“..When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord.” (~Isaiah 26:9-10/NIV)
Upon reading these verses, I felt a little sad. Sad, because I realize that even in my own life, there have been times when I received a measure of God’s uncomfortable discipline, rather than His pleasant grace. I understood the truth of the matter; that sometimes we as human beings can be stubborn, prideful, and self-absorbed, wanting our own way in all things. However, God always has a plan to lead us along the correct paths as we submit to His direction and discipline. His ways are always better than our own, and we simply don’t always live our lives honoring them.
Oxford defines discipline as “the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience,” while it defines judgment as “a misfortune or calamity viewed as a divine punishment.”
For the believer, I equated this topic to the correction of a toddler or puppy. Sometimes, a favorite treat or toy won’t bring about the good behavior we want in a situation, though occasionally it may. Learning the right conduct often may require some measure of discipline instead. Of course, it doesn’t mean we don’t love our toddlers or puppies, but we want them to avoid trouble and have the best existence possible. So, we teach them with all the healthy and effective methods of wisdom, knowledge, and correction we can provide.
Hebrews 12:11 teaches us that “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.” Yet we can find comfort in the fact that “Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
For those who may not yet have accepted Christ, they lack the Holy Spirit’s power to be successful in living for the Lord as He wills. Thus, consistently being open to spiritual attacks on their lives and painful judgment. However, we who choose to believe can rest assured that when we sin, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9/NIV).
It’s interesting how with all the wisdom the Bible provides regarding trusting the Lord for protection, it instructs us in the practical ways to live safely.
There’s a passage in Proverbs 2 that teaches us that wise choices will watch over us and understanding will keep us safe. This means we should seriously consider and pray about our options regarding any decisions we make in life. What might be the outcome and what are the related costs? Having a good understanding of all of the elements involved and their effect on our lives, along with seeking God’s will in each case, will provide protection from unnecessary, future distress.
This passage also teaches us that wisdom will save us from people who don’t mean us well and who use words that are unhealthy or distorted. Further, it indicates that these people turned from a right path onto a wrong one which leads to darkness and corruption. These are people who enjoy doing wrong and the perverted ways of wickedness. These are people who only bring problems to your life and should be avoided.
In this new year, we should make it our aim to gain wisdom and understanding for making godly choices in all areas of our lives. The Bible has more than enough information to help us gain all the wisdom and understanding we need. We just need to apply ourselves by taking some time during the day to read and pray. This needn’t be a lengthy amount of time, but just a consistency of time, so that we are successful in acclimating ourselves to God’s character and principles.
In this age of information technology, there are so many convenient resources available to us. Not to mention the traditional ways of learning via counsel from people personally, or through books or other forms of media.
Doesn’t it feel good to know you can be safe, avoiding unnecessary trouble and deception through wise decision-making? I’m so glad God has given us His very own word for assistance.
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Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. ~Proverbs 2:11-14/NLT
Many of us have heard and thought about God, but feel at a loss in seeking or getting to know Him. We’re accustomed to our ways of interacting with other human beings, but the thought of truly knowing a supreme being may appear to be out of our reach. We may even have a desire to worship such a person but don’t feel we have the tools to be successful in doing so. Yet we can be comforted in knowing that Jesus, “…the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10/NLT). Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:8/NLT, “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” We can be confident that when we seek God with all of our hearts, we will find Him. (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13).
The three ways I have sought and found God are through:
PRAYER
Prayer is simply communicating with God. We position ourselves to receive from Him when we, first, establish a relationship with Him by which we:
Acknowledge, Repent, and Submit to God. Our prayer should be one of acknowledgment, repentance, and submission, accepting His Son, Jesus, as the Savior by which we are reconciled to God. We understand the first man and woman (Adam and Eve) had made us guilty of sin, and worthy of death, after which our Heavenly Father provided atonement for our dire consequences. Repentance is our willingness to turn from our old ways of doing and being to God’s ways. By submitting, we yield ourselves to His authority and participate in baptism, where we express identification with the Lord’s death and resurrection, carried out via the Lord’s gifts discussed later.
