Challenged

Written By: Kirk Peterson

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:17-18 NLT)

As I was reading the book of James, and what a great book it is, when I came upon this passage the Holy Spirit convicted me strongly.  As I read these words, it was like my body was getting fed and I pulled more and more of God’s word into my mouth.  The truth of God’s word shot straight through my heart and as I looked up, my thoughts from the Spirit told me that God wanted to challenge me to live my life this way. 

If you broke down the Christian life, most of what the Bible teaches can be found in these verses.  Though I am broken and would fail at living life like this, we all are called as Christians to try to live a righteous life!

Peace Loving:  What does it mean to be “PEACE LOVING?”  

In the midst of storms or conflict, sometimes the most difficult thing to find is peace.  The peace that God brings, is a peace beyond human understanding.  God’s word in Philippians 4:6-7 says to not worry, but PRAY instead.  I encourage you to go to God the Father and God the Son now, and pray for His peace…Ask what you need and thank Him for all that He has given.  The peace of Jesus Christ will be a guardian to your heart (emotions) and your mind (consciousness).

Gentle: One of the greatest things I’m drawn to in my wife Heidi is her gentleness. The love she shows for others feels like the softest silk linens on a big comfy bed after a hard day of work. 

Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 6:11-12 if we are children of God, to run from all evil. We are to fight the good fight for TRUE FAITH. Paul calls us to PURSUE faith, love, perseverance and gentleness; holding tightly to the eternal life God has called us to.

How can you be gentle with those in your life today?

Yielding to Others:  Life is not about you, life is about God & others.

I have never seen God grow my character more than when I’m humbled.  The two greatest REVELATIONS God has ever shown came when I was at my weakest.  Paul tells us in Philippians 2 that we are to have the attitude of Christ.  So what does the attitude of Christ look like?  As Christians we are called to be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

Who can you YIELD to today in your own life?  Take an interest in this person, caring more for them than yourself, and see what happens...

Mercy: Though we all sin every day and fall short of God’s glory, our great God of Mercy shows us “kindness and good will, joined with a desire to help us.”   (Blue Letter Bible Lexicon for Greek word eleos- compassion/mercy)

God calls us to show mercy to our fellow man, because of the mercy that we are shown by Him.  Have you ever had someone show you mercy when you know you did not deserve it?  How did being shown mercy make you feel?

Perhaps there is some bitterness or lingering hurt that is in need of forgiveness that has been plaguing your heart?  Won’t you show someone mercy in your life...?  Ask God in prayer how you can find the compassion in your own soul to show goodwill and help those that need mercy today!

Fruit of Good Deeds:  Baring fruit does not mean you are the only one who does good deeds, who else in your life have you inspired or lead to do good deeds in the world? 

God tells us in Matthew 6, that we are not to boast of our good deeds as the hypocrites do, but rather keep our good deeds private, and our Father in heaven who sees everything will reward us.  One of the guys from my bible study group does a tremendous amount of work for the Kingdom.  Only by his sharing of questions from the study, do you begin to uncover all that he and his family do for God in the world.  I asked him about it one time, and he said that he doesn’t like to talk about it…what a great way to honor God and bring Glory to His name!

Will you ask God in prayer how you can use your own gifts that He has given you to make an impact for His Kingdom by doing good deeds today?

No Favoritism:  Love Equally Encouraging Unity.

One of the greatest pieces of wisdom I've received in studying the Old Testament, is seeing how DESTRUCTIVE showing favoritism can be to a family.  Over and over again we see in God's word how damaging showing favorites can be, tearing families apart and helping to create DIVISION where there is supposed to be UNITY. 

