James 3:17 – “More About Jesus”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of this verse:

¹⁷But the from above wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, reasonable, agreeable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, [and] without pretense.

In my last post, I observed that James 3:17, describing this “from above” wisdom, is actually describing Jesus. He is everything this verse describes and He is nothing we saw in vv13-16. In John 8:23, He told the Pharisees, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” “I am from above.” “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” He is “the wisdom of God.” In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). He is Himself the “good and perfect gift!”

One of the glorious wonders of knowing Jesus is that knowing Him makes us like Him. “Beholding His image, we are changed into that image” (II Cor 3:18). I would maintain that any sincere, thinking person who read James 3 would say, “I don’t want to be the person described in vv13-16, the lying, arrogant, pretender. I want to be someone who is “real and peaceable, approachable, compassionate, and impartial.” The good news is that following Jesus accomplishes in us exactly that!

I think it is consummately amazing to realize that following Jesus doesn’t make us “religious,” but rather it makes us loving, dependable, kind-hearted, brave people – the very persons our heart tells us we should be. The Pharisees’ “religion” of rules and traditions and scrupulous religious practices only made them exactly what vv13-16 describes -- arrogant, judgmental hypocrites. Jesus stepped into the middle of their charade and went off like an atom bomb. I would suggest that is precisely why the tax collectors and prostitutes were attracted to Him – He offered them the very thing their hearts so deeply desired – to somehow know God – and yet it wasn’t in a “religious” way. It was in a way that made Him approachable. The Pharisees (both then and now) would drive people to God with the whip of the law. With Jesus, they are “drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes.”

Once again, as I think about the passage before us, I am struck by how far off base we all get and have gotten. Somehow, the hardest thing in the world is to remember that Christianity is Christ. We get caught up in so many other ideas of what faith means. It’s bad enough that we might, like the tax collectors and prostitutes, give our energies to this world’s pleasures and temptations. But then, if we see that debauchery and determine to “mend our ways” we can simply become Pharisees, deeply “religious” people who know nothing of the true way and who simply exchange their immorality for arrogance. It’s so easy to miss Jesus. There are seemingly a million very good alternatives, so many other ideas of what it means to be “religious.” But’s it’s all about You, Jesus.

Another thing we can easily miss is the fact that this is what real wisdom does for us. It makes us pure and peaceable and all those things. I don’t know if I’ve ever thought of that before. I tend to think wisdom is good because it makes us wise – helps us not to make bad decisions. But I’ve never thought particularly that God’s wisdom makes us nice. Of course it does – to understand all that matters in life is to love God and others is actually the zenith of wisdom and what does it do? Makes us more loving. No wonder God says, “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom … She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her” (Prov 3:13-15). Real wisdom means better relationships – not only with God but also with the people He places around us. And everyone on their dying bed knows that relationships were all that ever really mattered. To have this “from above” wisdom doesn’t just “keep us out of trouble.” It helps us spend our lives on the things that really matter.

What James does for us here in 3:17 is, in a sense, to summarize Jesus’ qualities, to tell us what “from above” wisdom looks like. He says it is first of all pure. In I John 3:2,3 we read, “When He appears, we shall be like Him … Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure.” “Pure like Him.” That’s what we want to be. Not just “pure,” but “pure like Him.” Pure like Jesus. Pure in a way that doesn’t make us insufferable bigots. Jesus was pure in that there was nothing “wrong” in Him. He had nothing to hide, no secret vices. He was where He should be when He should be. He kept His promises. He told the truth. You could count on Him. That is “pure like Him” and it drew sinners’ hearts to Him, not drove them away. Real wisdom makes us “pure like Him.”

