Today’s Verse – John 17:26
“I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” —John 17:26 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus reveals God to us. That’s John’s Gospel in a nutshell, and his clear message in John 1:1-18. Jesus even promised that as we love each other and obey him, he is present with us, reveals himself to us, and he and the Father make their home in us (John 14:21, 23). One of the reasons Jesus does this is so that we can know who God is and what is important to our Father. The most significant thing on Jesus’ heart in this prayer is that we share his love for one another. In this way, Jesus comes to life in us, is real to us, and makes his presence known through us. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Almighty God and loving Father, please fill me with your love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to honor you in the way I treat them and share the love of Christ in the way I interact with them and serve them. So, please bless me as I seek to be a more gracious child of your love. I pray this in Jesus’ name, so that I may become more like him in his love for your children. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
God’s New Creation Counts for Everything
Note from Jesus Dear Faithful Friend, I told My disciples in the last few hours before My crucifixion, “I don’t call you servants any longer; servants don’t know what the master is doing, but I have told you everything the Father has said to Me. I call you friends” (John 15:15). To some of My friends, I revealed deeper things in special revelation to give them the authority to teach the good news about Me in all of its simple truth. The apostle Paul was one of these special people. The Father revealed Me to Paul so that he could proclaim My story, share My grace, and bring My salvation to “outsider nations.” Paul didn’t learn this message from any mortal (Galatians 1:11-17; Galatians 2:1-10). He didn’t get the details of the gospel from the apostles or any other witnesses. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul was battling to preserve this authoritative message about the Father’s grace. The Galatians were trying to add Jewish practices to the gospel — practices established in the law given to Moses and other practices added by tradition. Paul was right in adamantly declaring that any gospel that added requirements to the gospel of grace received through faith is really no gospel at all (Galatians 1:6-9). Finding new life in Me and becoming a “new creation” come only from being “in” Me. Paul told the Corinthians: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV) Paul made it clear to the Galatians that this “new creation” happened through faith and was experienced in baptism. This new life could not come through any form of law-keeping or doings works of the law of Moses: So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29 NIV) During our continuing journey through the New Testament over the next few months, you will see time and again that people will try to add some additional requirement to My simple gospel. Thankfully, Paul never abandoned what the Father had revealed in him (Galatians 1:15-16): I AM the good news the world needs. I AM “the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT). So Paul reminded his Galatian brothers and sisters at both the beginning and the end of his letter that there is only one gospel, the one delivered to him from God about Me. Paul also reminded the Galatians that there is only one thing that ultimately matters: “God’s new creation is what counts, and it counts for everything.” Verses to Live As you read these seemingly unconnected passages from the beginning and the end of Galatians, remember what I said about one, simple, and transformational message. There is only one. That message finds its focus in Me. When I come into a person’s life, I make everything new. This change is what matters! Surely you are familiar with my personal history, with my dedication to the teachings and traditions of Judaism. I persecuted the church of God — in fact, I meant to destroy it. I excelled in the teachings of Judaism far above other Jewish leaders, and I was zealous to practice the ways of our ancestors. But God — Who set me apart even before birth and called me by His grace — chose, to His great delight, to reveal His Son in me so I could tell His story among the outsider nations. I didn’t confer with anyone right away, nor did I go to those who were already emissaries in Jerusalem. I went straight to Arabia and later returned to Damascus. After living this adventurous mission for three years, I made my way to Jerusalem and spent 15 days with Cephas, whom you know as Peter. But I didn’t see any emissary other than James, our Lord’s brother. (You can be certain that what I am offering you is an authentic account. Before God, it’s the whole truth — I wouldn’t lie.) Later I journeyed to Syria and Cilicia; and since I had spent so little time in Judea among the churches of the Anointed One, no one there could pick me out of a crowd. But stories of my call and mission preceded me: “The very man who wanted to kill us all is now preaching the faith he once labored to destroy.” And so they praised God for the miracle He did in my life. (Galatians 1:13-24) The troublemakers who are putting