Living in the Spirit
September 17, 2015

Scripture Reading: James 3:3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. –James 3:13-18

Change our attitudes and we change our lives. Our world is caught up in an epidemic of envy and selfish ambition. When I watch the evening news, or morning, I see adults, whether they are our leaders or just common people, acting like two year olds throwing tantrums trying to establish their individuality. What has made us so restless, so self-engaged? Why do we feel so powerless when we claim to serve the omnipotent and omnipresent God? A quote I find most compelling is this statement by Stanley Hauerwas:

Never think that you need to protect God. Because anytime you think you need to protect God, you can be sure you are worshipping an idol.*

 I do not know about you, but I can tell you that I am incapable of being the person God wants me to be without God’s wisdom from above talked about in this scripture. The love of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit are essential to that wisdom from above. It is when I take my life out of synch with God, I find myself wanting to kick and scream like a two year old’s tantrum. For us adults such tantrums usually come out as bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts.

 I would encourage you this morning to mediate on the last two sentences of this scripture.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

 Claim them and incorporate them into your way of being. I promise, you will experience that harvest of righteousness sown in peace. Actually it doesn’t matter what I promise you. God promises you such peace.

Prayer: Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To Thy precious, bleeding side.** Amen.

*http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/310763-never-think-that-you-need-to-protect-god-because-anytime

**From the Chorus of Draw Me Nearer by Fanny Crosby found at http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Draw_Me_Nearer_Crosby/

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved