Speak And Do

James 3:13-18 (Contemporary English Version)

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Are any of you wise or sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do. 14 But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and selfishness, don't brag or lie to cover up the truth. 15 That kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It is earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself. 16 Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things. 17 But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. 18When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.

Bee's Thoughts:

This morning Daily Bread again speaks to me as a confirmation of certain things that has troubled me lately. I know something is very wrong when a close friend of mine has changed overnight... from a very confident, positive and loving person to one that is so insecure, negative, self condemned, and has a total change of heart. It just doesn't seem right or normal to me. Then it dawned upon me last night that he has been attacked by the devil and is engaged in a spiritual warfare as he wishes to seek God more lately.

The above verses show that there are two kinds of "wisdom"; one from God and one from the devil.

The devil is able to put thoughts into our mind to cause us to do and say things that are harmful to ourselves and to others if we are not careful. He will attack us most when we are tired or stressed out and therefore have no defense against him.

How can we recognize which "wisdom" we are using then? Thank God that the Bible clearly shows us how to test that "wisdom" or actions.

Wisdom that is “earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself” will show up in…
bitter jealousy
selfishness
brag or lie to cover up the truth
cause trouble
do all sorts of cruel things

Wisdom that comes from above (God) leads us to be…
pure
friendly
gentle
sensible
kind
helpful
genuine
sincere

Dear Lord, thank you for your word today. Please help me and also my close friend to be vigilant against the devil’s attack, especially when we are tired and stressed out. Help us to discern rightly the thoughts that come into our minds and to test them against your words, so that we can reject those thoughts coming from the devil and allow pure thoughts from you that lead to life.

.......the devotion of Bee