‘The wisdom that is from above is…peaceable.’ James 3:17 NKJV
Keep your Peace-Have you ever got into an argument before church and felt like a hypocrite during the entire service? Understand this: the enemy knows that God’s Word can only be ‘sown in peace’ (see James 3:18), so he will do everything he can to keep you from receiving it and being blessed by it. That’s why you must do whatever it takes to keep your peace. There’s power in peace! If the devil can’t get you upset he has no power over you. He only gains control when you ‘lose it.’ He plans to get you upset in order to steal your peace, confuse you and make you run in circles. Don’t let him.
James writes, ‘The wisdom that is from above is…peaceable.’ In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases this Scripture: ‘Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterised by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoys its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour’ (v. 17-18 MSG).
Notice, getting along with others can be ‘hard work.’ So next time you get worked up about some issue, ask yourself, ‘What’s the Enemy trying to do here? If I give in to these emotions what will the result be?’ When you’re stressed out you lose your joy, and when you lose your joy you lose your strength because ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength’ (see Nehemiah 8:10). So today, pray, exercise self-control, and keep your peace
Book of James
The Book of James in the Bible is traditionally attributed to James, the brother of Jesus. James, also known as James the Just or James the Less, was a prominent figure in the early Christian community and held a leadership position in the Jerusalem church. He is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament, including in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark.
The authorship of the Book of James has been debated among scholars throughout history. Some have questioned whether James the brother of Jesus was indeed the author, suggesting that it may have been written by another person or a later follower of James. However, the traditional attribution to James remains widely accepted.
The intended audience of the Book of James is not explicitly mentioned within the text. However, it is generally believed that James wrote this epistle to Jewish Christians living outside of Palestine. The content of the letter addresses various ethical and moral issues that were relevant to the early Christian community. James offers practical advice on living a faithful life, emphasizing the importance of good deeds, controlling one’s speech, and demonstrating genuine faith through actions.
Overall, the Book of James provides guidance and exhortation to early Christians, encouraging them to live out their faith in practical ways and to remain steadfast in the face of trials and temptations. It continues to be an influential and widely studied book in the Christian tradition.
Nehemiah
The Book of Nehemiah in the Bible is traditionally attributed to Nehemiah himself. Nehemiah was a prominent figure in the Old Testament and served as the cupbearer to the Persian king, Artaxerxes I. He was a Jewish exile living in Persia during the fifth century BCE. Nehemiah was deeply concerned about the state of Jerusalem, which had been destroyed and its inhabitants exiled by the Babylonians.
The Book of Nehemiah is found in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. It is one of the historical books and follows the Book of Ezra. In the Christian arrangement, Nehemiah is considered the 16th book of the Old Testament.
Nehemiah wrote the book to document his experiences and the efforts he made to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore the spiritual and physical well-being of the Jewish community. The book serves as a historical account of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of Jewish religious practices and communal life. It also includes Nehemiah’s prayers, personal reflections, and challenges faced during his leadership.
The primary audience of the Book of Nehemiah was likely the Jewish community in Jerusalem and the surrounding regions. Nehemiah’s efforts were directed toward the Jewish people, and he sought to rally their support and inspire them to participate in the rebuilding project. The book provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by the Jewish people during the post-exilic period and highlights the importance of faith, perseverance, and communal unity in the face of adversity.
