WFC Daily Devotion for May 28, 2009
Westside Family Church Series “What if the Church?”
This week’s theme: “Love Mercy”
Today’s theme: “”
Key Verses
James 3:13-18
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.
Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. (The Message)
Meditation
God has two constant demands of us Christ-followers: 1) having a godly or positive attitude and 2) godly or appropriate action. Simply put, it is having the right heart spiritually and the right actions physically.
As we see in the above verses, it is wisdom from above that drive success in these two demands.
Wisdom’s origin is God’s truth, love, grace and mercy. Wisdom – at least the kind that leads to fulfilling Micah 6:8 – comes from the Holy Spirit.
Note what James said about real wisdom. We can recognize it because we get along with others.
Avoid taking this to the extreme. This does not mean that we endorse or tolerate sinful behavior. Nor does it mean that we will not have conflict with others. Remember, Christ said that people will despise us when we live a life reflective of His truth.
James went on to explain that our behavior is marked by gentleness, sincerity, consistency, and treating people with dignity and honor. This takes us full circle – it is attitude that leads to behavior. Wisdom in action is merciful to others.
Question to Consider
Am I growing in wisdom?
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