pressure on you to be circumcised are trying to impress the flesh. They want to avoid the persecution that comes from preaching the cross of the Anointed One, the Liberating King. But even those who receive circumcision can’t keep the law — although they think they can — and they hope to influence which way you go with your own skin so they can have bragging rights over your flesh. May I never put anything above the cross of our Lord Jesus the Anointed. Through Him, the world has been crucified to me and I to this world. Let me be clear: circumcision won’t save you — uncircumcision won’t either for that matter — for both amount to nothing. God’s new creation is what counts, and it counts for everything. May peace and mercy come to all of you who live by this rule and to the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:12-16) Response in Prayer Father, forgive me for the times I’ve added requirements to the simple, pure, and powerful gospel about Jesus. Thank You that Your gospel is so simple, clear,
Today’s Verse – Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. —Hebrews 13:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What do you do to welcome new neighbors into your neighborhood or apartment complex? How warmly do you personally welcome visitors at your church gatherings or in your Bible study group? When was the last time you invited someone new from your congregation over for dinner or included them in a gathering of your Christian friends? While some have the gift of hospitality, all of us need to be warm and open to folks we don’t know who have joined us for Christian worship, ministry, fellowship, or moved into our neighborhood and need new friends. Why not make a commitment to meet and welcome one new person each week? In a cold, impersonal world, we can make a huge difference in the lives of those seeking the shelter and grace of Jesus and his people. Our worship without hospitality is not authentic worship (Hebrews 12:28-29, 13:15-16). My Prayer… Father, please help me, and please help the fellowship of believers with whom I share my life so that we will all be more open and welcoming to others in our congregation and our daily lives. Help us love, include, and bless new people, those visiting, and those inquiring about Jesus and faith. Please use us to share your grace and provide them a Christian home and friendship. In Jesus’ name and for others to know his grace, I pray this. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Focusing on Prayer
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, Prayer is one of the most precious gifts you have received as the Father’s child! One of the reasons I sent the Holy Spirit to you was so that you would have His help in your prayer life (Romans 8:26-27). James began and ended his tract on living for the Father with straightforward teaching on prayer. I want you to notice several things about this teaching that are highlighted in bold for you in the verses below. However, the first truth about prayer you must know is this: prayer is rooted in the grace of your Father in heaven. I taught you to address your heavenly Father with the simple words, “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9). Your Father longs to give you good gifts. He longs to “grant all that you need” and “He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking”! Your Father longs to lift you “up from the floor of despair” and bring you lasting life! (See the underlined emphasis in the verses below.) In other words, prayer is first and foremost about your Father. Recognize that prayer is a gift of grace from your Father in heaven. Your prayers need to come from a heart fully yielded to Him. James also gives several other key truths that are connected to prayer, and that grow out of the following principles: Ask the Father — remember He longs to be gracious. Your request should come from an undivided heart; it should “be anchored by your single-minded commitment to God.” You should enlist righteous people, like your elders, to help you pray for your deepest needs. Your prayers should be offered in faith — remember, don’t doubt the Father longs to hear you. Your prayers should be rooted in the righteousness of your life. Prayers don’t need to be uttered with a lot of words or fancy language, but your heart needs to be intensely riveted on the Father as you pray. The focus of your intensity, when you pray, should be the Father, not the perfect choice of your words. Prayer is a great gift. Use this gift. Seek the Father. Come to Him out of a life lived for Him. He longs to be gracious to you. Verses to Live When I was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night I was betrayed, the soldiers and the crowd sent by the religious leaders knew where to find Me because going there was My regular practice (Luke 22:39-40; Luke 21:37). My request of the Father was specific and heartfelt — “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42 NIV). My surrender to His will was not new. I had prayed this prayer many times. I hope My example for you, along with the following words from James for you, will give you the direction and encouragement you need to pray with confidence to the Father Who loves you and longs to bless you. My desire is that you will seek godly people to join you in a confident prayer offered