February 16-28

Daily Devotionals

by Pastor Larry Wilson


Are You For Real?: Meditations in the Epistle of James

The Orthodox Presbyterian Church

February 16

Are You For Real? (James 3:1–2)

Scripture for Day 47—James 3:1–2

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Devotional:

Chapter 1 gave three "leading spiritual indicators," three signs of a genuine relationship with God—a controlled tongue; care for the needy; and cleanliness from the world (vv. 26–27). Chapter 2 elaborated on the second—care for the needy. Chapter 3 returns to the first—a controlled tongue. "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (1:26).

Notice that verse 1 addresses Christians—"my brothers." As we've noticed before, "brothers" is not gender-specific. It refers to siblings in the household of God. It refers to God's redeemed children—to believers in Jesus Christ.

"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers…" To say "not many" believers "should become teachers" implies that some believers should become teachers. The word translated "teacher" is a technical term in the New Testament for those who are ordained to the office of minister of the Word (e.g., see Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11). James himself was in this category ("we who teach"). Although this principle certainly has broader application, this verse is especially speaking of pastor-teachers in the church.

Because God does call some believers to be teachers, therefore he at the same time calls every believer to put himself or herself under the godly teachers that he has called. Are you a committed and involved member in a local church? It is both a sin and a danger to be a "Lone Ranger Christian."

At the same time, take seriously God's implied warning in this Scripture—because all are sinners, do not put an implicit trust in any preacher or teacher. Every one can let you down, and will in some way or other. Make sure that your trust is ultimately in the Lord himself, not merely in his instruments.

One practical evidence that your trust is ultimately in the Lord is that you will pray for his instruments. Do you pray regularly for your pastor? Do you pray habitually that God will use him—even though he is but a jar of clay—to transmit his heavenly treasures?

February 17

Are You For Real? (James 3:1–2)

Scripture for Day 48—James 3:1–2

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Devotional:

To say "not many" believers "should become teachers" implies that some believers should become teachers. God explicitly states, however, that most believers should not be teachers. "Not many of you should become teachers, my brethren…" The NIV brings out the insinuation, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers…" Take seriously God's warning against pride and his summons to humility. This is an important Scripture to heed in our day of talk-shows, email, internet discussion groups, blogs, etc. It's amazing how many presume to do precisely what God pointedly tells them not to do. Why not?

First, most believers should not become teachers because of God's judgment—"…for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (v. 1b). Those "who teach will be judged with greater strictness." Therefore, "not many of you should become teachers, my brethren." God will hold you to a higher standard.

Second, most believers should not become teachers because of our sin—"For we all stumble in many ways" (v. 2a). We each sin. And if we sin at all, then we especially sin with our words. "And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body" (v. 2b). Therefore, "not many of you should become teachers, my brethren." "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent" (Prov. 10:19).

What then? Because God does call some believers to be teachers, therefore he at the same time calls every believer to put himself or herself under the godly teachers that he has called. At the same time, take seriously God's implied warning in this Scripture—because all are sinners, do not put an implicit trust in any preacher or teacher. Make sure that your trust is ultimately not in the Lord's instruments, but rather in the Lord himself.

February 18

Are You For Real? (James 3:1–2)

Scripture for Day 49—James 3:1–2

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Devotional:

Most importantly, notice how God underscores your own need of Jesus Christ. You see, you must tame your tongue. "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (1:26). The problem is that you do not and cannot tame your tongue. "If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man ..." (3:2). "No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (3:8).

Therefore, first, you need Christ's forgiving grace. And second, you need his enabling grace.

"Be of sin the double cure—
cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r." (Augustus M. Toplady)

And grace is exactly what our Lord abundantly gives. It's striking to consider how he especially gives his forgiving and enabling grace. He forgives and cleanses our guilty words especially through his Word. Rather than condemning us who flee to him, his perfect tongue saves our wayward tongues.

February 19

Are You For Real? (James 3:1–5a)

Scripture for Day 50—James 3:1–5a

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

Devotional:

Chapter 1 gave three "leading spiritual indicators," three signs of a genuine walk with God—a controlled tongue; care for the needy; and cleanliness from the world (vv. 26–27). Chapter 3 addresses the first—a controlled tongue. "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (1:26).

If you don't bridle your tongue, your religion is worthless. Ah, but therein lies the problem. "For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body." To control the tongue, you have to be "perfect." Who qualifies for that?

Even so, "the tongue is a small member …" How hard can it be to control? "Yet it boasts of great things." It's small, but it has a huge influence.

The tongue is like a bit, a small piece of metal placed in the mouth of a horse. A bridle holds the bit in place and reins allow a rider to "steer" the horse. The tongue is also like a rudder. A rudder is a relatively small flat plate of material attached with hinges to the back of a ship. It directs the flow of water in order to allow a pilot to turn or steer the ship. Even though the bit and the rudder are very small, they are very influential. Likewise, even though the tongue is very small, it is very influential.

