Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from James 3:1-12.

 

“¹ Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.  ² For we all stumble in many ways.  If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.  ³ Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.  ⁴ Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.  ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. 

 

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity;  the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.  ⁷ For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.  ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue;  it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;  ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  ¹¹ Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?  ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs?  Nor can salt water produce fresh.”  James 3:1-12.

 

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First, let us consider the damage that can be done by the tongue.  “… See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity;  the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”  Verses 5 and 6.  “… it is a restless evil andfull of deadly poison … and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;”  Verses 8 and 9.

                                                           

Consider how many deeds of the flesh are performed by the tongue.  “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.  (Those deeds of the flesh performed by the tongue include, but are not limited to, those deeds of the flesh highlighted above in bold italic font.  We will also cover more in the following Proverbs.)

But, there is hope!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”  Galatians 5:22-26.

Consider how many Proverbs speak of the tongue and contrast between the good and the bad that can be done by the tongue. 

“³ From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
³ The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”  Proverbs 12:2-3.

“In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.”  Proverbs 14:3.

“A trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a false witness utters lies.”  Proverbs 14:5.

“A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous.”  Proverbs 14:25.         

“¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.”  Proverbs 15:1-2.

“A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.”  Proverbs 15:4.

“The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.”  Proverbs 15:7.

“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the slow to anger calms a dispute.”  Proverbs 15:18. 

“A man has joy in an apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely word!”  Proverbs 15:23.

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”  Proverbs 15:28.

“Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.”  Proverbs 16:13.

“²³ The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Proverbs 16:23-24.         

“A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.”  Proverbs 16:28.

“Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.”  Proverbs 17:1.

“A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.”  Proverbs 17:10.

“He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.”  Proverbs 17:20.      

“²⁷ He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”  Proverbs 17:27-28.

“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”  Proverbs 18:4.

“⁶ A fool’s lips bring strife,
And his mouth calls for blows.
⁷ A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.”  Proverbs 18:6-7.

“ He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.”  Proverbs 18:13.         

“With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.”  Proverbs 18:20.

“A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will perish.”  Proverbs 19:9.

“¹⁹ He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
²⁰ He who curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will go out in time of darkness.”  Proverbs 20:19-20.

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.”  Proverbs 21:23. 

“¹¹ Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
¹² Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”  Proverbs 25:11-12.

“A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.”  Proverbs 26:28.

“¹⁴ He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be reckoned a curse to him.
¹⁵ A constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious woman are alike;”  Proverbs 27:14-15.

“A man who flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.”  Proverbs 29:5.         

“Scorners set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away anger.”  Proverbs 29:8.

“A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back.”  Proverbs 29:11.

“An angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.”  Proverbs 29:22.

“⁸ Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”  Proverbs 31:8-9.   

In conclusion, we will end with Proverbs 31:26.  Although this verse is within the chapter that describes an “Excellent Wife”, it summarizes well how we all should use our tongue. 

“She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”  Proverbs 31:26. 

Today’s devotion comes from James 2:14-26.

 

“¹⁴ What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works?  Can that faith save him?  ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

 

¹⁸ But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works;  show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”  ¹⁹ You believe that God is one.  You do well;  the demons also believe, and shudder.  ²⁰ But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?  ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?  ²² You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;  ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.  ²⁴ You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.  ²⁵ In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?  ²⁶ For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”  James 2:14-26.

 

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When we read Scripture, we may first rightly think:  “What does this Scripture teach me about God?”  When we read today’s Scripture, we may first think of God, our Faithful Father.

                                     

                                           

When we read of Abraham offering Isaac in verse 32, we think of God offering His only begotten Son for our salvation in John 3:16.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

                                       

When we read of the need to clothe and feed others in verses 15 and 16, we think of God clothing and feeding us in Matthew 6:25-33.

                                

In summary, here is part of what the Heidelberg Catechism teaches us about our Faithful Father.

                      

Question 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

                                           

Answer.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage;  for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.  

                                      

Today’s devotion comes from James 2:8-13.

 

“⁸ If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.  ⁹ But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.  ¹¹ For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.”  Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  ¹² So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.  ¹³ For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy;  mercy triumphs over judgment.”  James 2:8-13. 

 

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“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”  Matthew 5:7

 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law:  justice and mercy and faithfulness;  but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”  Matthew 23:23

 

“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”  And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.”  Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”  Luke 10:36-37.

 

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”  James 3:17

                                  

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.  And have mercy on some, who are doubting;  save others, snatching them out of the fire;  and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”  Jude 1:20-23.

                             

As sinners deeply indebted to our Lord, we are eager to grab forgiveness and mercy.  But, to those fellow sinners who offend us, we are reluctant to forgive and show mercy.  Today’s Scripture reminds us of Jesus’ teaching of the importance of forgiveness and His parable in Matthew 18:21-35.  

 

“²¹ Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?”  ²² Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

                                         

²³ “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.  ²⁴ When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  ²⁵ But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.  ²⁶ So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’  ²⁷ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 

                              

²⁸ But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii;  and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’  ²⁹ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’  ³⁰ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.  ³¹ So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. ³² Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  ³³ Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’  ³⁴ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.  ³⁵ My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”  Matthew 18:21-35.

Today’s devotion comes from James 2:1-7.

 

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.  For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?  Listen, my beloved brethren:  did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?  But you have dishonored the poor man.  Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?  Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?”  James 2:1-7.

 

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Today’s Scripture reminds us that there was nothing attractive about us that motivated God to choose us for salvation.  We were “the poor of this world”.  Yet, God chose us to be “rich in faith and heir of the kingdom”.