Jesus was peaceable, or “peace-loving.” In the big picture, what I think that means is that He valued relationships. He valued each person He met. He above all wanted the freedom to love those people, to bless them in some way, and that requires relationship. The opposite is the person from vv13-16 who is busy pretending to be religious and wise and writes you off the second you get in their way. God wants there to be peace. “God is not the Author of confusion, but of peace” (I Cor 12:40). Interestingly, that word “confusion” from I Corinthians is the same word James just used of false wisdom when he said it produces “disorder and every foul practice.” God wants there to be peace. He says to pray for those in authority “that we may lead peaceful, quiet lives” and why? Because “He wants all mean to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim 2:1-4). When people live in turmoil, when their lives are a constant drama, when they live in a soap opera, it is very difficult for them to have any kind of real relationships. Fear and love don’t co-exist well. And so Jesus loved peace. Of course, in a sinful world, even Jesus at some point had to lower the boom, but He did so only when they drove Him to it, when real love and a real love of peace demanded firmness. He was a “man of peace.” He valued His relationships.

As I’ve said before, the rest of these adjectives are difficult to translate from Greek to English. They are picture words and it is hard to communicate those pictures in a single English word. But let me try briefly to see them in Jesus. I won’t do a very good job, I’m sure, but Jesus will!

The next word paints a picture of someone who is everything they should be, when they should be – just a mature, stable, dependable, admirable, respectable person. That is certainly Jesus and that is what real wisdom makes us. I translated it “reasonable” because it makes us people who aren’t off on hobby-horses and flying off the handle over irrelevant details. Like Jesus.

Then the next picture is of someone you can actually work with. I’ve translated it “compliant.” The old KJV was “easy to be entreated.” I think “approachable” would work too. Jesus said in John 6:37, “… whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Nicodemus came to Jesus by night and Jesus answered his questions. The woman with the issue of blood thought she had to sneak up behind Him and touch the corner of His garment. She was not only healed but also had Jesus turn and speak blessing to her. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden,” He called. Real wisdom will take away our irritability and brittleness and make us people like Jesus – people who are approachable.

“Full of compassion and good fruit.” What more can we say? Jesus was filled with compassion. He saw past people’s sins and their offenses and saw them in their need. And He didn’t just see it, He acted. He was full of compassion and good fruit. As James said earlier, if our “religion” is real, it will show up in observable kindness to others – “visiting widows and the fatherless in their affliction” and whatever else people need. That is what real wisdom does for us. That’s another way it makes us like Jesus.

The next word I translated “impartial.” The Greek word has quite a wide range of meanings, but certainly Jesus was “impartial.” James rebuked partiality in chapter 2 in the case of the unjust usher. Jesus obviously couldn’t care less who anybody was. It didn’t matter to Him if people were rich or poor, kings or peasants, beautiful or ugly, men, women, children – whatever. The truth is the truth no matter who someone is and each person is, in themselves, valuable to God. Impartial. Real wisdom helps us to see that – and be like Jesus.

Lastly is listed “without pretense” or “not hypocritical.” This is one word that is clear enough in Greek or English. It means just what it means. Unfeigned. For real. When a person has real wisdom, they don’t have to pretend anything. James said earlier that the “not from above” wisdom leaves us with bitter feelings in our hearts and results in “every foul practice.” Those kinds of things must be hidden by anyone who claims to be “religious” and certainly anyone who’d presume to teach. Jesus never had to hide anything. “What you see is what you get.” If we find ourselves putting up fronts, we can be assured what we think is “wisdom” is not. And, in that case, we can also be assured that we are not being like Jesus! I would imagine that’s another reason why the tax collectors and prostitutes liked Him – He was sincere. He said what He meant. They probably very quickly realized, “Here is someone we can trust.”

That’s what real wisdom does for us. It makes us like Jesus. You could re-write James 3:17 and say, “But the wisdom from above is … Jesus!”

“More about Jesus, would I learn …”♫

James 3:17 – “’Cause It’s All About You, Jesus”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of this verse:

¹⁷But the from above wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, reasonable, agreeable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, [and] without pretense.

I’ve tried to look closely at the first two qualities of “from above” wisdom – “pure,” and “peaceable.” As I said earlier, the rest of the words do not necessarily translate well into English. They are mostly picture words and it’s hard to sum up those pictures in single English words. My translations “reasonable, agreeable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, [and] without pretense” are as close as I can get. If you want to get a feel for the fullness of the pictures painted by each word, just look up as many translations as you can and see how they translated each word – they’re probably all correct, all trying to draw out some aspect of the picture, and perhaps in the sum of them all, you’ll get a good feel for their meaning.