The point is, either you control your tongue or else your tongue will control you. More quickly than any other part of the body, the tongue expresses what is in the sinful heart. Therefore, getting control of your tongue is a key to getting control of yourself. The problem is, "no human being can tame the tongue" (3:8). But Jesus can!

Jesus always and only exercised perfect self-control. He never stumbled in what he said. He was a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. He performed all righteousness. Even so he died the accursed death of the cross! But he died as the Righteous One for the unrighteous in order to bring us to God. If anything proves that we are unrighteous, it's our tongues! If anything proves that we need the grace of God in Christ, it's our tongues! When God confronted Isaiah with all his holiness, Isaiah was immediately convicted that his mouth (his tongue, his speech) was filthy (Isa. 6). Ask God to forgive your wicked words for Jesus' sake. Ask Jesus to take control of your heart and to tame your tongue so as to make it an influence for righteousness rather than sin.

February 20

Are You For Real? (James 3:5b–6)

Scripture for Day 51—James 3:5b–6

5b How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

Devotional:

If you don't control your tongue, then your religion is rubbish. "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (1:26). Ah, but therein lies the problem. "For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body" (3:2). Who can control the tongue?

The sinful tongue is small. How can something so small do so much damage? But the tongue doesn't have to be big to do a lot of damage. "How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire…." When I was a boy, I was amused one day to return home to fire trucks and a big hubbub. It seems that my younger brother and some friends—very young at the time—had managed to sneak off to play with matches. While they were enjoying the little pretty sparks, they accidentally set a field on fire. "It only takes a spark to get a fire going…." Likewise, "The tongue is set among our members … setting on fire the entire course of life…"

The first time I did my own laundry, I quickly discovered that I hadn't paid close enough attention to my mother's instructions. I threw in one red shirt to fill out a load. I thought it was measly and insignificant, but as a result I wound up wearing pink underwear. That one little shirt stained the whole load. Similarly, "the tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body…." You never sin without your tongue being involved, even if you don't talk to others. You talk yourself into every sin you commit. Your tongue stains your whole body.

In fact, your tongue is even "a world of unrighteousness"—more literally, "the world of unrighteousness." It's a double-agent; it serves the purposes of the unrighteous world. And not just the unrighteous world! It is "set on fire by hell" itself! The tongue even serves the purposes of the devil. How much devastation is inflicted on churches, on families, on the world, by tongues that belong to the Lord but serve as agents of the world and the devil.

"Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips…" (Isa. 6:5). How desperately we need the grace of God in Jesus Christ! How we need his grace to forgive our guilty failures! How we need his grace to liberate us from the worldly, hellish use of our tongues and to empower us to consecrate our tongues to him.

"Take my voice, and let me sing,"
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from thee" (Francis R. Havergal, 1874)†


†Click here for the full hymn and tune.

February 21

Are You For Real? (James 3:7–8)

Scripture for Day 52—James 3:7–8)

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Devotional:

Either you control your tongue or your religion is phony. "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (1:26). The problem is, "no human being can tame the tongue."

This is so ironic! We're able to tame all sorts of creatures. "Every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind…" We "tame" some creatures in the sense that they become so domesticated that we make pets and friends of them. But we "tame" other creatures in the sense that we exercise dominion over them. When the dolphin at the zoo leaps through a hoop for fish, it hasn't been tamed in the same sense as a pet dog. Still, it clearly has been brought under human dominion. Last summer, I discovered a colony of yellow-jacket wasps in my back yard. But—with some doing—I was able to get the problem under control; you might say that they were "tamed."

Since James wrote this, mankind has advanced its technology so amazingly that we harness even the great forces of nature. I'm writing this on a computer in a house that is heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer. We exercise tremendous control over nature. But "no human being can tame the tongue."

Why not? Because the tongue is "a restless evil." It is unstable. James 1:8 uses the very same word of "a double-minded man." He is "unstable in all his ways." It is disorderly. James 3:16 also uses this word when it says that wisdom of this world produces "disorder and every vile practice." It is "a restless evil," constantly looking for trouble.

At the same time, the tongue is like a rattlesnake or a cobra, poised to strike, "full of deadly poison." Whether by means of slander (spreading false stories about people) or by means of gossip (spreading true stories about people to those who have no business hearing them), how many churches have been split by the poison of wagging tongues? How many marriages have been wrecked? How many careers have been ruined? How many friendships ended? How many wars started?

No mere human being can tame the rebellious, deadly tongue. But Jesus can! Look to him for the grace that forgives all your tongue's iniquity and transgressions. Look to him for the gracious working of his Holy Spirit that conquers your sins and enables you to exercise self-control.