As we communicate with God we also offer Him:
Thanksgiving and Praise. Gratitude, adoration, and worship for all that He is and does for us.
Supplications. Making our requests known to Him.
We can communicate with God at any time because the bible tells us He is omnipresent, capable of being everywhere at the same time. “Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth? says the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:24/NLT). However, it would be a good habit of discipline to schedule a time daily to meet with God consistently during periods when there are fewer distractions. We choose a time when we feel most alert and at ease to spend time with God, whether for 15 minutes or an hour or more.
THE BIBLE
In seeking God, the Bible is to be respected as the necessary guide for living a Christ-like life by the power of the Holy Spirit. It contains the history and future of God’s relationship with mankind and contains His attributes, character, and will for our lives. I’d say the Bible is the chief way of seeking Him; getting to know Him, and what He expects of us. Reading or studying alone, and/or with others, is crucial to strengthening our faith and growth. “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ” (Romans 10:17/NLT). Further, we know that seeking the Lord through His word is pleasing to Him. “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6/NLT).
THE BODY OF CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, the Body of Christ. “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself” (Ephesians 1:22-23).
As the Body of Christ, we have been given gifts. The bible names, these gifts in Ephesians 4:11/NLT: “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.” After seeking God for His will for our lives in the place He chooses, and availing ourselves of these gifts (of which we may eventually become ourselves) we mature, growing in our faith into those who resemble our Lord in word and deed. “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29/NLT).
Perhaps the most precious gift working with us today is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who has been described as our Counselor, Comforter, and Advocate, and endues us with power for godly living and ministry. “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26/NLT). “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8/NLT).
We have so many resources available to us as we seek God. He has given us various additional gifts to help us to be successful in glorifying God in our families, careers, local church ministries, and simply, everyday life. I’m remembering 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, and the nine gifts of the Spirit: the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Not to mention the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
All of this and more involves seeking God, and as we do, we get to know Him, grow, and function in His grace as His very own children, dearly loved.
The Bible is so magnificent, but there are times when some of its contents are difficult to accept as truth. Yet that doesn’t negate the validity of its scriptures. Of the Bible’s many astonishing events, I recently remembered its fig tree story and how it relates to us.
In Mark 11, we find Jesus leaving Bethany, hungry. He sees a fig tree from a distance and decides to go check if it has any fruit. He finds nothing but fig leaves as it was not the season for figs. Then, within the disciples’ hearing, he speaks to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”
Afterwards, Jesus and his disciples arrive in Jerusalem and encounter the buying and selling of various items in the temple courts. Jesus is displeased and lets all involved know just how much by overturning the moneychangers’ and sellers’ tables and benches, and not allowing anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. He reminds them of what was written, that his house would be called “a house of prayer for all nations,” but they had made it “a den of robbers.”
Jesus and his disciples leave the city that evening, and in the morning, they pass by the same fig tree they had seen the previous day. His disciples, no doubt, are surprised as they tell him the fig tree he cursed has withered. His response was, “Have faith in God.” “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Interestingly, He also adds, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” My first thoughts on reading this passage were, “Do we in any way really believe what he said?”
Since we’re dedicated followers of Jesus today, that would also make us his disciples, too. Hence, along with our prayer requests, Jesus emphasizes forgiving others when we’ve been offended, so that we are also forgiven. However, I’m awed by the fact that He specifically says that whatever we ask for in prayer, believing we’ve received it, will be ours. In addition, I can surmise that how and when we receive it may differ from our expectations. Nevertheless, I choose to accept what is clearly written. Whatever prerequisites we might find to apply, this is what I call the SUPERnatural of God available to us. Evidently, some things we may encounter in God cannot be logically explained. Yet it is truly a blessing to faithfully receive them.
