Two Types of Wisdom

Scripture: James 3:13-18

1. The Wisdom from Above - "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17).

2. The Wisdom from Below - "is earthly, sensual, demonic" and leads to "bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts" along with "confusion and every evil thing" (James 3:14-16).

Be "wise and understanding" (James 3:13). Show "by good conduct" that your "works are done in the meekness of wisdom" (James 3:13). Seek "the wisdom that is from above" (James 3:17).

Jason Cicero

Guilty of All

Scripture: James 2

"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)

Question: Why is James 2:10 true?

Answer: Because God is behind every law.

Jason Cicero

Thinking About Trials

Scripture: James 1

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:2-3).

James is practical. Trials of all kinds will come our way as we make our journey from Earth to Heaven. Our attitude toward them will make all the difference here and in eternity.

Count - to consider, deem, account, think (Thayer's).

Joy - calm delight (Strong's).

Fall - to fall into something that is all around, i.e. light among or upon, be surrounded with (Strong's).

Trials - a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity (Strong's).

Knowing - to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of (Thayer's).

Testing - that by which something is tried or proved, a test (Thayer's).

Faith - conviction of the mind, trust of the heart, surrender of the will.

Produces - do work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication, to finish, fashion (Strong's).

Patience - cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy (Strong's).

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." (Hebrews 12:28)

We need grace in order to serve God acceptable. We need reverence. We need godly fear.

What we need, He gives.

Jason Cicero

Looking Unto Jesus

Scripture: Hebrews 12-13

"...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2).

Hebrews 11 is full of descriptions of folks who lived by faith. Their faith prompted them to do great things to the glory of God. Even though the world was not worthy of any of them, we do not look to any of them. We look to the One of Hebrews 12. We look unto Jesus. Those in Hebrews 11 could not do for us what the One in Hebrews 12 did. He endured the cross. He despised the shame. He secured our salvation. We look unto Him.

Jason Cicero

Remission

Scripture: Hebrews 10-11

"Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin." (Hebrews 10:18)

"Remission" is about forgiveness, freedom, pardon, and deliverance (Strong's). The offering of Jesus' blood for our sin is sufficient. There "is no longer an offering for sin" because our sins have been taken away by the blood of the Lamb!

Jason Cicero