Works Done With Gentleness

And Born Of Wisdom

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

Have you ever been in a store, and from the next aisle you hear a child wailing? You think the end of the world is near, but it is just a child wanting to have its way. It is not so much different from the demands we attempt to place on God. We want something. We whine about it. We may get it and find out it is not what we really wanted and so we cry again.

The thoughts of God are not our own. He has a time and a place for everything. Have you asked God for wisdom to know what is right? Have you asked God what He wants done? Have you asked God for the will to do what He wants done? We are all children of God and that is how we should pray. If God doesn’t give us what we ask for, we can be sure that He has something far better.

Our Daily Bread – November 1, 2008