Jesus even attributes this amazing, supernatural ability to having faith in God. This is where our faith should be directed. Then highlighting “Truly,” He wants us to really get that this is no joke, if one were to say to a mountain to throw itself into the sea and not doubt in their heart, but believe what they’ve said, it will be done for them. Now I don’t know about you, but I find this difficult to imagine, and yet when you study and meditate on who God is and how powerful He is, it becomes easier to receive. Further, if it were not so, Jesus would not have said it.
My guess is some of us will find ways to explain this passage as meaning something else, or there being some other necessary conditions. However, it appears quite clear in His teaching we should:
put our faith in God (not in anything or anyone else);
say what we desire or speak to the obstacle (don’t see this as a time for just thinking a prayer silently);
believe it will happen and not doubt (this is where we’ve often missed it); and
forgive people for any offenses committed against us (another place we may have fallen short).
Passages like this can be very controversial and said to be “name it and claim it” in nature. Nevertheless, one can’t argue that they are in the Bible and Jesus did say what we should say. Not to mention he stated, “If anyone says…” So I’d suppose this isn’t just a reference to church leadership. Wow!
Moreover, there are several other supernatural passages such as these in the Bible that I’m finding many teachers tend not to mention these days. I suppose it is to avoid having to answer to all the critics and their “what-ifs” that they’d be expected to explain. However, I figure what I don’t know, I don’t know, but whatever Jesus said, I can and should repeat it; even if it goes against my human logic.
Thankfully, I’m remembering, Jesus speaking to the centurion in Matthew 8:13: “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
As I continue on my reading journey through the Bible from 2023, I’m adding another study on faith in 2024. It’s crucially important. We can’t please God without it (Hebrews 11:6).
Yes! So, with all the excitement of shopping, giving, singing, and eating, the true reason for the season is never really lost, though for some forgotten. God has been merciful to us and given us a Savior who has delivered us from our sins. He provided the atonement to reconcile us to Himself and surely we are glad about it!
Of course, we know that December 25th is not the date on which He was born (as far as we know). However, we have the freedom to celebrate responsibly as we choose! Isn’t that a blessed thing?
Image by Drazen Zigic on FreePik
To realize that the one who has lived since the very beginning, who sees past the very end, loves and wants us for eternity? He left his home of infinite glory to be born of a mere woman and live a life of what must have seemed like misery to bring us into an intimate relationship with himself. What can be greater than that? Other than to lay down that life in pain and torture as the supreme sacrifice for those He loved.
The definition of this day of celebration is of such great importance to the world even though so many may not know or want to understand it. So I encourage you to celebrate in any way you know how to show your gratitude and realization of the truth of the matter: God Almighty loves us immensely!
I can only hope that when we’ve reached that most high place of abundant joy in heaven, Jesus will somehow display that great rewind of the event when both Mary and Joseph were enlightened to that miraculous time to come when they would conceive and raise the Son of the Most High God: Immanuel!
I’m wishing you all the joy and happiness of the season: Merry Christmas!
There’s a phrase that we’ve all heard and may have even said at some point in our lives: “Don’t judge me.” It suggests we should not form a conclusion about a person with condemnation. Perhaps it’s even more than just examining the fruit of a person’s life, but passing a judgment where we don’t have the information about the person that God would have. Or the event we may not have the authority to judge.
Practically, every day in various ways we navigate through life with decision-making. We make determinations about what actions to take next on matters as well as who we seek for guidance, support, or friendship. But how might this relate to communicating with or evaluating another person? Or should we even assess people? Might we just pray about them and see if the Lord approves?
The Greek word for “judge” in the Bible is krino, which means to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong. Other definitions include to condemn, sentence, or levy a punishment. The scriptures are pretty clear in their references to judging. First, we’re told: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First, remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5/NKJV).