February 22

Are You For Real? (James 3:8–12)

Scripture for Day 53—James 3:8–12

8 ... but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Devotional:

In college I had an anthropology professor whose class was so interesting because he was not just an academe. He was also involved in mercy ministry in third world countries. He told of an instance where they were preparing to install both a water supply system and a sewage system in one village. Some of the locals who were involved in the work protested that they were doing twice as much work and expense as was necessary. They proposed that they instead simply install one system and use the same pipes to bring in water during the day and carry away sewage at night! That's awful, right?

But the human tongue is just as bad as that! "With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing." How can the same mouth say such contradictory things? It's like using the same pipes to carry away sewage and bring in drinking water! Ugh! How do you suppose the holy God likes that?

The upshot of it all is that we have a dilemma. You must tame your tongue. "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (1:26).

But you cannot tame your tongue. "No human being can tame the tongue" (3:8). Why not? Because of your inner corruption, slavery to sin, and spiritual death. Your words merely reveal what's in your heart. "Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water."

You cannot tame your tongue. But our Lord Jesus Christ can! He performed all our duty by his perfect life for us. He paid all our debt by his atoning death for us. Therefore, death could not hold him. He rose from the dead, ascended to the highest place, and poured out his Holy Spirit. Look to Jesus alone and find full and free forgiveness. Cry out to him and find strength for newness of life. Look to Jesus to tame your tongue!

February 23

Are You For Real? (James 3:1–12)

Scripture for Day 54—James 3:1–12

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Devotional:

God pointedly addresses our need for bridled tongues in the book of Proverbs. Consider the following. Read them aloud several times and prayerfully reflect on them. Memorize the one that most strikes you.

Proverbs 6:16–19

16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 12:17-23

17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.
21 No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Proverbs 15:1-4

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 15:7–8

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

Proverbs 15:28

28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Proverbs 16:27–28

27 A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 21:23

23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

February 24

Are You For Real? (James 3:13)

Scripture for Day 55—James 3:13

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Devotional:

There used to be a TV game show called, "To Tell the Truth." A panel of four celebrities would try to deduce which of three contestants—each claiming to be the same person—was telling the truth. They'd take turns asking questions, doing detective work, and finally they'd vote on whom they thought was telling the truth. After they announced their votes, the host would ask, "Will the real [person's name] please stand up?" at which point the truthful contestant would reveal himself.

In a real sense, today's text asks, "will the truly wise person please stand up?" "Who is wise and understanding among you?"

Our Lord Jesus answers, "you will recognize them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:20). Through James he answers, "By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom." Good fruits reveal who is truly wise, and good fruits must come from good roots.

The true Christian life is not just a role that you play. It's not like a costume or makeup that you put on the outside of your personality. The true Christian life starts with a changed heart, a heart that is born from above by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then it grows from the inside out.

If the true Christian life must start with a changed heart, how do you know if God has changed your heart? What is the chief confirmation of a truly changed heart? Over and over, the Bible says "meekness" or "humility."

John Calvin quoted Augustine with approval—

"When a certain rhetorician was asked what was the chief rule in eloquence, he replied, 'Delivery;' what was the 2nd rule, 'Delivery;" what was the 3rd rule, 'Delivery;' so if you ask me concerning the precepts of the Christian religion, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and always I would answer, 'Humility'" †

Are you wise and understanding? Not unless you're humble before God and others. Humble yourself before God through Christ the Mediator. And then "by [your] good conduct … show [your] works in the meekness of wisdom."

† John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.2.11).

February 25

Are You For Real? (James 3:13–18)

Scripture for Day 56—James 3:13–18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Devotional:

Whoever is "wise and understanding" will "by his good conduct … show his works in the meekness of wisdom." The problem is that consistency is rare. Instead of "the meekness of wisdom," some "have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in [their] hearts…" (v. 14). "Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition…" are utterly contrary to the genuine wisdom which comes from above. Our Lord Jesus himself said: "I am meek and lowly," Matt. 11:29. Genuine wisdom is always Christ-like.

Accordingly, "if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth." Even if they utter orthodox words, those who are driven by "bitter jealousy and selfish ambition" are not Christlike. They generally sow strife among the brethren. Hence, they really ought not to "boast." And yet they generally do. Why? Because of their "bitter jealousy and selfish ambition"! They assume the role of pontificating God's Word and will and lording it over others. If others happen to disagree or resist, then they respond in arrogance.

Bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, and boasting are besetting sins of those who are double-minded. James 1:8 warns you not to be a "double-minded man, unstable in all his ways…" To be double-minded is to be two-faced with God. A divided heart will get you nowhere with God. It will also get you nowhere for God.

