Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from James 3:13-18.

 

“¹³ Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.  ¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.  ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.  ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  ¹⁸ And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”  James 3:13-18. 

 

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There is a sharp contrast between earthly wisdom (which is jealous and selfish) and heavenly wisdom which is “pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy”.  Verse 17.

 

There is also a sharp contrast between those who seek that earthly wisdom and those who seek that heavenly wisdom.  Those who are jealous and selfish care only for themselves, and they sow and reap “disorder and every evil thing”.  Verse 16.  “Those who make peace” care for others, and they sow and reap peace and righteousness.  Verse 18.

 

There is a sharp contrast between those who trust themselves and those who trust God.

 

To those who trust themselves:

“You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,
You have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors,”  Hosea 10:13.
 

To those who trust God:

“Sow with a view to righteousness,
Reap in accordance with kindness;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord
Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.”  Hosea 10:12.

                             

So, let us seek that “wisdom from above”.

 

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  James 1:17.  

 

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  James 1:5.