March 2 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 61—James 3:14–18

¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.... ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Devotional:

It's helpful to notice that the wisdom from above expresses itself in three directions: toward God, toward others, and toward self. Toward God, "the wisdom from above is first pure …" If you are in the grip of the wisdom from above, then you love God sincerely. You live for him fervently and righteously. You purify yourself, as he is pure.

Second, toward other people, "the wisdom from above is … peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial…" True wisdom is not merely peace-loving; it is positively peace-making; it is "peaceable." It is like our Lord Jesus, who says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matt. 5:9). If you are under the influence of Jesus, then you'll seek to make peace by being "gentle" and "open to reason." You'll also be "full of mercy and good fruits." You'll display the faith in action that James 2 stresses—especially in mercy to the needy. But you won't stop at mercy. True wisdom is full of all other "good fruits," such as "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22–23). True wisdom is also "impartial." This is the same word that we saw in chapter 2—without partiality. True wisdom will not show favoritism.

Third, toward self, "the wisdom from above is … sincere." If you are gripped by the wisdom from above, then you won't wear masks with other people. You won't need to because you'll have nothing to hide. You'll never have to play roles. You won't need to conceal your real aims and motives because you are sincere. The wisdom from the world, the flesh, and the devil will turn you into a chameleon. You'll have to act differently when you're with different people. But the wisdom from above will set you free to be yourself. It will give you integrity and set you free to be the same inside and out, no matter who you're with.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5).

Click here for background on the author of Are You For Real?: Meditations in the Epistle of James for Secret or Family Worship.