February 26

Are You For Real? (James 3:13–18)

Scripture for Day 57—James 3:13–18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Devotional:

Bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, and boasting are besetting sins of those who are double-minded. James 1:8 warns you not to be a "double-minded man, unstable in all his ways…" To be double-minded is to be two-faced with God. A divided heart will get you nowhere with God or for God.

And pretend holiness is no holiness at all. Note that this Scripture says "do not … be false to the truth." If yours is pretend holiness, then you are "false to the truth" in at least three ways. First, you hide the truth about yourself; you pretend to be something you really aren't. Second, you hide yourself from the message of God's truth, which addresses your heart. Third, you hide and obscure to others the truth about Jesus Christ. "What you do speaks louder than what you say." Pretend holiness—the kind that gives place to "bitter jealousy and selfish ambition"—is "false to the truth."

Genuine Christian holiness starts with a heart that is transformed by God's grace. It flows out from the heart to transform the life. Out of the heart come all the issues of life (Prov. 4:23). Genuine Christian holiness can be produced only by the Lord Jesus Christ through the Word that he uses to grant the new birth. It's energized by the Lord Jesus through the Word that he uses to produce true holiness.

Are you looking to the Lord Jesus Christ? He is the only source of true wisdom! Are you moment by moment relying on his grace? Are you doing so by diligently hearing and meditating on and humbly following his Word?

February 27

Are You For Real? (James 3:14–15)

Scripture for Day 58—James 3:14–15

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Devotional:

Samuel Bolton, a 17th Century Puritan minister and at one time Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, wrote:

"It is well known that, just as God has communicated many truths to man, so has Satan endeavored to bring in many errors, his hope being to prejudice and weaken the reception of the truth even though he failed to induce men to entertain his lies. Indeed he finds that his best time for selling his wares is when peddlers are most busy, and when, in the busy market, men are buying truth. It is then that he offers his merchandise.

"To make it more vendible he represents it as highly respectable and as spiritual in character as truth itself. For long he has walked as a prince of darkness, but because he has lost hope of deceiving men any longer as such, he now transforms himself as an angel of light. Successful in past ages as a bare-faced deceiver, he put on a mask when men discovered his real character, and thus disguised he carried on his designs for generations. But the mask is now taken off, and he operates as one wearing the very face of truth."†

Bolton saw the devil himself as the main instigator behind destructive doctrinal error. We tend not to think that way any more. Perhaps it's the lingering influence of the Enlightenment, but we tend to think that encounters with the supernatural will always involve very unusual, very sensational experiences. And it works both ways.

On the one hand, we expect that genuine fellowship with the living God must surely involve exciting, out-of-this-world experiences. Surely the regular use of God's Word proclaimed in sermon, pictured in the sacraments, and responded to by faith in prayer is much too ordinary, much too mundane, much too humdrum to actually engage us with the living God! And yet, these the very means that the living God himself promises especially to bless to that very end.

On the other hand, we imagine that encounters with demons will be very rare, and that—if they happen at all—they will be sensational and "supernatural"—as in horror movies. But God says that in fact encounters with demons are very common. If truth be told, "bitter jealousy" or "selfish ambition" or "boast"-ing or teaching that is "false to the truth" is "not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic." It is not only earthly and unspiritual, but it is also literally demonic! Satan is a liar from the beginning and deceit is his chief weapon. He works relentlessly to stir up counterfeit "wisdom"—even in the church!

Wake up! There's a war going on, and "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).

†Samuel Bolton, The True Bounds of Christian Freedom, [1645; Banner of Truth, 1964], p. 13

February 28

Are You For Real? (James 3:14–18)

Scripture for Day 59—James 3:14–18

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic…. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Devotional:

Counterfeit wisdom is "earthly, unspiritual, demonic." In other words, it is produced by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Genuine wisdom, on the other hand, is "from above." True wisdom is from heaven—from God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Surely this is why James 1:5 exhorts, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." You see, the struggle for true wisdom, the battle for holiness, is a battle that must be waged in ongoing dependence on the grace of God in Christ. It must be waged by prayer.

The wisdom that comes from above must come from above! It's not natural to us! What is natural to us? Look at Ephesians 2:1–3—

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world [the world], following the prince of the power of the air [the devil], the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [the flesh], carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."

The wisdom from below is precisely what we produce and embrace by nature. How we need our Lord Jesus to rescue us, to unite us savingly to himself, to put his Holy Spirit in our hearts, to deliver us from the dominion of the world to the dominion of heaven. It starts with new hearts that are born from above! And it continues with new lives that are transformed from the inside out!

And it doesn't come without conflict! The world, the flesh, and the devil gang up to fight back against the working of our Lord Jesus by his Spirit through his Word. It's a battle that you cannot win on your own. Our Lord says, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Dedicate yourself to a life of dependence on the Lord by prayer. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5).