Friday: WISDOM FROM HEAVEN

Apr 14, 2023
2 min read

James 3:13-18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 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. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Wisdom that comes from God is wisdom from On High—it is much higher than I can think or imagine. I can recognize it first by it’s purity: its quality is from the Utmost Truth.

Wisdom from God is also filled with peace and tranquility. His desire is for me to be like His Son, Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus obeyed His Father, even unto the cross, God wants me to be obedient, believing He has the true wisdom for any situation I am going through.

Through His wisdom I will be filled with mercy, without judgment, but eager to show good will to all. Through this infilling from the Holy Spirit, I will thankfully distribute His spiritual fruit impartially to those He sends to me.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

Wherever I sow His peace, I will reap His righteousness. His peace comes when I humble myself to receive it. Humility means that I will step back before speaking or acting, listening intently to His Word so that I can understand His instructions in every situation.

The moment I refrain from humility, a seed of pride enters my heart. This seed is poisonous to my heart and mind, and grows into bitter envy and selfish ambition.

Ambition is good if it is from the Lord, but if my motive isn’t from above, my actions won’t be from above either. In these instances, I can tell people that I’m working for the Lord all I want, but He knows the truth. My boasting stands in the way of my receiving truth, allowing me to be deceived instead.

Lord, I desire a heart that You bring order to. Please quench the envy and selfishness in my life, so I can eagerly receive wisdom from You and distribute spiritual fruit to those in my life. Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman