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’. (3:17)
James was one of those writers who wrote to the entire Christian Church – one of the “catholic” writers. His intent then was to teach what the Good News was about. That’s different from Paul, who wrote to specific churches. Paul was helping people to try to practise what the Good News taught.
Category / Bible Quotes
Quotes from ESV Bible
PERFECTION: James 1:2-8
Again we read about being complete (perfect), but James writes more, giving an explanation of completeness: “and entire, lacking in nothing.” This is the same meaning Jesus in mind when he said, “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect”; that is, be complete.
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete (some translations have “perfect”), lacking nothing.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.
Isaiah 26:3-5
I added 2 more verses because they add an interesting “twist” on what Isaiah wrote. In the Orthodox Study Bible which I have through Kindle (both Orthodox Study Bible and Kindle protected names), I have learned that what Isaiah said in these verses is much what Mary says in the Magnificat (Lk 1:52).
This happens more than once – that is, a prophet writes something and there is a connection in the New or Christian Testament or part of the Bible.
I have learned, and I suppose it is nothing new to many, is that the two parts of the Bible are “connected”. The Hebrew, or Old, Testament or Bible, tells us stories of how people were told how to act and what to do, but they never seemed to keep it going. And, how God, even with all the problems people caused, still kept giving them hope and moving along. God continued to teach the people lessons. That would fix things for a while and then off they would go, doing their own thing. All of the prophets kept telling the people that they better start shaping up or there was going to be a big price to pay.
The people didn’t listen. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Only now, we haven’t had some other country to take over and take all the citizens captive and keep them locked up and decimate their city. I wonder if that would help?
Or, have we? We see countries attacking each other or revolutions happening and many other countries helping one side or the other. The wars just continue and there will be no peace until people start listening or reading or both. What can we do?
We need to find peace within ourselves and with others. People are always going to be different or think differently; that doesn’t make them bad. People are evil when they begin forcing others to act the way they want them to act. Trying to convince people is not evil. But, if they don’t listen, there is nothing a person can do but pray for them and wish them well. But, another thing we must do is make sure what we are advocating is going to help everyone. Seek advice; pray much; the Spirit will help.
Thank you for reading. May you be blessed always.
Bishop Gregory's Thoughts 