Heavenly Wisdom

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. – (James 3:17, ESV)

But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. – (James 3:17, ERV)

Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy. – (James 3:17, VOICE)

This sort of wisdom is not natural, but rather it comes from God. As we pray and spend time with God, He grows such wisdom within us. It is not an arrival whereby we suddenly have this sort of wisdom, but rather it is an ongoing process as we invest in Him. Not only do I want to give such wisdom but desire to be the recipient as well. The adage, “You get what you give” is the hope I hold as I try to live accordingly. May we ever seek the Lord to grow His wisdom within us so that we may operate accordingly with those around us.

Lord, help me be pure,

In word, thought and deed;

Show me all the ways,

To live by Your creed.

Jesus, be my peace,

In all things, always;

So I too extend,

Peace throughout my days.

Help me be gentle,

In ev’ry response;

So Your love’s made clear,

Lord, You call the shots.

Help me be grateful,

And easy to please;

Ready to help out,

Others in their need.

Show me what is fair,

To walk honestly;

May Your heart be seen,

As I live justly.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to show us what it is to walk in Godly wisdom. Thank You that we are a work in progress and that You grow us in Your wisdom as we seek time with You. Forgive us for the times that we have spoken or acted in our own lack of wisdom rather than seeking You to lead us. Teach us to trust and rely on You, for You are all we need and more to truly love well and live with wisdom. Show us how to love and live wisely so that others may come to understand Your goodness and grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You anew every morning to grow us in Your wisdom to reflect Your heart more clearly to the world. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Human, the Lord has told you what goodness is. This is what He wants from you: Be fair to other people. Love kindness and loyalty, and humbly obey your God. – Micah 6:8

Justice and Mercy Mean More

This is what the Lord Almighty said: “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” – (Zechariah 7:9, NIV)

This is what the Lord All-Powerful said: “You must do what is right and fair. You must be kind and show mercy to each other.” – (Zechariah 7:9, ERV)

Well, the message hasn’t changed. God-of-the-Angel-Armies said then and says now: “Treat one another justly. Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other.” – (Zechariah 7:9, MSG)

 

The context of this verse takes us back to the time of King Darius, as Zechariah received a word from the Lord regarding the traditional season of mourning and fasting. God spoke to Zechariah about the heart behind what the people were doing, and let him know that He would far prefer the people extend true mercy and justice, rather than partaking in religious rituals for themselves. Things are no different today, as God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is after our hearts, desiring that we extend His love, mercy, compassion and justice to others in the same way that He so generously and unreservedly loves each of us. Yes, there are seasons for mourning and fasting, but it must be with a heart intent on seeking Him, rather than simply jumping through some sort of religious hoop. May we seek the Lord and His love, so that we may treat one another justly, love our neighbors, and be compassionate with one another in the same way that He is with us.

 

For we are all called,

In kindness, choose love;

Show mercy and grace,

As God does for us.

Treat others justly,

Be compassionate;

Love one another,

To kindness, commit.

What matters the most,

In all that we do;

Is our heart to love,

Honor God in truth.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call and command us to love one another. Thank You that throughout Your word You unpack what it means to love. Thank You that mercy, compassion and justice are all part of loving as You love. Forgive us for the times that we have lacked love in any of these areas. Teach us how to extend mercy, be compassionate, and to treat one another justly in all things and at all times. Show us how to love as You love, for You extend all these things and more, though we do not deserve them. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to love like You – extending mercy, choosing compassion, and treating one another justly, regardless of what we receive. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

Justice and Faithfulness

He guards the path of the just and protects those who are faithful to Him. – (Proverbs 2:8, NLT)

God protects the paths of those who pursue justice, watching over the lives of those who keep faith with Him. – (Proverbs 2:8, VOICE)

 

As a self-professed “word nerd“, I wanted a bit more context to the word just. According to dictionary.com, just means being guided by truth. For me, this made far more sense, for if we are faithful to God, we will be guided by truth. When we seek Him and His will, He leads, guides and guards us as we go. May we pursue justice in faithful pursuit of God, and allow the Lord to lead as He protects the path on which He calls us to proceed.

 

God protects the path,

of those who pursue;

a life lived justly,

as we’re called to do.

He will watch over,

the faithful and true;

those who keep seeking,

to see the Lord’s view.

His heart is for us,

His love never ends;

faithful forever,

for us He contends.

Blessings are poured out,

as we persevere;

hope for forever,

and knowing He’s near.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You guard the path of those who faithfully seek You and are guided by Your truth. Thank You that You watch over our lives and protect us as we go. Forgive us for our lack of faithfulness. Teach us to persevere, even when things are difficult or seemingly without hope, for our hope is found in You. Show us how to love others as we are guided by truth, so that they too, might see Your love and faithfulness through us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pursue justice and remain faithful to You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. – James 5:11

The Outlook of the Open

For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face. – (Psalm 11:7)

 

If it were not for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, this verse would be completely daunting. Not one of us is able to be upright on our own; however, in Christ, we are called clean, forgiven and free, and He sees us as upright before Him. That being said, we are charged to live a life devoted to Him. As He loves us, so we too, must love. Christ’s goodness and grace are not our free ticket to do whatever we please, but rather our point of redemption and reconciliation from our wrong living, so that we may turn from our wicked ways and live upright before Him for the remainder of our days. May we receive the gift that the Lord has freely given, and respond with a life lived justly, as He empowers us to be upright before Him. Let us hold fast, knowing that our hope is in the promise that we will one day see Him face-to-face.

 

The Lord is righteous,

in all of His ways;

and He loves justice,

truths that will not change.

Those who live upright,

and receive His grace;

live lives of promise,

and shall see His face.

Christ’s love sacrifice,

created the way;

for us to follow,

and on His path stay.

May we each receive,

all that He’s given;

so we tell of how,

to be forgiven.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are righteous and that You love justice. Thank You that the upright will see Your face. Thank You that righteousness, justice and our status as upright, are not dependent on our abilities, but rather on our willingness to allow You into our hearts and lives to make changes. Forgive us for withholding any area from You, and teach us to trust You more, so that we will release all unto You, granting You full access to clean, refine, restore and renew that which needs to change. Lead us to love others justly and with Your goodness and grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, Lord. Be glorified O God, as we pursue the path You have placed before us with willing hearts, that are open to all that You want to do both in us, and through us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of Your love; in Your great mercy turn to me. – Psalm 69:16