COMMENTS
Remember my comment a couple of days ago
about the Lord speaking the same message to me from many different
sources? Well, today’s sermon was on the
same basic thing that my recent blogs have discussed: lives that live Jesus Christ.
NOTES
Okay, last time we discussed Philippians
2:1-2 and Ephesians 5:8—being like-minded with Jesus and being light to those
around us. Let’s see what else our
Savior has to say….
“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.” (James 3:13)
This is the next verse in our
journey. I see the theme of being
like-minded with Christ continued here.
Isn’t He wise? Understanding? Humble?
Didn’t Jesus live a “good life”? How
is a “good life” defined? I’ve always
heard about “living the good life”; but that usually referred to wealth and
fame. That’s not what James is saying
here. Jesus’ good life was materially
poor but spiritually rich. It was not
self-serving but selfless. If I live the
good life referred to here, it will lead to the next words in the verse: deeds done in the humility that comes from
wisdom. Isn’t that interesting? Godly wisdom doesn’t lead to arrogance; it
leads to humility.
“Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above
yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests
of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
Do you think God values humility? I’d say He does! Paul tells us the same thing in Philippians
that we just read in James. Don’t be
selfish or conceited! Put others ahead
of yourself (as Jesus did)! Be humble! I remember something I heard as a child—probably
in church, although I don’t really remember where it came from. It was a little saying that went like
this, "Jesus first. Others second. Me third."
That pretty much says it all, doesn’t it.
“Do
not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful
for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who
listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)
Ouch.
Those words don’t just mean that I’m not to be a gossip. “Don’t let ANY unwholesome talk come out of
[my] mouth.” Gossip isn’t the only thing
that’s unwholesome. What about those
times when I get up on the “wrong side of the bed” and am just (to be honest!)
grumpy. I gripe about small things. I’m unappreciative of small kindnesses. I’m not that way all the time, but I shouldn’t
be that way at all, ever. When those words
come out of my mouth, I’m NOT building other people up; I’m tearing them down. And if anyone else hears, they’re torn down,
too, because it’s not uplifting to listen to that stuff! Referring to James once again, he says:
“The
tongue also is a fire….It corrupts the whole person....All kinds of animals…have
been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue.” (James 3:6-8)
But
don’t despair! Jesus tames it if we let
Him. In fact, we can accomplish NOTHING
of what we’ve been discussing in our own strength. That’s why Jesus is our Redeemer and our
Savior. He is our source, our strength,
and our victory!
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