The book of James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. This is the scripture my husband read to me yesterday morning and I think it's a great scripture to start out the new year.
James 3:13-18 (New International Version)
13 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. 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, of the devil. 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 raise a harvest of righteousness.
Sometimes our peace loving provokes controversy in others. If we're submissive we're considered weak, if we're merciful, sometimes we're made fun of. Sometimes it's hard to be impartial. We have to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us so that these harassments don't provoke us to act the same way. We have to continue to ask--over and over and over again. As cliched as it sounds, we're a work in progress, much like our novels. Even when they're finished, published, displayed on the bookstore shelves, we can go through and find things we wish we'd written differently, scenes we could have omitted completely. So it is with our good days. Often we lay in bed at night, think back on something we may have said or thought or felt...and feel regret.
How does James 3:13-18 speak to you? If it doesn't, then what's your favorite book of the Bible and why?
James 3:13-18 (New International Version)
13 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. 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, of the devil. 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 raise a harvest of righteousness.
Sometimes our peace loving provokes controversy in others. If we're submissive we're considered weak, if we're merciful, sometimes we're made fun of. Sometimes it's hard to be impartial. We have to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us so that these harassments don't provoke us to act the same way. We have to continue to ask--over and over and over again. As cliched as it sounds, we're a work in progress, much like our novels. Even when they're finished, published, displayed on the bookstore shelves, we can go through and find things we wish we'd written differently, scenes we could have omitted completely. So it is with our good days. Often we lay in bed at night, think back on something we may have said or thought or felt...and feel regret.
How does James 3:13-18 speak to you? If it doesn't, then what's your favorite book of the Bible and why?
1 comment:
I agree, that's a beautiful passage. I also love Psalms, for its comforting nature, and Philippians because it's such a practical guide for daily Christian living.
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