with intensity out of lives lived to honor the Father. (The bold highlights words about how you should pray and the underlining highlights the Father’s response to your prayers.) If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking. The key is that your request be anchored by your single-minded commitment to God. Those who depend only on their own judgment are like those lost on the seas, carried away by any wave or picked up by any wind. Those adrift on their own wisdom shouldn’t assume the Lord will rescue them or bring them anything. The splinter of divided loyalty shatters your compass and leaves you dizzy and confused. (James 1:5-8) Are any in your community suffering? They should pray. Are any celebrating? They should sing praises to God. Are any sick? They should call the elders of your church and ask them to pray. They will gather around and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. Prayers offered in faith will restore them from sickness and bring them to health. The Lord will lift them up from the floor of despair; and if the sickness is due to sin, then God will forgive their sins. So own up to your sins to one another and pray for one another. In the end, you may be healed. Your prayers are powerful when they are rooted in a righteous life. Remember Elijah? He was a man, no different from us. He prayed with great intensity asking God to withhold the rain; God answered his prayers and did not allow a single drop of rain to fall for three and a half years. It did not rain until Elijah prayed again for God to open the skies, when the rain came down and the earth produced a great crop. (James 5:13-18) Response in Prayer O Father, my Abba Father, thank You for the grace of prayer. Thank You for listening to both my words and my heart. I know that You long to hear my heart when I pray. I know that You have given me the blessed Holy Spirit to make my deepest longings, sighs, and groanings known to You. Forgive me when I pray without my focus on You. Forgive me for the times that I have prayed without the intensity of my heart longing to communicate with You. I especially ask that You hear my heart as I pray for several of my friends by name, friends who need Your grace, healing, and strength… In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2025, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations,
Today’s Verse – John 17:24
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. —John 17:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Wow, what an unbelievable collection of high-powered phrases of truth, promise, and prayer! We are a gift from the Father to Jesus. Jesus wants us to be with him in the glorious presence of God forever. Jesus wants us to see his glory and experience that glory. The Father has loved Jesus from before there was time, before the creation of the world. Think about these things. Ask God to show you how powerfully they reveal our importance to him as Jesus’ disciples. Dream of the day you will see him as he is in all of his glory, and he transforms us to become like him (1 John 3:1-3; Colossians 3:1-4). Now, let’s go live in our world based on the view God has of us. My Prayer… Almighty God and Abba Father, O, forgive me for my often mundane and earthbound view that I have of myself and your other children. Stir me through your Spirit to have a deeper appreciation of all of Jesus’ disciples and how much each one means to you. Please empower me to be more patient, tolerant, forgiving, and respectful of my Christian brothers and sisters’ imperfections, because you accept them just as you accept me with my imperfections. I acknowledge those imperfections and long for the day when we are united in perfection before your holy throne of grace as we praise you and bring you glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
The Urgency of Living Patiently
Note from Jesus Dear Precious One, In the verses I want to share with you today, James teaches you about the urgency of living patiently. Let Me explain what he means and what I want you to do to live this “urgency with patience” lifestyle. First, notice that the rich who are corrupt are going to fall under judgment. I know some of My disciples have had their lives ruined by those who abused their wealth and power: mistreating “their” workers, hoarding “their” wealth while neglecting the human need all around them, abusing the legal system for “their” advantage, underpaying those who work for “them,” and exploiting both people and animals to the point of exhaustion and even death sometimes. Be patient, My precious ones, and be faithful. I will relieve your suffering. Be patient: help is on the way. We — the Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — command heaven’s armies. We will enforce justice upon all, including on those who think they are above justice. Hang on; I AM coming with justice! Second, remember the farmer and his crops. There is a time to plant, and there is a time to reap. The harvest is not far off for you. Please wait like a good farmer who trusts that the harvest will come. Strengthen your resolve. I will come when it is harvest time. Your waiting will be worth all the pain and difficulty you have endured! Third, while you are waiting, treat each other with grace and compassion. Complaining about others and judging their motives