“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 reap a harvest of righteousness.” – James 3:17-18
The early church was messy. It was a collection of people from multiple regions, different cultures and even different religious backgrounds. They had witnessed Jesus, or they had heard the good news of his life, death and resurrection. As the news about Jesus spread, more and more people came to faith. Each person brought a different perspective to the young church. Most of the books we read in the New Testament are letters written to help establish common belief and practice for the faith.
The book of James is one of those letters. Written to the early church, James is one of the most practical books in the New Testament. It has specific practices for the church, such as how to pray, how to treat all believers without showing favoritism, and the difficult task of taming the tongue. In addition to practical advice on how to act, James also offers reflection on how the life, death and resurrection of Jesus should manifest itself in the life of a believer. When a person comes to faith in Jesus, this new faith should change that person. James wanted the reader to know that they were not simply changing religious practice, but they would be living a new life.
James writes that when we encounter Jesus, we receive a “wisdom that comes from heaven.” For so many of the new believers, this wisdom was opposite from the life they had lived. They lived and functioned in a world where religion was judgmental, government was aggressive, and the hope of their work was worldly riches. Christ called his people to peace, mercy and righteousness. James wrote to clarify these differences and help the new church reflect the love of God in their own lives and in the world.
Today is a good day to remember that we are still growing in our faith. We have much to learn about the nature of God found in Christ Jesus. We still have work to do on living the life that reflects this wisdom that comes from heaven. Today, we give thanks for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus who opened heaven to us, and as we offer our thanksgiving, we pray that we become those who live out life on earth, just as it is in heaven.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
