17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine.
Reflection
Do you understand wisdom, God’s wisdom? To me, there is a big difference between wisdom and God’s wisdom. I think most of us think our wisdom is correct. But how many of us consider wisdom as, first pure, followed by peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy, good actions, fair and genuine.
That’s God’s wisdom.
Wisdom is an action word.
Imagine how our world would be if we used those words when thinking about wisdom.
The first-time wisdom is used in the New Testament is Matthew 11:19. In the NIV it reads: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
I think this wisdom is what we find in James 3:17. It was the wisdom Jesus used. Jesus came to save sinners. How pure was his wisdom when he came eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. But the religious people called him a glutton and a drunkard.
I’m not sure how peaceful of a time they had, but they had a good time with Jesus and found him to be gentle and filled with mercy, good actions, fair and genuine. And also, peaceful.
I don’t want my brand of wisdom. I want Jesus’.
by Rick Reed
For Pondering and Prayer
How important is it for us to have God’s wisdom, and not the wisdom of the world. Maybe then we can become a peace-loving community.
Prayer: Almighty God, help us to want your wisdom. Help us to want to be pure, peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. Amen.
