Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
James 3:l3
The wisdom of the Christian is exhibited by two things. First, the deeds the Believer performs are an opportunity to show Godly wisdom to those outside the faith. An understanding Christian who serves God by serving others is a wonderful example of Christ’s love and grace.
Also, the Christian who exhibits humility is a wise convert. Wisdom and comprehension are revealed by the Believer through their actions. May we live with wisdom and understanding each and every day.
Serving Jesus should be a burning desire within the life of a Christian. We are called, commissioned, and sent to serve Christ through serving others. This post will deal with concrete reasons we can and should serve Jesus every day. Why should we serve?
*He loves us. Christ loves us, therefore, we ought to serve Him. His love was manifested to us when were at our worst. Shouldn’t we be willing to give Him our best?
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:8-11
*We should also minister to others because it is worth the cost. Service is never easy. We would much rather be served than serve our fellow humans. In the end, attending to the needs of others will cost us. However, it also gives us blessing, strength, and joy knowing that when we love others we are following in Christ’s footsteps. Serving Jesus is always worth the effort.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
*Finally, let us serve out of our growing love for Christ. Giving ourselves to others is an expression of our love for God. Let us serve Him because we love Him.
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will. Psalm 103:21
And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1 John 4:21
Dear Believer, commit to serving Jesus this week. After all, it’s the least that we can do!
11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
James 3:11-12
One of the great temptations that Christians face is that of hypocrisy. Believers, of all people, should strive to make sure that our testimony of Christ’s salvation matches up with our daily living. When the two are misaligned, God’s people are exposed to ridicule and are in danger of being ignored by lost people and the world alike. May God help His people!
While Christians do sin from time to time, it is imperative for all the converted to practice personal holiness and allow their “walk” to line up with their “talk.” Sin should be the exception in the life of a believer and not the rule.
“He has risen!” (Luke 24:6) That simple, powerful phrase changed the course of history and eternity at once. Jesus death, burial, and resurrection had been predicted throughout His ministry. And now it was fulfilled just as He had said. He was no longer dead, but alive forevermore.
The resurrection is the heart of the Christian faith. Without it, Paul tells us our “faith is vain and we are yet (still) in our sins.” (1st Corinthians 15:17) The resurrection, though an audacious claim, proved the veracity and truthfulness of the Messiah. It serves as verifiable evidence that everything He said was truth and that He was indeed the very Son of God.
What a difference the resurrection of Christ makes in our lives. Without it, we are lost and hopeless. Through the finished work of Christ, we are brought near to God through the wonder of reconciliation. (2nd Corinthians 5:18-19) The resurrection gives us “the hope that our sins are paid for (Romans 4:25), death has been defeated (Hebrews 2:14), and the hope of eternal life when we repent and turn to Christ, accepting what He has done for us.”[1]
How should we as believers respond to this hope? I would imagine that there would be many responses, but praise and sharing are two that come to mind. Our worship and praise should be centered on all that Christ has accomplished for us and in us through His completed work of sacrifice and resurrection.
Given that we have received so much, how can we not share it? Those early disciples centered their witness on Christ’s death and resurrection. We should do no less today.
As the Easter Season draws near, don’t forget the cross. Let us not forget that Christ took upon Himself our sin and shame while he dwelt upon the cross. He didn’t deserve to be there, yet, He willingly gave His life for the redemption of our sin.
This Easter Season, look deeply at the cross. Jesus endured the shame and disgrace that was rightly ours. Let us never forget the remarkable love that Christ revealed to sinners as He died for the sins of all.
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died;
My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
But You, LORD, remain forever, And Your name remains to all generations.
Psalm 102:12
**Responsive
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
Isaiah 58:8-9
**Communicative
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions andin many ways,2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.
Hebrews 1:1-2
**Active
God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
Hebrews 2:4
**Loving
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.
James 3:7-10
These verses reveal two main points of instruction for James. First, the Apostle teaches us that we have great difficulty in controlling our own tongue. Humans have been able to tame and subdue creatures on land and animals in the sea. Even so, human beings have a very arduous time controlling their speech. Words spoken by people have destroyed relationships, resulted in murders, and caused wars. The tongue no can tame!
Second, James tells us this should not be case with Believers. It is inconceivable that the same mouth could produce blessings to God and curses on fellow image bearers. Yet, we see this phenomena at work in others and also in ourselves.
Let us strive to control our words. We will be judged by our speech. May God help us to remember the warnings of the Apostle.
A Believers identity in Christ means they are…………….
**Saved
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
**Sealed
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
Ephesians 1:13
**Sanctified
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
**Sent
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
James 3:5-6
The principle described here is simple yet profound. The precept taught here is this—small things can cause great damage. The veracity of this statement is unquestionable. And it is never truer than in the case of the tongue.
The human tongue, though one of the smallest parts of the body, can speak words that dishearten, destroy, and kill the spirit and vitality of others. Many a marriage, friendship, and relationship has been “set on fire” by damaging words. And destructive words have ended up decimating hearts and lives since Genesis 3.
Christians ought to mark their words carefully. Our conversation can bring life and help to others, but, it can also cause irreparable harm to those even that we love. Let us speak words of life and hope. May our talk be seasoned with grace and filled with love.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-7
Paul teaches the wonder of adoption in this passage. As Believers, we have been “adopted” into His family. He is our Heavenly Father and we are His adopted sons and daughters.
A few thoughts about adoption are in order today. First, adoption proceeds from redemption. Human beings are born into the slavery of sin. Sin rules us, controls us, and dominates us. We may be able to keep it at bay for a time, but, we can never conquer sin in our strength.
Christ redeems us from the curse of sin by taking the curse upon Himself. He paid the price for us so that we could be free and receive this adoption. Having been forgiven and restored to God through Christ Jesus, we are now a part of His family forever. Nothing can separate us from our Heavenly Father. Nothing.
Jesus is the cause of adoption. We would be an eternally lost cause without Christ. We have eternal life and the rights of son-ship because of the Savior. What a mighty God we serve!
Ultimately, we are free through this adoption that God grants to us. We are no longer a slave to sin, self, the world, or the devil. Instead, we have been set free to love God, love others, and serve Him all of our days.
Christians have been adopted into God’s eternal family. We are set free from the past and able to serve Him for the rest of our lives. And it’s all because of Jesus.
mrtonyfrench 