Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 25
Thursday


WHERE CAN
WISDOM BE
FOUND?

READ:
James 3:13-17
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If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask of
God. __James 1:5
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Wisdom is the beauty of holiness. James says wisdom is reasonable; flexible; forgiving; peaceful; caring; given to friendly visits, small acts of courtesy, and kind words. It is humble, transparent, simple, gentle, and gracious to the core (James 3:17).

Where can wisdom be found: It comes from heaven (1:5). "Wisdom," wrote Charles Spurgeon, "is a beauty of life that can only be produced by God's workmanship in us."

It's good to ask from time to time: "Am I growing in wisdom?" after all, life is relentlessly dynamic. We're either growing sweeter and wiser as the days go by, or we're growing into foolish or even sour-faced curmudgeons. Into what are we growing?

It's never too late to begin growing in wisdom. God loves us with an ardent, intense affection that can deliver us from our foolishness if we yield ourselves to Him. His love can make the most difficult nature into a miracle of astonishing beauty. It may hurt a little and it may take a while, but God relentlessly seeks our transformation. When we ask, His wisdom will begin to rise in us and pour itself out to others.

We have this promise: "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 [you]" (1:5). __David roper

``````````````Lord, please put an end to our foolishness and```````````````
`````````````turn our hearts toward the wisdom that comes````````````````
``````````````only from You. We ask You now to take our``````````````````
``````````````lives and transform them into Your likeness.`````````````````
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True wisdom begins and ends with God.

******************Today's Bible Reading __ James 3:13-17*********************

13 Who is wise and
understanding among you?
Let him show by good
conduct that his works are
done in the meekness of
wisdom. 14 But if you have
bitter envy and self-seeking
in your hearts, do not boast
and lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom does not
descend from above, but is
earthly, sensual, demonic.

16 For where envy and self-
seeking exist, confusion and
every evil thing are there.

17 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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

According to James, wise people are humble and not motivated
by jealousy or self-centerdness (vv.13-14). They are "pure,"
characterized by honesty and integrity; "peaceable," maintaining
harmonious relationships with others; "gentle," mindful of others'
feelings, and "willing to yield," because they're open to reason.
"Full of mercy," they willingly help those in need," without partiality
and without hypocrisy" (v.17). Wise people aren't measured by
how much they know, but by how well they live (v.13). Wisdom
is demonstrated by character not intelligence; the contents of the
heart not the heart. According to Solomon, the wisest man on earth,
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of
the Holy One is understanding" (Prov. 9-10).