never accomplishes My work. These wearisome behaviors tear down those that you need at your side as you await My coming. To help you know how to wait with grace and compassion for My coming, remember the great people and prophets of old like Job. Rely upon the Spirit I have given to you to strengthen, comfort, and encourage you as you wait. Finally, don’t feel that you have to be overly dramatic when giving your word. Just say “yes” and “no.” You don’t need to use an oath. Keep your word. There will be times when you find that this is difficult, but remember that I AM coming, and I will hold you to your word. I AM coming. I will judge those who mistreat you and abuse you. However, I will also hold you to the standard of character and compassion that reflects My own character and compassion. Time is short. These matters are urgent. You must live with holy and passionate patience. Verses to Live The following verses are James’ words of exhortation. Trust them. Live them. They come with My authority and approval. Be ready for Me. Be patient waiting for My justice and My coming. Know I have heard your cries and have seen your struggles, and I AM coming down to avenge you. Until I return, seek the Spirit’s strength and guidance as you face difficulties in your life. It is urgently important that you live patiently trusting James’ words and trusting that My promises are true! Hey, you rich folk, misery is on its way; so cry and moan because you will watch your riches rot before your eyes as the moths devour your fine clothes. Your stockpile of silver and gold is tarnished and corroded, and this rust will stand up in the final judgment and testify against you. It will eat your flesh like fire and become a permanent and painful reminder that you have hoarded your wealth through these last days. Listen. You held back a just wage from the laborers who mowed your fields, and that money is crying out against you, demanding that justice be done. The cries of the people who harvested your crops and made you a profit have fallen upon the ears of the supreme Lord of heavenly armies. Your life on the earth has been one of luxury, pleasure, and endless consumption; you have feasted to your hearts’ content on animals you slaughtered, but now the day of slaughter comes for you. You have condemned and murdered the righteous man, and he did not defend himself. For this reason, my brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the return of the Lord. Look! The farmer knows how to wait patiently for the land to produce vegetables and fruits. He cannot harvest a freshly planted seed. Instead, he waits for the early and the late showers to nourish the soil. You need this same kind of patience, so in the meantime, strengthen your resolve because the Lord will be coming soon. Brothers and sisters, don’t waste your breath complaining about one another. If you judge others, you will be judged yourself. Be very careful! You will face the one true Judge Who is right outside the door. The prophets who declared the word of the Lord are your role models, my brothers and sisters, for what it means to live patiently in the face of suffering. Look, we bless and honor the memory of those who persevered under hardship. Remember how Job endured and how the Lord orchestrated the triumph of his final circumstances as a grand display of His mercy and compassion. It is even more important, my brothers and sisters, that you remember not to make a vow by the heavens or the earth or by anything. When you say “yes,” it should always mean “yes,” and “no” should always mean “no.” If you can keep your word, you will avoid judgment. (James 5:1-12) Response in Prayer Father, please give me patience. I want to be Your person of character in the world where You have placed me. I trust that Jesus will return for me. Even so, dear Father, I do need patience while I wait. I don’t want to be unprepared for Jesus’ coming because I lose patience and begin to live like those who have no hope in You. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. ‘A Year
Today’s Verse – John 17:23
I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. —John 17:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How will the world come to know that God sent his Son? Through our unity and love for each other! How will the world know that God truly loves us as his children? When we live together in unity! What is that unity? That’s harder to define. The basis of unity is a life of character so consistent with the will of God that he can be seen living in us! Yet for this kind of unity to be seen in the world, it has to be visible in the way we work with each other in the cause of the Gospel, the way we handle our differences, the way as a group that we consistently treat people of the world, and the way we come together in areas that clearly matter to God. Let’s pray and strive to make this unity a reality among us by all coming closer to Jesus, till his life comes to life in us! My Prayer… Father, please help us, your children, come together in ways that honor you, reveal your character, and lead others to call on Jesus as LORD. So, as we draw near to you, draw us closer together in loving unity. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray this. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Who Leads in Your Dance of Life?
