Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Al Campbell:
James 3:13-18 (NIV)
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.17 But 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. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
I find that I am influenced by the people I hang out with. Do you ever notice that? When I hang out with gracious, joyous people it’s easier to see the world with grace and joy. When I hang out with critical, hard-hearted friends, I tend to join in the cynicism. What we take in can impact our behavior and attitude. So, what are we to do? We begin in the presence of our God, spending time with the one whom we seek to imitate most! We learn that “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere”. (James 3:17) We intentionally seek to be influenced by God and we practice his wisdom in all we do. Let’s practice this together, this day and in all the days to come.