But I think it is more simple than that. What is really helpful to me is to step back, look again at the passage, and realize what James is describing is Jesus. Whether or not I (or anyone else for that matter) has done the best job trying to translate these terms, I think there should be no question in anyone’s mind that we are talking about Jesus. We are talking about His character. We’re talking about exactly what He was like. And we are talking about a person who is very pleasant to be around.

James is saying the “from above” wisdom will make us like Jesus, it will make us nice people! He’s saying this is the litmus test of whether our wisdom is “from above” or not. Based on this passage I have to ask myself, “Yes or no? Is the ‘wisdom’ I think I possess creating in me the contentiousness of a Pharisee (vv.14-16) or the gentle kindness of Jesus (v17)? “But, but, but … I’m contending earnestly for the once-delivered faith! I’m standing up for my convictions! I’m valiant for the truth!” Those are the natural responses of those of us who’ve been trained to think it is okay to be hateful and mean as long as we’re somehow “defending the truth.”

Really? Let me ask that question again: Is the “wisdom” I think I possess creating in me the contentiousness of a Pharisee or the gentle kindness of Jesus? The “from above wisdom,” though granted it is first of all pure, will make us “peaceable, reasonable, agreeable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, [and] without pretense.” To put it bluntly, “wisdom” that makes us otherwise is, according to James, demonic(!). Once again, I am thinking this passage ought to be a bombshell, if only we would read it and really take to heart what James is saying. Especially anyone who would even dare to take up the position of “teacher” (v1) and sincerely believe they possess wisdom (v13) to be shared, ought to read James 3:13-18 in sincere humility, honestly asking the Lord to hold up their life and their heart to these words.

As I’m studying this and thinking about it, I am amazed at how far off base we’ve all gotten. Christianity is about Christ. It’s all about Jesus. And not the Jesus we want Him to be but the actual Jesus of the Bible, this Jesus who is peaceable, reasonable, agreeable … and yet on the other hand a Warrior King. We think “religion” is all about church, all about programs, even all about theologies, and the “right” schools, and all the rest. And we all forget it’s only ever been about Jesus. The wisdom from above is Jesus. If I would be more what God wants me to be, I must be more about Jesus, more like Him, more like Him in how I define “pure,” and more like Him in how I view the people around me and how I talk to them and how I treat them. “More about Jesus would I know, more of His grace to others show; More of His saving fullness see, more of His love, Who died for me.”

Again, I am amazed how easily distracted I am and we all are. It’s so simple.

The wisdom from above is Jesus.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship,

‘Cause it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus.

I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it,

When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship,

‘Cause it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus.

James 3:17 – “Warrior Peace”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of this verse:

¹⁷But the from above wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, reasonable, agreeable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, [and] without pretense.

Peace. An interesting subject. One of Jesus’ titles is “Prince of Peace.” Prince of peace. As that passage goes on to say, “Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6,7). Some of His last words on earth were “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Paul closed II Thessalonians with: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all” (3:17).

He is the Lord of peace and the Prince of peace, and peace is one of the fruits of His Spirit in us (Gal 5:22). The more we cultivate the Spirit’s presence and control, the more our lives will be characterized by peace – just as James is saying here in 3:17 – as the “from above” wisdom more and more becomes our wisdom, it will evidence itself in this characteristic of “peaceableness.”

He tells us in Hebrews 12:14 to “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone …” and Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” He wants us to be “peaceable.”

On the other hand Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matt 10:34). When John describes His return to earth, He says, “I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, … He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, … The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations …” (Rev 19:11-15).

The Prince of Peace is also a Conquering King! The problem of course is that where sin exists there must also be war. Sin is not just “wrong.” It is death. It is self-destruction. It robs people and their world of the very peace He intended us to enjoy. That is precisely why Jesus comes as a Conquering King. Sin must first be destroyed, in order for His kingdom of peace to come about. That is why He flew into a rage and cleansed the Temple. That is why He waged a bitter war against the Pharisees (Matt 23). The Prince of Peace had to battle against the very people and practices that robbed His world (our world) of peace.