Note from Jesus Dear Child of the King, You may have noticed in our time together the last few days that I have had you read from Galatians and/or James in your Bible. These two letters were written to very different groups of people, with different religious backgrounds, but with similar concerns. Those concerns as stated from the viewpoint of the recipients of the letters were these: How am I supposed to live a righteous life if I don’t live by the law? Can I call myself a disciple of Jesus if I don’t do what the Father says, and I don’t display the Father’s righteous character and gracious compassion in my life? What about those who live in ways that are in rebellion to the character of the Father — don’t they need to live under the law? What about those who claim to be Christians, but don’t live righteously and appear to be hypocrites? In today’s verses, Paul emphasizes that the law cannot do what the Spirit can do to answer these questions. The Spirit comes and brings My power to transform you. Remember what I promised shortly before My death, burial, resurrection, and ascension: “I tell you the truth: whoever believes in Me will be able to do what I have done, but they will do even greater things, because I will return to be with the Father. … I will ask the Father to send you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, Who will remain constantly with you.” (John 14:12, 16) Through prayer and the empowering presence of the Spirit within you individually, as well as the Spirit working through you collectively, I AM at work in you. I AM also at work through you to do these “greater things.” The law cannot give you this power and cannot fulfill this promise. Only the presence and power of the Holy Spirit can. You began your walk with Me through the work of the Holy Spirit. I have done great things among you, within you, and through you by the power of the Spirit. Do not depend on law-keeping in an attempt to be holy and to live righteous lives. I want you to understand that life, especially a life of character and devotion to God, is like a holy dance. In this dance of life, you can lead the dance and allow the sinful desires of the flesh to control the direction of your dance. Or, you can be led by the Spirit, and the Spirit’s fruit of holy character — “unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” — will shine through in your life. How are you going to be led by the Spirit? I want you to know that the dance of life with the Spirit in the lead begins here: [S]et aside [y]our self-interests and work together to create true community instead of a culture consumed by provocation, pride, and envy. After committing yourself to Me, your first step in this dance of holy living is to consciously set aside your own desire. Give up your fleshly focus and self-interest. This submission is keeping “each step in perfect sync with God’s Spirit.” Keeping in step with the Spirit happens because you consciously and willfully ask the Spirit to take the lead in the dance of your life. As you offer yourself to Me, ask that the Father keep pouring the Spirit’s power and presence into your life (Luke 11:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:8). The Holy Spirit is like a permanent heavenly guest in your life. The Spirit will not intrude into the secret places of your self-will and self-interest unless you invite Him and yield to His leading in your dance of life. However, the more you consciously and intentionally ask your heavenly guest to take control, the more the Spirit will exert His influence. The apostle Paul pointed to the following ways to offer the Spirit the lead in your dance of life: Speak to one another in songs, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing. Make music in your heart to God. Give thanks in all circumstances. Submit to one another as you reverence Me in your heart. Let the message about Me be your strong defense against the influence of evil in your life. Pray consciously depending upon the Spirit to be at work in your prayers. Be alert. (Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:17-18) You began your holy dance being led by the Spirit. Continue to invite the Spirit to lead. As you do, you will notice your life becoming more and more like the life you saw Me live (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Verses to Live Dear follower, know that I long to do greater things in you and through you and for you through the power of the Holy Spirit. So let the Spirit lead the dance of your life. When you do, you will find that you will not need a law to tell you what to do. Rather than trying to obey a law, you will find “each step in perfect sync” with the Spirit! Galatians, don’t act like fools! Has someone cast a spell over you? Did you miss the crucifixion of Jesus the Anointed that was reenacted right in front of your eyes? Tell me this: Did the Holy Spirit come upon you because you lived according to the law? Or was it because you heard His message of grace through faith? Are you so foolish? Do you think you can perfect something God’s Spirit started with any human effort? Have you suffered so greatly for nothing — if it was indeed for nothing? You have experienced the Spirit He gave you in powerful ways. Miracle after miracle has occurred right before your eyes in this community, so tell me: did all this happen because you have kept certain provisions of God’s law, or was it because you heard the gospel and accepted it by faith? (Galatians 3:1-5) Here’s my instruction: walk in the
