Ready...set....you bet!
Here is our final blog on the wisdom passage in James chapter 3. Finally, we get to some good news!
As human folks we have ample access to "wisdom from below"...we all naturally possess this form of wisdom, and we share this wisdom with the world and demonic figures. Mankind has been uniquely created in the image of GOD and we are designed to be thinking creatures, with logical brains, that function to make multiple decisions each day....except our wisdom is tainted with our sin problems.
As CHRIST followers we have full access to "wisdom from above"...which is Kingdom thinking and Heaven's intelligence designed to help us deal righteously in our daily life happenings, including guiding us in our multiple decisions.
GOD does not force any of HIS children to "do things HIS way"...or employ HIS Wisdom..but HE does give us the choice, the entry way and the power to trade our thoughts for HIS thoughts, and our ways for HIS ways.
In the last teaching: 2 Kinds of WISDOM (part 2 wisdom from below)... we detailed what "wisdom from below" looks like, feels like, smells like and acts like...pretty much like me, most of the time.
Now we get the joy of exploring the alternative to "wisdom from below"...which is "WISDOM from above."
(and is always, hands-down the better choice!)
Read with me:
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
It should thrill our hearts to know, that as we take these "WISDOM from above" qualities apart and examine them...we have a choice, through CHRIST to exchange our wisdom for GOD's Wisdom! And, we possess inside of us, the HOLY SPIRIT power to do so!
1. Q. What is purity?
A. Cleanness, freshness, clarity, possessing no ulterior motives.
2. Q What does peaceable mean?
A. peace-loving, nonviolent, non-confrontational, easygoing, gentle, inoffensive, good-natured, even-tempered, friendly.
3. Q. What does gentle look like?
A. kind, tender, sympathetic, considerate, understanding, compassionate, benevolent.
4. Q. How about reasonable?
A. Having sound judgment, fair, sensible, logical, rational, level-headed.
5. Q. Full of mercy?
A. To treat others with compassion, disposition to be kind and forgiving.
6. Q. What do good fruits taste like?
A. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
7. Q. What does unwavering mean?
A. Steady, consistent, reliable, not showing partiality or discriminating against.
8. Q. And without hypocrisy?
A. Being willing to do what you ask others to do, not living a "double life."
GO back and re-read those definitions.
That is what WISDOM from above looks like.
And that is what we look like when we are wearing it.
James 1:5 tells us:
If any of you lacks wisdom (from above), you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
"WISDOM from above" won't come easy. It isn't the natural thing to do. The world will steer us otherwise. The demons will convey their "wisdom from below" into our struggling brains, every chance they get. BUT now we know the better way. Now we see we have a choice. Now we get the options.
Any minute, of any day...we can cry out to GOD for HIS WISDOM from above...which HE will give us....and then.....HE turns around and tells us..... how pretty that WISDOM looks.... on us!
Here is our final blog on the wisdom passage in James chapter 3. Finally, we get to some good news!
As human folks we have ample access to "wisdom from below"...we all naturally possess this form of wisdom, and we share this wisdom with the world and demonic figures. Mankind has been uniquely created in the image of GOD and we are designed to be thinking creatures, with logical brains, that function to make multiple decisions each day....except our wisdom is tainted with our sin problems.
As CHRIST followers we have full access to "wisdom from above"...which is Kingdom thinking and Heaven's intelligence designed to help us deal righteously in our daily life happenings, including guiding us in our multiple decisions.
GOD does not force any of HIS children to "do things HIS way"...or employ HIS Wisdom..but HE does give us the choice, the entry way and the power to trade our thoughts for HIS thoughts, and our ways for HIS ways.
In the last teaching: 2 Kinds of WISDOM (part 2 wisdom from below)... we detailed what "wisdom from below" looks like, feels like, smells like and acts like...pretty much like me, most of the time.
Now we get the joy of exploring the alternative to "wisdom from below"...which is "WISDOM from above."
(and is always, hands-down the better choice!)
Read with me:
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
It should thrill our hearts to know, that as we take these "WISDOM from above" qualities apart and examine them...we have a choice, through CHRIST to exchange our wisdom for GOD's Wisdom! And, we possess inside of us, the HOLY SPIRIT power to do so!
1. Q. What is purity?
A. Cleanness, freshness, clarity, possessing no ulterior motives.
2. Q What does peaceable mean?
A. peace-loving, nonviolent, non-confrontational, easygoing, gentle, inoffensive, good-natured, even-tempered, friendly.
3. Q. What does gentle look like?
A. kind, tender, sympathetic, considerate, understanding, compassionate, benevolent.
4. Q. How about reasonable?
A. Having sound judgment, fair, sensible, logical, rational, level-headed.
5. Q. Full of mercy?
A. To treat others with compassion, disposition to be kind and forgiving.
6. Q. What do good fruits taste like?
A. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
7. Q. What does unwavering mean?
A. Steady, consistent, reliable, not showing partiality or discriminating against.
8. Q. And without hypocrisy?
A. Being willing to do what you ask others to do, not living a "double life."
GO back and re-read those definitions.
That is what WISDOM from above looks like.
And that is what we look like when we are wearing it.
James 1:5 tells us:
If any of you lacks wisdom (from above), you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
"WISDOM from above" won't come easy. It isn't the natural thing to do. The world will steer us otherwise. The demons will convey their "wisdom from below" into our struggling brains, every chance they get. BUT now we know the better way. Now we see we have a choice. Now we get the options.
Any minute, of any day...we can cry out to GOD for HIS WISDOM from above...which HE will give us....and then.....HE turns around and tells us..... how pretty that WISDOM looks.... on us!