 

When we consider “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, we can better understand that not only were we unattractive, we were “dead in sin” (Ephesians 2:1) and “hostile” to God (Colossians 1:21).

 

“¹⁰ as it is written,

Today’s devotion comes from James 1:21-27.

 

“²¹ Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.  ²² But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.  ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;  ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.  ²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will beblessed in what he does.

 

²⁶ If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  James 1:21-27.

 

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The Law of Liberty is the law of grace that God has given us all that we need for those good works.

                                

God has made us uniquely gifted with abilities to do certain good works.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

 

God has given us the will to do those good works.  And, God works within us to accomplish those good works.  “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:12-13.  God has even made us “zealous for good deeds“.  Titus 2:14.

 

We could forget what God has done for us or make excuses such as:  “If I do this good deed for him, he will either think I am patronizing him or expect me to continue to do it.”  Or, we could simply think:  “I will do it later.”  We could become a forgetful hearer.

 

“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”  Verse 25.  “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”  John 13:17.

 

Have you ever seen a dog or horse run at full speed?  They are exerting every ounce of energy and running as fast as they can, but they seem to smile with joy.  They were born to run.

 

We too were born to run.  We are filled with great joy when we do those good works God created us to do.

Today’s devotion comes from James 1:19-20.

 

“This you know, my beloved brethren.  But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”  James 1:19-20.

 

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Beware of tempting thoughts of “righteous indignation”:  “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”  Verse 20.  “This you know, my beloved brethren.  But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger”.  Verse 19.  

 

There may be times to be angry.  But those times are “the exceptions and not the general rule”.  Today’s Scripture does not state:  “Never be angry.”  But rather, it states:  Be “slow to anger”.

 

There may be other times in Scripture when anger was expressly commanded, but I could only find one time.  “Be angry, and yet do not sin;  do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”  Ephesians 4:26-27.

 

The general rule is “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”  The general rule is that “outbursts of anger” is one of the condemned deeds of the flesh.  Galatians 5:20.  

 

Notice the command to put aside “all” anger in the following two Scriptures.  “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”  Ephesians 4:31  “But now you also, put them all aside:  anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.”  Colossians 3:8

 

There are severe warnings about the consequences of anger in the Scripture.  Here are two examples. 

 

“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court;  and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court;  and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”  Matthew 5:22

 

 

 

“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.”  Proverbs 10:19.

 

“He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”  Proverbs 17:27-28.

 

 

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

 

The Spirit of God produces this peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control within us.  “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh (outbursts of anger).”  Galatians 5:16. 

Today’s devotion comes from James 1:17-18.

 

“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.  In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”  James 1:17-18.

 

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Today’s Scripture teaches that with God, “there is no variation or shifting shadow”.  Verse 17.  God does not change.

 

In comparison, we are fickle.  We change.  We like people one day and may give them gifts, then later we dislike them and distance ourselves from them and say bad things about them and may even hurt them.

 

But, God is not fickle.  God does not change.  His elect remain His beloved to the very end, and He preserves them so that they obtain His good gift of salvation.

 

Despite our election, we sin greatly and often.  But, God does not throw us away.  “For I, the LORD, do not change;  therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”  Malachi 3:6

 

Article 8.  Thus, it is not in consequence of their own merits, or strength, but of God’s free mercy, that they do not totally fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally in their backslidings;  which, with respect to themselves, is not only possible, but would undoubtedly happen;  but with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since his counsel cannot be changed, nor his promise fail, neither can the call according to his purpose be revoked, nor the merit, intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated or obliterated.  Canons of Dordt – FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

“In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”  Verse 18. 

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:12-13.

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5.

Today’s devotion comes from James 1:13-16.

 

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”;  for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin;  and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”  James 1:13-16.

 

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“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”  1 John 2:16

 

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  Galatians 6:7-8.

 

“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

 

“What then?  Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?  May it never be!  Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.  I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.  For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

                                         

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed?  For the outcome of those things is death.  But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:15-23.

Today’s devotion comes from James 1:9-12.

 

“But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;  and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.  For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass;  and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed;  so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

 

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;  for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”  James 1:9-12.

 

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“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.  And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God;  for He has prepared a city for them.”  Hebrews 11:13-16.

 

“But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none;  and those who weep, as though they did not weep;  and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice;  and those who buy, as though they did not possess;  and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it;  for the form of this world is passing away.”  1 Corinthians 7:29-31.

 

“A voice says, “Call out.”
Then he answered, “What shall I call out?”
All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
When the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.”  Isaiah 40:7-8. 

 

“See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.  For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.  And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”  This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;  for our God is a consuming fire.”  Hebrews 12:25-29.

 

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;  in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet;  but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:8-14.

Today’s devotion comes from James 1:5-8.

                                 

“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.  But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  James 1:5-8.

                               

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Let us start off with the well known story of Solomon in 1 Kings 3:7-13.                                      

 

Solomon’s Request

“Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child;  I do not know how to go out or come in.  Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.  So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your peopleto discern between good and evil.  For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

God’s Response

^“It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.  God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words.  Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.  I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”  1 Kings 3:7-13.

Next, let us look at some Scriptures from the Book of Proverbs.

“¹ My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
² Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
³ For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
⁴ If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
⁵ Then you will discern the fear of the Lord
And discover the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
⁸ Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
⁹ Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.”  Proverbs 2:1-9.

“¹⁰ Take my instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
¹¹ “For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.