Today’s Verse – James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. —James 1:22 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Most of us try to live by the old proverb: “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Well, the proof of biblical wisdom and understanding is in the living. Knowing the truth doesn’t mean much; living the truth is everything. Jesus said that knowing the truth and not living it makes us foolish and brings destruction on ourselves and our efforts (Matthew 7:21-27). No wonder that James, Jesus’ brother, made Jesus’ point very clear: we must obey what we know to be the truth, or we deceive and destroy ourselves! My Prayer… O LORD God, please empower me with your Spirit as I seek to not only “practice what I preach,” but also show my obedience to your will and live consistently to honor and obey you in my daily life. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my LORD, and ask for the Spirit’s help to be an authentic disciple of my Savior who doesn’t just listen to his words, but I do what they say. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Wisdom, Peace, and Righteousness
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, When James wrote about wisdom and peace, he used terms whose meanings were rooted in what you call the Old Testament — The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. To fully appreciate what James taught in today’s verses, you must understand what peace and wisdom meant when he used those terms. For James, peace was much more than an absence of conflict. Peace was living in true shalom — the state of blessing and wholesomeness in life that comes when people live in complete harmony with the Father’s will. For James, righteousness would flourish, and compassion would be displayed when the joy of right living produced the place and the people where the Father’s presence would love to dwell. True shalom for them, and for you, is the blessing of living Our life in your world. True shalom is experiencing the blessedness of the Father’s presence and rule over every area of life. For James, wisdom was not some theoretical attainment of mental excellence, but a life full of all the goodness and true shalom that come from the Father’s grace. This life flowed out of a person’s commitment to living the Father’s values in his or her world. James emphasized that this wisdom would be shown by a disciple’s example of good living. This kind of wisdom was not just the subject of some philosophical speculation. Instead, this true wisdom was about life being tuned to Our righteous character and gracious compassion. Wisdom would mean living in reverential respect for Us and living in harmony with your neighbor. This reverential respect for Us would then be the beginning of all wisdom: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. (Psalm 111:10 ESV) What I taught as the two greatest commands captures both elements of true wisdom — living in reverential respect for the Father and loving your neighbor: And again the crowd was amazed. They were astonished at His [Jesus’] teaching. Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, a group of Pharisees met to consider new questions that might trip up Jesus. A legal expert thought of one that would certainly stump Him. Pharisees: Teacher, of all the laws, which commandment is the greatest? Jesus (quoting Scripture): “Love the Eternal One your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is nearly as important, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The rest of the law, and all the teachings of the prophets, are but variations on these themes. (Matthew 22:33-40) Wisdom springs from living these two principles. However, when jealousy and selfish ambition are found in a group or culture, true wisdom and peace go out the window. Chaos and evil flourish as each person competes for his or her own interest at the expense of others. Loving God is soon forgotten in the love of power, the pursuit of prestige, and the jockeying for position. Love of neighbor is ignored in the rush to love oneself and forget about others. This kind of selfishness that masquerades as worldly wisdom has given the world the mess in which it finds itself. This selfishness is one way the evil one captures the hearts of people and enslaves them in what is not wise. This kind of selfishness never brings true wisdom and true shalom. So rather than focusing on what you can get for yourself, center your focus on how to live the character and compassion that you see in Me. Also, notice the characteristics that James said are from the devil and should not be found among My disciples: Jealousy Selfishness, selfish ambition Pride Now notice the character qualities that James urges you to pursue: Purity Peace Gentleness Deference Mercy Other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy Make this last set of attributes the goal to bring forth in your daily life. If you do so, you will find yourself in God’s peace, the true shalom that brings real life. This harmony is true wisdom! Verses to Live James spoke in clear, simple language to remind you that heavenly wisdom and true peace will be found where the life of God is lived. Righteousness is the natural result of such a life lived in the Spirit. Who in your community is understanding and wise? Let his example, which is marked by wisdom and gentleness, blaze a trail for others. If your heart is one that bleeds dark streams of jealousy and selfishness, do not be so proud that you ignore your depraved state. The wisdom of this world should never be mistaken for heavenly wisdom; it originates below in the earthly realms, with the demons. Any place where you find jealousy and selfish ambition, you will discover chaos and evil thriving under its rule. Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy. The seed that flowers into righteousness will always be planted in peace by those who embrace peace. (James 3:13-18) Response in Prayer O Father, please bless me with true wisdom. I commit to pursuing the things that bring peace and demonstrate wise living. Forgive me for the times that I have put my own desires and my own yearning for things and status above developing the true wisdom that brings peace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2025, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.