Tag Archives: full of mercy and good fruit

Comes From Heaven

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - James 3:17-18 - Comes From Heaven - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – James 3:17-18 – Comes From Heaven – Growing As Disciples

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 3:17-18 (NIV) 

A Greater Victory

What do you think real wisdom that comes from me looks like? I’m not sure. I think you have a pretty good idea. Tell me what you once thought real wisdom looked like? What I once thought is now a little embarrassing to say out loud. Go ahead anyhow. I once thought that wisdom would empower me to win every argument and confound my opponents in every debate. The wisdom I wanted would leave my opponents speechless with nothing to say except that I was completely correct. That’s pretty funny, isn’t it? I suppose so. I would have used the word pathetic instead of funny. What does that wisdom sound like to you now? It sounds a lot more like pride than wisdom. Yes, it does.

What have you learned about your desire to win every argument and debate? The desire to win is not wise. I could win every argument and debate and have no one that would want to be my friend. That kind of wisdom is very unattractive and unappealing. Who wants to be around someone that is always right? 

Your wisdom is just the opposite. How so? Your wisdom is filled with humility. It doesn’t overpower or force itself on anyone. It is gentle and attractive and appealing. It stands out as dramatically different than the wisdom of the world. Yes, it does. Your wisdom goes out of its way to be helpful to others. It does not serve itself. No, it does not. Instead of always wanting to win, your wisdom is willing to suffer wrong. Why is that? You are more interested in winning the hearts of men and women than you are in winning the popular arguments of the day. Yes, I am. Have you ever won arguments and lost people? Yes, I have. Now I know that I would rather love and serve people than conquer them with my wise debating skills.

I now know that your wisdom sows peace in this world. Why is that? The goal of your wisdom isn’t to win as the world considers winning. No, it is not. Your wisdom seeks a greater victory. Yes, it does. Tell me what is that victory? You desire a harvest of righteousness. Yes, I do. Your wisdom is meant to draw men and women to you so that they will follow you as their Savior and Lord. Yes, that is the goal of my wisdom. Is this the kind of wisdom you desire? Yes Lord, it is. Will you allow me to use you to plant and reap a harvest of righteousness in this world? Yes Lord, I will.

Heavenly Father, I have tried to live by the wisdom that comes from this world long enough. It doesn’t help and makes matters worse. I ask for your wisdom that comes from heaven, to guide all my thoughts, words, and actions. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Wisdom – James 3-17-18 – Comes From Heaven – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Who Is Wise?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 142 - James 3:13-18 - Who Is Wise - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 142 – James 3:13-18 – Who Is Wise – Growing As Disciples

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)  

Wisdom From Heaven

Do you know what wisdom from heaven looks like? I’m not sure. I can take a guess. Go ahead take a guess. First, I will say what wisdom from heaven does not look like. Wherever there is bitter envy or selfish ambition you can be sure that your wisdom will not be found. Bitter envy and selfish ambition bring disorder and every evil practice. Like what? Bitter envy and selfish ambition pit people against each. These desires create conflict and destruction. Nothing good will come out of bitter envy or selfish ambition. Lying and cheating and stealing come out of bitter envy and selfish ambition. Love and hope and peace and joy are destroyed by bitter envy and selfish ambition. You will not find kindness and mercy coexisting with bitter envy and selfish ambitions. These desires are the devil’s tools that he uses to steal and kill and destroy life That is true.

Your wisdom looks nothing like bitter envy and selfish ambition. What does my wisdom look like? Your wisdom is pure. Your wisdom is peace-loving.  Your wisdom is considerate and submissive, full of mercy and good fruit. Your wisdom is impartial and sincere. These don’t sound like guesses on your part. No, I am not guessing. What I have learned and will learn about your wisdom comes from your word. You have been using your word to teach me your wisdom. That is true, my word will instruct you and teach you my wisdom. What do you want my wisdom to do in and through you? I want your wisdom to make me fruitful for you. I want your word to be make me wise in all that I think, say and do. I want to be able to live a life of humbly doing good deeds for your kingdom and glory. I want to be a peacemaker who sows peace so that I can reap a rich harvest for you. You have wise desires in you. I will make you wise as you allow my word to do its work in you. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will guard against bitter envy and selfish ambition. I want to lead a good life that puts your wisdom on display by humbly doing good deeds for others. I also want to be a peacemaker who sows in peace and reaps a rich harvest for your kingdom and glory. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Promises – Day 142 – James 3-13-18 – Who Is Wise? – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com