James 3:17-18 NKJV
Matthew 26:36-52
Luke 22:51
James 1:5-6 NKJV
Colossians 3:16 NKJV
James Series
I am constantly amazed by how very much God loves us!
Not only did He sent His Son to earth, He followed up by sending His Holy Spirit to ALL who turn to Him. I think that’s a pretty amazing promise and plan!
In James 3:17-18, he makes it clear that part of the plan includes a promise that when we have the Spirit as our guide, we can also possess the wisdom that comes from above. James wrote about that wisdom and said, “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. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
This wisdom, this Godly wisdom is filled with peace, mercy, and righteousness. Reading and studying that scripture causes me to pause and think about how Jesus turned every difficult situation into a time of peace, mercy, and righteousness.
The night before Jesus was taken before Roman authorities and tried, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying. He took some disciples with him and while He was praying about what was going to happen the next day, the disciples fell asleep…three times (Matthew 26:36-46).
Then His disciple Judas came to the garden with chief priests and elders and he kissed Jesus (telling everyone He was Jesus). The guards seized Jesus and in Matthew 26:51, one of the disciples who had been praying with Jesus grabbed a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest. Jesus immediately told his disciple to put away the sword (verse 52). We know from the same account in Luke 22:51 that Jesus healed the ear as if it had never been severed.
Even in His most difficult hour, Jesus stepped into a horrible situation and offered peace, mercy, and righteousness. Jesus knew they came to arrest Him. He knew they were taking Him to be tried and crucified, but being God, He offered peace, mercy, and righteousness. They offered Him death, but He offered Godly Wisdom.
In James 1:5-6 WE learn, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
James teaches us that we can have this same wisdom and God will give it liberally and without any disappointment. James promises God WILL give it! But, James then tells us that when we ask we must not doubt that God will give it.
At one point in my life I wondered how to ask without doubting. I struggled with that question. As I struggled and prayed I realized that the answer could be found by thinking about the character of Jesus. I realized that the opposite of doubt was confidence, bold confidence. James was telling us to not go to God wondering and afraid if God would answer. He is telling us to go before God boldly and know that God hears us and will more definitely give us what we ask.
Just like Jesus in the Garden boldly touched the ear of the high priest and restored it, we are to go to God boldly and ask for His wisdom. After all…it’s already been promised!
We are also told to be intentional about using God’s wisdom. In Colossians 3:16 we learn, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Let God’s wisdom dwell IN you richly as you teach and interact with one another. Even when we sing and offer grace to each other, we are to let God’s wisdom come.
When He came, Jesus turned negative situations into positive results because of Godly wisdom. We also have an opportunity to offer restoration and forgiveness when the situation arises. We can take the wisdom from above and restore it in love with God’s wisdom by offering peace, mercy, and righteousness.
And, as always, in any situation we encounter, when we do not know what to do or how to respond, we can ask God and wait. The ultimate advantage is that God can look forward into our future. Since God is Omnipresent (present everywhere in time) when we pray for God’s wisdom, we have the advantage of His enduring presence!
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: use God’s Wisdom
If you have or have not asked God for wisdom, ask for it today. Open your hands and receive the gift of God’s wisdom…and be sure to thank God for the gift!
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney.com
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