Hence, though we are told not to judge, it appears in Matthew 7:5 that we are allowed to move forward to help our brother when we’re able to see clearly to remove a speck from his eye when we’ve removed the plank from our own. In doing this we are taught in Galatians 6:1/NIV “… if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” So, we are shown in what Spirit we are to restore a person.
We are careful when we remember John 5: 22-23, “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. …” In addition, James 4:12/NIV, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”
At the same time, Matthew 18:15-17/NIV tells us how to deal with sin in the church: “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
Further, we’re reminded in 1 Corinthians 6:1-5/NLT, “When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? “
Another reference to judging is found in John 7:24/NKJV where Jesus says, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment,” another definition of “judgment” that would be valid. The Lord does not want us to be like the Pharisees whom he considered hypocritical in that they condemned others for the same sins they were committing.
Therefore, I’ve concluded we must look at all of the Bible’s references to judging to be able to accurately understand when and how to judge. We must remember the authority of the Bible in that, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17/NIV). We know there are certainly times when encountering a problem and teaching the scripture as the solution is necessary.
There is much to be learned in the Bible about how we are to treat one another, all provided by the Scriptures, along with the Holy Spirit available to help us succeed. This is why we need to read the Bible daily and walk by the Spirit so that we can be obedient to God’s commands regarding judgment. Through consistent time spent with the Lord in prayer and study of the scriptures for knowledge and understanding, we prepare ourselves for the challenges we are certain to face in relationships.
Thinking about your most recent conversations, would you say that they involved talking about other people and their lives? Or, do you find yourself desiring to read information about other people and what is happening to date? Do you believe the people you receive from are reliable sources of truth and is the information edifying or inspirational to your life?
In this day and age of social media and other forms of communication, there are so many opinions, and more comments than ever on other people’s lives, many times with truth being embellished or exaggerated. A safeguard is needed to discourage gossip and avoid furthering possible erroneous information about others.
What exactly is gossip? Oxford Learner’s Dictionary describes it as, 1) informal talk or stories about other people’s private lives, that may be unkind or not true; 2) a conversation about other people and their private lives; and 3) a person who enjoys talking about other people’s private lives. Sadly, these definitions would most likely apply to all of us at one time or another.
The Bible teaches that, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:13). Further, “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28). It reminds us that, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26). It also condemns gossip as being inappropriate for Christians and a consequence of a depraved mind (Romans 1:29; 2 Corinthians 12:20).
If there’s one thing we hopefully know, is that sometimes, people will lie about others for any number of reasons, which might often include sensationalism, especially for media purposes.
It’s important to realize it’s best not to repeat anything about someone else that doesn’t come straight from that person’s mouth for public knowledge. Moreover, it makes good sense not to believe everything one hears about a person as factual, without personal knowledge of the information as being true.
Two scriptures, one in the Old Testament and the other in the New Testament, teach us about the importance of witnesses in a matter:
2 Corinthians 13:1 … “By the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall be established.”
Deuteronomy 9:15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.”
It may take some time to break oneself from a habit of gossiping, but it is possible as we remind ourselves of what God thinks of the matter and pray for His grace to help us to place a “tight rein on our tongues.” Or, perhaps I should add keyboards.
Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible (Galatians 5:22/NLT) along with love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is one behavior we can all stand to receive and bestow, especially in these latter times of temptation toward angst and frustration.
Kindness is the quality of being gentle, caring, friendly, helpful, generous, considerate, warm-hearted, humane and sympathetic.
The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 19:22/NKJV, that “what is desired in a man is kindness… .” We also find that Proverbs 31:26/NKJV describes this amiable quality as a trait of a virtuous woman, one who “opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.”
Kindness is exemplified in God’s love toward us, demonstrated largely by his mercy toward us in a myriad of ways. “His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 117:2/NKJV) “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7/NKJV).
