James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a (NRSV)
Read James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a on biblegateway.com
Verse 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. Verse 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Verse 15Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. Verse 16For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. Verse 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. Verse 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Chapter 4Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? Verse 2You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. Verse 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Verse 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Verse 8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Devotion
Did you read the Bible passage? I will pause here to give you time to read it… OK, are you back now? What more could one say? The words present a beautiful picture of Christ-like service. No need to explain or add extra words – instead let us pray:
Most gracious God, I am hardly gentle or wise. In almost every case my heart seeks me before others. I am not gentle toward other drivers, nor toward those who take too much time in grocery lines. I want people to agree with me, rather than to hear their point of view. So often, I am not wise in my choices. Indeed, who is wise and understanding among us?
It is even difficult to draw near to you. Perhaps in your grace you would draw me near to you. I would like that. Draw me near for the sake of the cross, for the sake of Jesus who gave and never took, who draws near and never rejects. Amen.,