Therein explains our own struggle with this thing called peace. I know everyone is wired differently, but over the years the Psalmist’s words have been almost painful to me every time I read them, “Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war” (Psalm 120:6,7). I don’t think it makes me any better than anyone else, but it seems like my very soul has always been wired for peace. That’s what I mean, “I know everyone is wired differently.” Obviously, there are people who are apparently wired for war, and I guess there must be. Someone has to be the General and the policeman and the prize fighter and the NFL lineman. There are fights that must be fought and it’s a good thing if someone seems wired to make it happen. But I am not. Of course that becomes my weakness when it is time to fight – I’m so utterly inclined to avoid it. “I am a man of peace.”

But it seems to me that most people actually don’t want peace. They’ll say they do, but if their life isn’t filled with drama, they’ll do whatever it takes to create some. It seems like most people live in a soap opera and they want to. Peace is apparently too dull and boring. The world is that way too. If we aren’t in a war, we’re rattling swords with someone trying to start one. Some historian apparently claimed that human history has only enjoyed two years without war somewhere on the globe. I know, I know, I know we are of our father the devil and the lusts of our father we will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, the father of lies. Of course that is why the world is the way it is, hurting and lying. But I still don’t like it. “Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace …” I want to go home.

Oh, well. I guess rant over. I’m so glad real wisdom makes people “peaceable.” A fruit of the Spirit is peace and its presence in our hearts makes us “peaceable.” For most people, that’s a good thing and I wish there was more of it going around. For people like me who are peaceable to a fault, it’s good to know that the Prince of Peace is also a warrior, a man who will fight a fight when it needs to be fought. Whatever direction we’re naturally inclined we can find the perfect balance in our wonderful Lord Jesus. He alone is perfectly peaceable when He should be, and just as quick to take up the sword when that is the right thing to do. No matter how we’re inclined, the more we’re like Him, the more balanced we’ll become.

I guess I just think the world could use a whole lot more of people being peaceable and whole lot less of being argumentative and testy and difficult. I long for the day when “the wolf will lie down with the lamb … and they shall neither hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain” (Isaiah 11:6-9).

Peace. Peaceable. Yes.

When it should be.

James 3:17 – “Pure”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of this verse:

¹⁷But the from above wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, reasonable, agreeable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, [and] without pretense.

I have been trying to really think hard about what the Lord is saying in this verse. He warned us in v15 that there is a “wisdom” that comes not from God but is ultimately demonic. I think we all need to stop and ponder that this “wisdom” (not from God) is obviously something we all find attractive and that there is a very high probability we may live our lives deceived into thinking it really is “wisdom.” From vv14-16, we learn that in our blindness, we may totally not realize it is making us arrogant, dishonest, bitter, and contentious, that it is producing in our lives not peace but rather constant trouble. Even as I sit here pondering all of this myself, I am thinking that thought alone ought to fill our hearts with a holy fear and a determination to passionately seek the Lord’s presence!

But the good news is that back in 1:5 He assured us He would generously give us His wisdom, the “from above wisdom,” if we would only ask. The verse before us, James 3:17, is obviously intended that we should hold up our lives to the light and compare them to the characteristics given in this verse. Even as we’re sincerely asking the Lord for His wisdom, we can be asking ourselves, “Do these words characterize my life?  Do they characterize the fruit of whatever I think is my ‘wisdom?’ Or is the real truth that I’m living back in vv14-16 – the wisdom that is not ‘from above?’”

I want to really ponder what this all means. I notice back in Proverbs, of course, there is much said about the beauty of God’s wisdom, as in 3:13-18: “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom … for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold … nothing you desire can compare with her. … Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Those very words are in a sense repeated here in James. Real wisdom produces in us peaceableness and kindness.

As I dive into these characteristics of “from above” wisdom, I notice there is very likely a deliberate order. There are, technically speaking, seven qualities given. You could count eight but grammatically the “full of” is a single characteristic which happens to be given two objects. All of this reminds me of Galatians 4:22-24 and the Fruit of the Spirit which also is given as seven qualities. In fact this whole passage from v13-18, reminds me of that passage, comparing the Works of the Flesh to the Fruit of the Spirit, here comparing the wisdom “not from above” and the wisdom that is.