We see in Acts 28:2/NKJV, that the Apostle Paul was certainly appreciative of the kindness granted to him on the Island of Malta where he was shipwrecked while on his way to Rome: “The natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.” There are also many acts of kindness shown throughout the Bible, especially the wonderful works of Jesus as he “…went about doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38/NKJV).
So, when we think of clothing ourselves each day, perhaps we should consider this holy attire of heaven: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:12-13/NKJV).
Showing tact and thoughtfulness toward others despite how they look, where they live, or how they speak is a major mark of maturity and godliness in the life of a believer. It is certainly a challenge in some situations to do so, but any good thing we do is noticed by the Lord and we glorify our heavenly Father when we do so.
There’s nothing like the blessing of knowing God is with you. You’ve accepted the sacrificing atonement given through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, turned from your old ways of being and doing, and now being sanctified daily, transformed more and more into the image of Christ. You can now rest in knowing that you are never alone and God is always with you, until the end of the world (see Matthew 28:20).
God has many names, but I’m rejoicing today in His names: Jehovah Immeka, “The Lord is with you”, Jehovah El Roi, “The God who sees,” and Immanuel, “God with us.” His Hebrew names reflect the essence of who He is in many awesome ways.
I love seeing Jehovah Immeka in the book of Judges 6:12 where we meet Gideon whenthe Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” In verses 13-14, Gideon is feeling insecure as God tells him: “…“Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” Then Gideon responds in verses 15-16: “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Yet God assures him “…Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”
We encounter Jehovah El Roi in the bible in Genesis 16:9-13, where Hagar, a maid fled the harsh treatment of her mistress, Sarai. She was found by the Angel of the Lord who told her to return and submit to Sarai, and blessed her with some prophetic words regarding the future of her family to which she declared she had seen the God who sees. “Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” And the Angel of the Lord said to her:
“Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”
Further in Matthew 1:19-21, we find a young man named Joseph told by an angel from God in a dream that he was not to be afraid to take Mary, a young virgin to whom he was engaged, to be his wife, as that which had been conceived in her was of the Holy Spirit and that she would have a Son, and he should call him Jesus, as He would save His people from their sins. This was prophecy being fulfilled, that “…was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:22-23) Imagine having to believe something that had never been seen with one’s natural eyes.
Another instance of God’s presence in the bible is the story in the book of Joshua, where Moses has now died and the Lord tells him to cross over Jordan into the land he was giving them and how “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses” (Joshua 1:3). God encouraged him to be strong and courageous that he would be with him as he had been with Moses, and that He wouldn’t leave him.
Moreover, in Joshua 1:7-8, God told Joshua to observe to do according to all the laws that Moses commanded him, and not to turn from them, so that he’d prosper wherever he went. His instructions were that he should keep God’s word in his mouth and meditate on it day and night, and this would make him successful. This is very important information for us today. In addition, God told him in Joshua 1:9, not to be frightened or dismayed, but that he was with him wherever he went. So, not only would he prosper him, but he would be with him everywhere. Who wouldn’t want a God like that?
With that said, please be encouraged that you are never alone, despite how you may feel or how your circumstances might appear. Why? Because God said so. He is our great Shepherd on whom we can surely rely. We see how he cares for the birds of the air and how they don’t plant or harvest or gather in barns and our heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t we much more valuable to Him? (See Matthew 6:26-27.)
The Bible talks about two kinds of wisdom: heavenly and earthly. We may think that we should subscribe to the wisdom of earth since this is what we’re most accustomed to. However, there is a better wisdom available to us: heavenly wisdom.
Heavenly wisdom in James 3 is described as:
pure
peace-loving
considerate
submissive
full of mercy and good fruit
impartial and sincere.
The elements of earthly wisdom:
unspiritual
demonic
harboring envy and selfish ambition in our hearts,
producing:
disorder
and every evil practice.
James 3 also tells us that those of us who are wise and understanding are to show it by our good lives, works done in humility from wisdom, concluding: Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Ms. Rita's Minute 