The Gentleness of Wisdom

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

James 2:13-18

We all think we are smart, but this scripture warns us to consider our motives when we are trying to get things done.  The question is:  Are we working for our own gain or are working to best serve the needs of others?   

This is not to say, that we are not to consider our own needs, but to consider if our wants and desires are detrimental to other people.  Sometimes it is a matter of how we go about getting things done.

That being said, we are to strive to be peaceable, gentle, reasonable and show mercy to foster a spirit of peace in our actions. 

In this way, we further the work of the Gospel by making peace. 

God's Promises Are For You

This is what the Lord says, He who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
‘Do not fear, Jacob My servant,
And Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 

For I will pour water on the thirsty land
And streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring,
And My blessing on your descendants;
And they will spring up among the grass
Like poplars by streams of water.’

Isaiah 44:2-4 

All of God's promises are for you.   

When we asked Jesus to be our Savior, He took away our punishment for sin and turning away from God, but God left for us all His promises and blessings from both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  

That is why we can be encouraged every day by reading the Bible.  God's promises are to us and for us, so that we will not be discouraged but be uplifted in our faith knowing that no matter what God is on our side. 

Know this:  God will pour out His blessings on you and your family. 

We Are Blameless Before God

 

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Colossians 1:21-23

This puts the kibosh on thinking we are not good enough to serve God.  No one is perfect and everyone has done wrong things.  Yet, in spite of this, God loves us and sent His Son, Jesus to reconcile us to Him.  God holds us blameless.  

We are freed from our pasts, and are party to the promises of God and are to continue steadfast in the hope of the gospel. 

The Power Of The Gospel

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

But many of those who heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Acts 4:1-4

When Peter and John set out to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they had no idea what would happen. They believed in the power of their message.

Even when they were arrested and put in jail, the power of the message took hold and many came to believe in Jesus.

We should not grow discouraged because the outward signs may indicate that the message of the Gospel is being rejected, because it is not the outward signs which reveal the power of the Gospel, but the inward changes in the hearts of men, women and children. 

The power of the Gospel is unstoppable. 

 

God Understands Us

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:15-16

When everyone else runs away - God runs toward us.

God understands that we are humans and that we are weak and needy.  But God is strong and forgiving and will always stand with us to strengthen us and help us through the tough times.

Don't give up.  Give God a chance to work for you and be comforted by His grace.

  

God's Blessings Are Chasing You

 

“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.  All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God:

“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

 "Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock.

“Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out...."

Deuteronomy 28:1-6 

God promises His blessing will chase us and come upon us and overtake us.  

God's blessings are chasing us!   

How about that! 

Who You Were, Who You Are Now

 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:1-10 

Think about this.  God took us as His own not because we were good, but because He is merciful.

And, His mercy is so great that we are now worthy to be seated in heavenly places with Jesus in the ages to come.

We belong to God and He to us.