As I have studied these characteristics, I have tentatively translated them, “pure, then peaceable, reasonable, agreeable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, [and] without pretense.” As I have pondered these words, I have found it challenging to pin down exactly what they mean. I think, quite frankly, most of them don’t translate easily from Greek to English. I am doing my best to be sure I understand them, but before I record my thoughts, I want to say that the most encouraging way to look at this collection of words is simply to see them all wrapped up in Jesus Himself. (He is, after all, "Christ, the wisdom of God" in I Cor 1:24!). We can dissect the words and make the valiant attempt to translate them but, in the end, I honestly think it will be the most helpful if we kind of throw up our hands and just look at Jesus. That is what I will try to do.

But first for my “valiant attempt.” Since it comes first, I want to ponder on this idea that the “from above” wisdom is first of all pure.

“Pure.” The word in and of itself is simple enough. It means “pure.” (Pretty insightful, yes?) “Pure” basically means “free from admixture or impurities” and then can be used two ways, either “pure” in the sense of like “pure cotton” meaning there are no other textiles present, or like “pure water” meaning it contains no impurities or pollutants. Obviously, here it could mean everything it could mean or perhaps it needs to be understood in some more limited sense.

On the one hand I suspect if we try to stick close to our text and interpret the word in the immediate context, James is contrasting “from above” wisdom with the “not from above” and he just got done telling us the “not from above” is characterized by duplicity. So, by “pure” he could be saying that “from above” wisdom first of all is pure in the sense that our hearts are in fact true, that we are not proclaiming “wisdom” on the outside while harboring in our hearts evil passions (like thinking we’re the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?). We’re  pure in the sense of being true. This would be the wisdom we speak when we’ve first done the heart work to make sure our motives are sincere and open before God.

But having said that, I am realizing on the other hand that none of this is possible if we are not pure in the moral sense. If I’m harboring evil thoughts or practices of any kind, my “wisdom” is suspect, no matter what I may be saying. So perhaps I need to broaden my understanding of “pure” in this context to include not just motives but my general morality as well. To support this from the text, I notice that James just said in v16 the wisdom not “from above” produces “every foul practice,” then immediately asserts the “from above” wisdom is first of all pure. So even from the text one could insist on including the moral sense of the word.

Hmmmm. I actually like what A.T. Robertson said: “In wisdom purity of character and motive is absolutely essential at any cost.” He thinks both are included in James’ sense here. I’m inclined to agree.

For whatever it’s worth, I believe that this passage has been used wrongly over the years to defend mean-spiritedness in doctrinal disputes. People have asserted that God’s wisdom is first of all pure, therefore anyone who disagrees with their interpretations and doctrines is evil and, therefore, can be lambasted in a hateful, cruel spirit. Even the Reformers devolved into what I think was an entirely unchristian spirit in their doctrinal disputes. Fox’s “Book of Martyrs” chronicles the abuses and persecution suffered by the Reformers at the hands of the Catholic Church; but a fair study of history will reveal that the Reformers were often no better when they got in power. And even amongst themselves, the Reformers were quick to be hateful to each other. My impression from reading has been that Calvin hated Luther and they both hated the Anabaptists. I’m sorry – yes, we should contend earnestly for the once delivered faith and yes, the wisdom that’s from above is first pure, but none of that justifies a hateful spirit. Honestly, I think that is exactly what James is teaching against in this whole passage. The “from above” wisdom raises us above vindictiveness, vengeance, and all of that militaristic hatefulness.

So, wrapping up, if we would live “from above” wisdom, we need as always to guard our hearts. We need for the Lord to help us be “pure” in the sense that what we’re saying on the outside is consistent with the thoughts and motives going on inside. And, we need the Lord to help us be living lives of integrity. We need both. I like what someone said, that true wisdom is literally the image of God. As I said above, I suspect, in the long run, the best way to understand this whole passage is simply to look at Jesus. True wisdom will always look like Him.

