Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good
If we will humble ourselves before God and pray for our nation He will heal our land from the idols of power, greed and control that threaten it. This is the wisdom offered us in the fruit of the Spirit.
James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
As believers in Jesus Christ we are to be a people of peace preaching God’s Gospel of Peace. Carla
The Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, often employs this combination of words “wise and understanding” to describe a person who lives in accordance with the insight given by God (Deuteronomy 1:13, 15; 4:6). People demonstrate wisdom if their deeds reflect God’s commands. Those who are wise should demonstrate their wisdom in how they live, by deeds done with humility.
James likely is admonishing his audience to refrain from sinning against the truth by boasting of their wisdom. Truth may refer to the gospel (James 1:18; 5:19) or, more generally, to that which is not false. That is earthly refers to wisdom that is inferior to wisdom from God. The Greek adjective psychikos for unspiritual refers to what is, by nature, human—things not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Demonic describes the ultimate origin of earthly wisdom.
James describes the evil consequences of false wisdom. Earthly wisdom leads to jealousy and selfish ambition, which can culminate in a troubling situation for Christian communities.
The virtues James lists are predominantly nonselfish and nonaggressive; those who practice these virtues show greater concern for others than for themselves. They are opposite of the vices described in verses 14–16.
Righteousness and peace appear together often in the Bible (Psalm 72:7; 85:10; Isaiah 32:17; Hebrews 12:11). This statement could have the sense of “fruit growing out of righteousness.” Alternatively, it could be intended as a phrase defining the fruit, thus “fruit that consists of righteousness.”
True peace is found only in the character of God (Isaiah 9:6; 2 John 3; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Philippians 4:7, 9). James demonstrates concern about discord and rivalry in the church, and he encourages peace in order to foster this characteristic in the community. Faithlife Study Bible
The solution for the problem of controlling our tongues is to seek divine wisdom (1:5). The person who possesses godly wisdom (verse 17) will meekly show it with works, not just words. That is, believers should be slow to speak (1:19).
Evil produces confusion.
On the other hand, God brings harmony and wisdom (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Anyone who is involved in envy and strife is confused. This confusion corrupts human relationships. It is likely that the Jewish Christians to whom James was writing were going through turmoil because of sinful acts like the ones mentioned here. James wanted his readers to set aside their petty attitudes and seek reconciliation.
The main characteristic of godly wisdom is that it is pure, meaning “free from defilement.” Bitterness, envy, and selfish behavior thoroughly corrupt a person (verses 14, 16).
Godly wisdom is also peaceable, describing a spirit of tranquility and calmness. It does not suggest compromising truth just for the sake of peace, which would promote falsehood. In addition, godly wisdom is undivided, without favoritism, unwavering, and consistent.True wisdom is sincere and unpretentious. The NKJV Study Bible
James 1:17–18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
1 Corinthians 2:6–7 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;
“Living humanly will be its own reward,” Rabbi Harold Kushner reminds us. “The person who has discovered the pleasures of truly human living, the person whose life is rich in friendships and caring people, the person who enjoys daily the pleasures of good food and sunshine, will not need to wear herself out in pursuit of some other kind of success.”
Absorbing daily miracles takes root in the soil of the simple sentence, "I never noticed that before." I am welcoming, inviting life in, not allowing internal censors and judges to scrutinize, making certain that this moment passes muster. In moments of amazement, we render our internal scorekeeper mute. There is a good deal of conjecture about who merits this streak of luck and why. Some people get all the moments of astonishment…or perhaps they’ve allowed themselves to see, and to hear, and to notice.
So. Let us be pause. Let us pay attention. And here's the gift: We choose from this place, because we are no longer detached, or victims to yesterday or tomorrow.
Yes. Presence is the currency for embracing, listening and reclaiming (with “new eyes” or ears) that which has been forgotten—the fruit of the sacrament of the present moment... light, understanding,
kindheartedness, tolerance,
gratitude, mercy,
inclusion, second chances,
hope, open heart, open mind.
“Sabbath Moments”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in w weakness. ' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
We must remember Paul wrote these words from the perspective of someone who was undergoing persecution, imprisonment, danger, hunger, and the daily anxieties that come with starting churches (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Paul was not a stranger to pain. Yet he stated that even through "weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities," he remained content because God strengthened him in every trial (2 Corinthians 12:10).
In addition to His grace, these verses also remind us of God's power. It is interesting in the wording of 2 Corinthians 12:9 that the Lord states His power is "made perfect in weakness" (emphasis added). At first glance, we could mistake this to mean that God's power changes in effectiveness or that His power has moments of imperfection. Yet that could not be further from the truth. Nothing about God could ever be imperfect (Deuteronomy 32:4; James 1:17). Matthew Poole's Bible commentary explains that "made perfect" instead means God's "divine power, in upholding and supporting [His] people, is never so glorious as when they are under weaknesses in themselves."
In other words, when we are in our weakest moments, painfully aware of our own imperfection, we can become more aware of God's power to comfort, strengthen, and encourage us. God's grace is sufficient. First5
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