Footsteps of Jesus

Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 

James 3:10 (CSB)

As the days go by it seems that people have become more brazenly perverse. But in reality, such ugliness has always been in the heart of mankind.

I believe what makes things seem worse today is that people care less about something an older lady I know used to say: “They don’t have any fetchin.” I left off the “g” because that’s how she pronounced it. “Fetchin” means having manners or moral values learned in childhood.

Without fetchin, people become rude or self-centered and ignore others. But what is worse, they reveal a heart without God.

You know that mankind has had a black heart from the time that Adam and Eve lived outside the Garden of Eden.

Even people who are devoted to a close relationship with God stumble.

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

James 3:18 (CSB)

But James, the brother of Jesus, had a lot to say about the wisdom of a godly heart. He illustrated how the mouth is just the first place where a sinful heart is exposed.

Let’s take a look at two lists. Which one are you striving to be on? You can’t be on both lists, habitually. You make a choice as evidenced by your love for God and His presence in your soul.

With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. 

Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 

James 3:9-10 (CSB)

The Wisdom from above:

• wisdom and understanding
• good conduct
• gentleness that is wise
• pure
• peace-loving
• gentle
• compliant
• full of mercy
• full of the fruit of the Spirit
• unwavering (decisive about choosing godliness)
• without pretense (not fake or with an angle about everything)

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
 He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)

Wisdom that comes from the world:

• bitter envy
• selfish ambition
• boasting
• denying the truth
• earthly
• unspiritual
• demonic
• disorderly
• full of every evil practice

Who among you is wise and understanding?

By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.

But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 

For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.  

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. 

James 3:13-18 (CSB)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.