God help us all today to be pure like Jesus was pure – in all the different ways that was true -- so what we think is “wisdom” will really be “from above!”

James 3:17 – “True Truth”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of this verse:

¹⁷But the from above wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, reasonable, agreeable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, [and] without pretense.

As I studied verses 13-16, I lamented the sad fact that the very “wisdom” I think is true may turn out to be instead demonic! The Lord gives us the clue to look to our hearts and see how our “wisdom” is affecting our inmost being. If it is stirring troublesome, contentious, bitter emotions, then I have great reason to fear myself and take serious stock before the Lord.

But, fortunately for us, the very next words are “But the wisdom from above …” It is literally “the from above wisdom.” I want to stop and camp on this thought for a few minutes.

Note that the only true wisdom is “from above” wisdom. The same word “from above” occurred back in 1:17 and applies here: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights …” True wisdom comes down from the Father of Lights. It can only be obtained from God Himself. He even offers back in 1:5 that He will give His wisdom generously to anyone who asks for it – but notice even there it is clearly coming directly from Him.

I am very glad to read these words this morning. I have been troubled lately over the realization how much we are all lied to. I’ve come to the conclusion that almost nothing the government tells us is true. They are very deliberately and specifically telling us what they want us to hear, manipulating us. The American press, which ought to be the heralds of truth, is instead the lapdog of the left, engaged in a giant mission of social engineering. They report only the news they want us to hear and report in ways designed to stir leftist liberal sympathies and to demonize anyone with conservative leanings. Even on the conservative side, I see much being written that exaggerates the evils of the left and emphasizes the negative to the point I’m not even sure I believe them anymore.

Then there is the scientific community. Science is supposed to be the pursuit of facts. Instead, I now realize that every research project undertaken is paid for by someone with an agenda. The “research” will “prove” whatever the money/power people want it to prove – or someone will be out of a job, or get no more research grants, or be discredited in the scientific community. For example, there is research out there which conclusively proves fluoridation of the water supply is good for children’s teeth. There is also research out there that conclusively “proves” it does no good at all and rather is actually dangerous! The old adage applies: “Figures lie and liars figure.” The whole “global warming” charade is the same. Why do you suppose its supporters keep getting caught fudging their data? Obviously it isn’t true and they have to “cook the books” to make it look true. Someone is paying them to “prove” it.

All of this leaves me with a bewildered feeling. I don’t know who or what to believe any more. Then I read “But the wisdom from above ..” and I’m reminded there is actually one place I can go where “truth” is true – rightly divided Scripture, the Bible, the words of the living God. Jesus said, “I am the Truth.” What a comfort, what a delight to be able to open my Bible, read the words there, and know that I am reading absolute truth!

Of course even the Bible itself is susceptible to misinterpretation, manipulation, and misuse. But that is precisely why I spend the time studying. I pull the passages apart at their Greek and Hebrew seams asking the question, “What is God saying … and what is He not saying?” I try to compare what I find to the ways I am seeing the world, even the ways I may have understood the passage in the past. I want to get at the truth, the pure, unadulterated truth.

And not only is careful study important but our looking into the Bible needs to be undertaken as simply one more expression of our personal relationship with God. It is   “from above” wisdom. The Bible is not cold, dead facts arranged on paper for us to dissect and compile. The Bible is the words of the living God, who is our very present Help, and must be read that way. Someone once said, “To read the Bible is to look into the very face of God.” I like that. I enjoy reading and studying the Bible with the sense that God is, in fact, very present, these are His words He’s speaking to me, just as He did with Moses, “face to face.” I believe reading and studying the Bible in the presence of God protects us from even that being distorted. No matter what I’m studying, I want to come out of it knowing God better. I want to see Him as I study.

And these words, even though brief, I believe reinforce that desire. It is “from above” wisdom. Again, while the world lies to me and seeks to manipulate me in this direction or that, I have a wonderful, personal God who offers me truth straight from His loving, faithful heart. It is “from above” wisdom.

So I head out today into a world where very little I’ll hear is really true and even less is dependable, but I go with my God, who is Himself Truth, and whose promises to me are “very great and precious.”