Wise Mercy

Toward a New Creation
Life on God's Terms

Living under God's Mercy

James 3:13-18 

Live Well, Live Wisely

^13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

^17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

For Reflection

Wisdom is being comfortable in your own skin.  God  made you in God's own image.  You are holy. 

Why then succumb to the pressures of conformity?  Why envy?  Why underestimate your human value?  Measure yourself by the merciful eyes of God. 

Wisdom is civility in the face of incivility. Wisdom is gentleness in the face of vulnerability.  Wisdom is judgment without becoming judgmental.  Wisdom is humility in the face of bombast. Wisdom is courage in the face of fearfulness.  Wisdom is obedience to God's will for humankind.

Pray

for wisdom.