Tag Archives: James 3:13

Who Is Wise?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 273 - James 3:3 - Who Is Wise? - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 273 – James 3:3 – 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. James 3:13 (NIV)

Who Is Wise?

I wouldn’t quickly raise my hand on that question. You wouldn’t quickly raise your hand on what question? I wouldn’t quickly raise my hand to say that I am wise. Why is that? I have made more than my share of dumb mistakes, foolish missteps and unwise decisions. I can’t tell you how many times I have thought and said and done what was truly unwise. At times, I have thought I was quite gifted at putting my foot in my mouth. Then it seems to me that you have the beginnings of wisdom within you. How is that? How can that be? What have you admitted? What are you abundantly aware of? What do you know without a doubt? I have admitted that I am unwise. I am abundantly aware of my own lack of wisdom. I know without a doubt that I need wisdom. Where did such an awareness of your lack of wisdom come from? I would guess that you have helped me to see my own lack of wisdom. You guess? No, I know that you have helped me to see that I need wisdom. Why do you suppose I have allowed you to see your own lack of wisdom? You want to change me. You want to make me wise. You want me to be able to think and speak and act in ways that are wise. You want my life to demonstrate your wisdom in the world. Yes, I do. Your understanding is correct. So, recap from me what you know. I know I am unwise. I know you have helped me to see that I am unwise. I know you want to make me wise. I know you want to work in and through me in ways that will demonstrate your wisdom in the world. I know I can ask for you to help me to be wise in all that I think, say and do. Yes, you can. You will be my source of wisdom. Yes, I will. What word would you use to describe your willingness to admit your need for wisdom? I would use the word humility. So then, can you now agree with me that you have the beginnings of wisdom in you? Yes, I can. That’s good. Thank you for helping me to humbly see that I desperately need wisdom. You are welcome. 

Now, the beginning of wisdom starts with an attitude of humility. You will receive wisdom as you humbly come to rely on me. But how will your life demonstrate my wisdom in the world? How will people be able to see my wisdom in operation in the world? Not only by the wise thoughts you give me. Wise thoughts are a starting point. I need your wise thoughts in me to be sure. But wisdom is demonstrated by wise words and wise actions. You want to give me wise thoughts to think, wise words to speak and wise actions to take. Yes, I do. Will you think and speak and act according to the wisdom I give you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. Then my wisdom will be demonstrated in the world. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, give me your wisdom and understanding. Help me to live a life of humility that demonstrates your wisdom to the world. Help me to be wise in all that I think, say and do. Help me to live a life of love and service to others. Help me to pattern my life after yours. Amen

Key Question…  What has helped or hindered your ability to ask for and receive wisdom from God?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to make you wise in all that you think, say and do, so you can demonstrate His wisdom in the world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you think and speak and act wisely so you can demonstrate His wisdom in the world.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to demonstrate His wisdom in the world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May all that you think, say, and do demonstrate wisdom.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 273 – James 3-13 – 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

Show It

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - James 3:13 - Show It - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – James 3:13 – Show It – 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. James 3:13 (NIV)

Success?

I want to be wise and understanding. I want my life to demonstrate that I am both wise and understanding. Why do you want to be wise and understanding? What do you mean by asking me that? What is wise? What is understanding? How are you defining those terms? Why is it your desire and goal to be wise and understanding? I’m still not fully understanding where you are headed with your questions. Let’s take a step back. I will ask you another question. Go ahead, I’m listening. What possible reasons could a person have for wanting to be wise and understanding? A person might want to be wise and understanding so that they can be successful in life. I suppose you will now ask me what a successful life would look like. You are right about that. What would a successful life look like to you? What would a successful look like to someone else? Now, I’m starting to understand where you are headed with your questions. Someone might evaluate their success in life by how much they have acquired. They would think that their life is successful if they have acquired possessions, power and prestige in an abundance. They might think that their life has been successful if they have lived a life filled with comfort and pleasure. Their desire for wisdom and understanding would simply be tools on that path to their idea of success. That’s right. Is this how you view success? Is this why you want wisdom and understanding? No, it is not.

How do you define success? My life will be successful if I have come to know and do your will. My life will be successful if I have born an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and brought glory to your name. That is a very different definition of success. Yes, it is. Only my followers would ever hold on to that definition of success. That’s right. Loving, following and serving you is my desire and goal in life. So, it should be easy for you to now tell me why you want to have wisdom and understanding. I want to have wisdom and understanding so that I will be able to know and do your will. Wisdom and understanding from you, will guide me on the proper path in life. My life will succeed in bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name if I have your wisdom and understanding. Yes, it will. Without your wisdom and understanding I will be unable to know and do your will. That’s right. It is my prayer that I will have your wisdom and understanding so that I can live my life fully for you. That is a prayer that I will hear and answer.

Lord, I want to be wise and understanding. I want my life to be filled with your wisdom and understanding. Help me to do humble deeds that display wisdom as I follow and serve you. Use my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

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

Wisdom – James 3-13 – Show It – 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