we miss out on because of our behavior. God supplies the needs for those who fear Him. Fear here is not being afraid, it is more like being in awe, respectful, and obedient. The fear of The Lord requires that we tell the truth, turn from evil, do good, seek peace and live like we love and follow The Lord. If we do this, we will be blessed beyond measure.
This psalm of David deals with the happiness of those who fear and trust in The Lord. He begins with a personal testimony and ends with public teaching on Christian behavior.
We are blessed in more ways that we can count, and yet there are still some blessings that we miss out on because of our behavior. God supplies the needs for those who fear Him. Fear here is not being afraid, it is more like being in awe, respectful, and obedient. The fear of The Lord requires that we tell the truth, turn from evil, do good, seek peace and live like we love and follow The Lord. If we do this, we will be blessed beyond measure.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Don't Conform But Transform And Renew Your Mind
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: 'Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.' " Romans 12:1-3 (NIV)
In his letter to the Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul exhorted them to live as living sacrifices unto The Lord. He encouraged them to change their lives and no longer conform to the sinful patterns of this world, but to transform and renew their minds in order to do God's will. He told them not to think so highly of themselves in their current sinful positions.
The same could be said of us today, we need to change the way that we conduct our lives. We need to live our lives to please God and stop imitating the sinful worldly people that we see in life or on TV. We need to renew and refresh our minds with The Word of God and seek to please The Lord. Most of us think to highly of ourselves. We wrongfully think that the world would be a better place if everybody in it thought and acted just like us. If that were the case, truly a lot of bad things that now happen would no longer happen. However, there are a lot of good things that now happen which would no longer happen because we do not do them. We all need to do a better job of being Christ-like and that begins with transforming our thoughts and actions and renewing our minds with The Word of God.
In his letter to the Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul exhorted them to live as living sacrifices unto The Lord. He encouraged them to change their lives and no longer conform to the sinful patterns of this world, but to transform and renew their minds in order to do God's will. He told them not to think so highly of themselves in their current sinful positions.
The same could be said of us today, we need to change the way that we conduct our lives. We need to live our lives to please God and stop imitating the sinful worldly people that we see in life or on TV. We need to renew and refresh our minds with The Word of God and seek to please The Lord. Most of us think to highly of ourselves. We wrongfully think that the world would be a better place if everybody in it thought and acted just like us. If that were the case, truly a lot of bad things that now happen would no longer happen. However, there are a lot of good things that now happen which would no longer happen because we do not do them. We all need to do a better job of being Christ-like and that begins with transforming our thoughts and actions and renewing our minds with The Word of God.
Friday, May 25, 2012
God's Power And Strength Displayed In Our Weakness
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with The Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)
In defense of his ministry, the Apostle Paul confronts those who brag about their religious experiences. He states that he will not brag about his experiences because it is all about God and not about him. His physical suffering, the thorn in his flesh, was to keep him humble. God's strength becomes apparent during his admitted weakness.
Sometimes God allows things to happen to us in order to get our focus off of ourselves and to put our focus on Him. Nothing that we have accomplished could have been done without God allowing us to do it. In Him we live, move, and have our very being. He controls every situation. We would be foolish to brag about or take credit for something that God did through us. God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you." The same is true for us today. God has the power to get us through any and all situations. Our physical ailments, short comings, and troubles, only limit us in our sight. God is able to use us to accomplish great things in spite of our apparent weaknesses. It is in our weaknesses that He can display His strength. In our weaknesses, we know that it was His strength, and not our own, that got us through and allowed us to do whatever. We need to thank Him and give Him credit for the things that He has done in our lives. We need to thank Him for the "thorns in our flesh" that weaken us and cause us to focus on Him. We need to thank Him for His strength that He gives to us.
In defense of his ministry, the Apostle Paul confronts those who brag about their religious experiences. He states that he will not brag about his experiences because it is all about God and not about him. His physical suffering, the thorn in his flesh, was to keep him humble. God's strength becomes apparent during his admitted weakness.
Sometimes God allows things to happen to us in order to get our focus off of ourselves and to put our focus on Him. Nothing that we have accomplished could have been done without God allowing us to do it. In Him we live, move, and have our very being. He controls every situation. We would be foolish to brag about or take credit for something that God did through us. God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you." The same is true for us today. God has the power to get us through any and all situations. Our physical ailments, short comings, and troubles, only limit us in our sight. God is able to use us to accomplish great things in spite of our apparent weaknesses. It is in our weaknesses that He can display His strength. In our weaknesses, we know that it was His strength, and not our own, that got us through and allowed us to do whatever. We need to thank Him and give Him credit for the things that He has done in our lives. We need to thank Him for the "thorns in our flesh" that weaken us and cause us to focus on Him. We need to thank Him for His strength that He gives to us.
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