I try my hardest to not show favoritism between my two boys.  I also make it a point if I compliment one son, to turn and compliment the other as well.  Just last night as I was playing water guns with my two young boys, I had promised my oldest son Brody that he could have a turn.  Cole, my youngest boy, came over just as I was finishing filling them up and I said, “Maybe we could let Cole go first Brody?”  I could see how much I hurt Brody on his face as he turned away from me with tears in his eyes.  Brody really is a patient soul, and shows a tremendous amount of restraint and wisdom for one so young, so I knew that I made a mistake…

In Genesis 37, we see how Joseph was loved the most by his father Jacob, and how his brothers were so jealous because of Jacob’s favoritism, that they wanted to kill Joseph and couldn't even show him a kind word.

We also see with Joseph, how his amazing FAITH under some pretty incredible circumstances brought restoration back to his family and rescue from destruction because of Joseph’s close walk with the Lord.

How can you NOT show favoritism to those that you are closest to in your own life, but instead give an EQUAL share of your heart?

Sincere:  the word hypocrite comes from the Greek word “hypokrisis” (the acting of a stage player).  When you think of an actor/actress, their words and actions are fake--simply there to put on a show.  Humans by nature are hypocrites as we often say one thing then do the complete opposite.

My bible study said that “hypocrisy is shattered on Jesus, for he knows our heart.”  When God looks at each of us, he sees into our very core our SOUL.  When you look in the mirror, you see your reflection staring back at you, but that is only the outside of you.  God sees into the very center of us, the seat of our: feelings, convictions, desires and knows our heart.

God calls us to be SINCERE.  To be honest to the world, not putting on a FAKE persona to look good in the eyes of man, but rather truthful about our thoughts and feelings.  Weather we are showing love and joy or making mistakes and sinning, being sincere means transparency…even when it hurts.

Peacemakers: Our world is full of conflict. When the burdens of our world way heavy on your heart and you begin to feel pressure, what does stress cause you to CULTIVATE--conflict or peace?

I love that word cultivate, for God calls us to spread peace in our world like a farmer cultivating his crop. Cultivating means to prepare and use land for crops. Jesus taught us about the different kinds of soil that our heart can be, and I ask you now: “Are you cultivating the soil of your heart to be a peacemaker in the world?” How can you prepare the soil of your heart to encourage peace in your life? The greatest peace that man can have is from God, for His peace surpasses all understanding. So, by cultivating a close relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father, the peace of God will come upon you. The best way I have found in my own life to do that is:

SPEAK – Pray to God

LISTEN – Read the Bible

DO – Put your faith into action with deeds

FELLOWSHIP - come together with other believers

Sometimes my temper gets the best of me. Many times when I fail to endure the struggles in life and let my anger get the best of me, I raise my voice. God has given me a loud Norwegian voice and I can bellow out my blowhole with the best of them, but at its worst, my voice can threaten and scare my kids...

How can you cultivate peace in your world today?

Harvest of Righteousness: What does it mean to be righteous? The blue letter bible defines righteousness from the Greek word as “a condition acceptable to God.”

Since the fall of man into sin, God’s greatest creation man has not lived the way that we were originally designed. The knowledge of Good & Evil invaded our thoughts when Adam & Eve ate from the apple and through our fall, mankind’s’ righteous life was brought to death.

God in His great mercy and undeserved kindness (grace) has given us the way of redemption, offering us salvation through faith in His son Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite Christian evangelists recently talked about our “spiritual tank.” He said we can put a drop of gas in our tank by ourselves but it will only last for a short time. He went on to explain how it is impossible to live the Christian life on our own, for it is only by drawing on God’s power of the Holy Spirit that lives inside of believers, that walking a truly righteous life is even possible.

In James 3:18, God calls us to be peacemakers. We are to be ‘peace farmers’ planting seeds of peace in the soil of those around us, where there can be a great harvest of righteous life that is pleasing to God.

How can you plant seeds of peace to those around you today?

God the Holy Spirit breathes new life into those that surrender their life to God the Father and God the Son Jesus Christ.  This new life not only becomes a wellspring of hope for those who believe here on earth, blessing us with a rich and satisfying life--the living water of God's spirit also breaths new eternal life into our body, sealing in believers God's promise of heaven.

See Jeremy Camp’s “Come Alive” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZuTTWkxm4w