Comparison or Compassion

James 3 compares relational wisdom from the world and relational wisdom from above.

         ¹³ Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don’t brag. Don’t say that you are wise when it isn’t true. ¹⁵ That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. ¹⁶ Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil.

       ¹⁷ However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. ¹⁸ A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.

In this context, this image is appalling, but try to list in your mind all of the places that you come into contact with people. How many are competitions and how many compassion?

The life of Jesus reeks of compassion, there was no competition in Him, except maybe glimpses when he was making the whip to clean out the money changers, or telling the story of the prodigal son's father running, or maybe even when he was fighting for the water basin to wash the disciples feet.

Lord, I want to be like Jesus. He oozed with gentleness, peace, obedience, mercy, and compassion. Lord, make me like You. Lord, make me like You. You were a servant. Make me one too. Lord, I am willing, do what You must do to make me like You, Lord. Make me like You.

James 3:18,
Camelot

Freedom

I heard a great truth on the radio a few days ago

"Freedom means that we are free to struggle, but we are not struggling to be free."

In John 8, Jesus said to the believers, "If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
  
Freedom does not come after the struggle, but after the obedience and we have been set free from sin and death as believers. We are free to live a life in obedience to Jesus. Then and only then can we set out on the adventure of knowing Him and making Him known. 

James 4:14,
Camelot