March 2, 2002
Sowing in Peace
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18 (NIV)
When you have faith, you have deeds. When you have deeds of faith, these deeds are done in humility. Humility has no room for selfish ambition or envy. If you have these things in your heart, do not deny it. Admit it. Let the Lord cleanse you. We hear a lot of people speaking of denial. I confess that denial once plagued me. I denied that I was selfish, self-centered, evil, envious, and things such as this. However, I have come to know the truth and the truth has set me free. I admit those things, today. Without Jesus, there is nothing good within me. Without Jesus, I am fully and completely evil, separated from God. Scripture says there is no temptation seized you except what is common to man, so why are we so afraid to admit our sins? Why must we live in denial that we are selfish, self-centered, and such? See, those around us know that we are those things. Not only do they know, they suffer from the same spiritual maladies. Those things are in all of us. Let us not be held in denial any longer. In Jesus name, let us know truth and be set free. Do not deny the word of God any longer. Do not say you do not have those traits within you, for all have. How do you know that you are envious or have selfish ambition?
In order to help you see this, look at your home. Is it full of disorder, strife, anger, hurtful words and the such? This passage says that where these things are, there is envy and selfish ambition. This passage says that if we believe we have wisdom from God and that speaking of it causes strife and disorder in our homes, that wisdom is not from God. In fact, that wisdom is straight from hell. See, satan takes a partial truth and twists it to meet his ends. He says that those around us should live like we think they should live and if we know how they should live, then we should tell them and pressure them into living that way. This is a lie! We cannot force anyone to live the life we think they should live. Even if we know scripture and we know they are living wrong, we cannot force them to change. This is a lie from the enemy, that we are to beat it into those around us, how to live.
The wisdom that comes from heaven brings peace, is pure, loving, kind, considerate of others, and brings about a good harvest. Even when we know scripture, it is wisdom to let the Lord change others. Our lives should mirror the mercy of the Lord to those around us. Once again, this is not to say we should be doormats, but rather, we should guard with care what we do, what we say, and the attitude in which things are said and done. His word says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Are you a peacemaker? If you are not, then let the Lord begin to change you today so that you are not robbed of the harvest of things sown in peace.
Father, make us peacemakers, according to your word. Lord, show us that balance of not forcing others around us to change, but neither being a doormat for abuse. Lord, in Jesus name, you enable us to sow a harvest of peace that we may experience the harvest of the righteous. Lord, you are the only one who can make things right in our lives. This day, I give myself to you. Lord, change me. Regardless of what others say or do around me, let me bring glory and honor to you, sowing a harvest of peace that I might reap in righteousness, in Jesus name, amen.
All rights reserved: Amy Seelbach
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