Week of September 20, 2009, James 3:13-4:8
One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from James, chapter 3, verse 13 to chapter 4, verse 8. James gives wise counsel about wisdom and God’s presence:
James 3
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
James 4
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Dear Lord, I praise You. I need and want the wisdom that comes from heaven, the wisdom that is pure, and peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, the wisdom that is impartial and sincere. Lord, rid me of any envy and selfish ambition, of anything that may lead to fights and quarrels, give me humility, and bring me a great desire for spiritual things, for Your presence.
Help me, Jesus, to submit to You, to seek and come near You. Thanks for Your promise in Scripture that says that when we come near to You, You will come near to us.
Help me to purify my heart, to purify my motives, to turn from sin and friendship with the world, and seek You and come to You above all else. Thanks, Jesus, for Your grace and mercy, Your peace and strength, and Your presence with me always. Amen.
May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to Himself;
May the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in His service;
May the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls;
May the fire of the Holy Spirit bring comfort, guidance and fervency;
And may the blessing of the almighty and most merciful God - Creator, Word and eternal Holy Spirit - be upon us and remain with us always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
You may leave a message or prayer request by emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May you experience God’s presence with you now and always.
James 3
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
James 4
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Dear Lord, I praise You. I need and want the wisdom that comes from heaven, the wisdom that is pure, and peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, the wisdom that is impartial and sincere. Lord, rid me of any envy and selfish ambition, of anything that may lead to fights and quarrels, give me humility, and bring me a great desire for spiritual things, for Your presence.
Help me, Jesus, to submit to You, to seek and come near You. Thanks for Your promise in Scripture that says that when we come near to You, You will come near to us.
Help me to purify my heart, to purify my motives, to turn from sin and friendship with the world, and seek You and come to You above all else. Thanks, Jesus, for Your grace and mercy, Your peace and strength, and Your presence with me always. Amen.
May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to Himself;
May the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in His service;
May the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls;
May the fire of the Holy Spirit bring comfort, guidance and fervency;
And may the blessing of the almighty and most merciful God - Creator, Word and eternal Holy Spirit - be upon us and remain with us always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
You may leave a message or prayer request by emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May you experience God’s presence with you now and always.
posted by Moments of Peace at 11:46 AM
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