Brotherly Wisdom

Most of us have heard about Jesus.  He is God in the flesh.  He came into the world in miraculous ways.  Jesus lived a perfect life as a humble servant.  Jesus escaped all the traps of sin.  God demonstrated his love by sending Jesus to die.  God’s plan included the payment for all the debt of sin by crucifying and raising Jesus from the dead.  Now, we can be one with Jesus and cleansed from all our sin.  Our response to this plan should be to bow before God.
Is there something we might learn from those who were closest to Jesus? One of Jesus’ siblings was James. As we look at the amazing gift of Jesus, we have to ask ourselves: “How do I respond?” We simply can’t witness without a response.

James outlines some very practical ways to appropriately respond to this gift. With our eyes focused on Jesus, these seemingly impossible responses become possible with the power of the Holy Spirit.

James 1:
2: Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds
5: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach
21: Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
27: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 2:
1: My brothers,[a] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
17: So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
23: and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

James 3:
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Continue in your reading through the book of James. With all of this brotherly and Godly wisdom, let’s continue our focus on Jesus and share what great things He is doing in our lives with those who do not yet believe.

Praying blessings your way this week.
-BFL