Day #47

Lord, thank you for loving us and drawing us to you.  Without you, we have nothing.  You are an amazing God!

Read James 3:17-18.

Yesterday we learned about all the chaos and disorder that comes from living a life that is known for bitter jealousy and selfish ambition.

Bitter jealousy- resentment over something someone else has; constant competition to get what someone else has at all cost.

Selfish ambition- self-seeking and always looking out for one’s own interests above the interests of anyone else; this is all done through trickery or deception (leading others to believe what is not true).

We also learned how when we live with these two characteristics it leads others to do the same… the end result being fighting and destruction in the body of believers (which could be your family, your friends, your church, your youth group, etc.).

NOTE:  Please keep in mind that bitter jealousy and selfish ambition can be quietly done or “in your face” bold.  But they all carry the same result… instability and crumbling in the body of believers.

As Christ-followers, we will never be able to continue like this and have contentment.  Thank you Jesus!! 

He has given us an escape from this ungodly way of life in James 3:17-18.  What do these verses tell us to do?

We must seek wisdom from above!  When we talk to God about our sin and seek His ways, he starts producing qualities in us that are so opposite of the above…

1.    Purity, or blamelessness

-please read Matthew 5:9, Galatians 5:22, Hebrew 12:11

2.    Galatians 5:22-23 “Fruits of the Spirit”

-loving

-Joyful

-peaceful

-patient

-kind

-good

-full of faith

-self-controlled

-gentle

          … for the heart of heaven beats this way.

The fruit that comes from being a peacemaker in the Christian community will be righteous behavior.  Another way to describe righteous behavior would be “behavior pleasing to God.”   God says that he will bless this way of life.

TARGETs of the DAY

Listen to Steven Curtis Chapman’s song Heart Beat of Heaven.  This song helps me to remember what the fruits of the spirit are.  Ask God to continue building these qualities in you.
Also, talk to someone today about Jesus and what He is doing in your life.