more thoughts... on faith that works...

Previous thoughts... on faith that works... need to be fleshed out... clarified...

Faith that works is NOT busy-ness... it is not doing whatever you think you should do... what feels good to you... I heard it as a reminder on the radio yesterday...

Oh, how many of us Christians feel that we in the flesh can do something that will please God! Many believers who never find out otherwise become as busy as termites and are having about the same effect in many of our churches.     ---J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible

The works of the flesh... they destroy the church... eat away at it like termites... our own understanding and reason so skewed by sin... that what we do... believing it to be good... is not...

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags...

Isaiah 64:6

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.

Romans 7:18

ESV 

Faith that works... listens first... listens to God... not only the written Scripture... but the Living Word... the personal word He speaks... regarding your life... time... relationships...

Here is where we build relationship with God... through Christ... via the Holy Spirit... listening and learning His voice...

Walking the walk of faith... begins by listening...

Consequently, faith comes from hearing, 

and hearing through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17

ESV

...and when His Word comes... ACT...

James 2: thoughts... part 5

Read James 2

A transition... two sentences... seemingly singular ideas... yet in the memory work... in the reciting... again and again... a connection developed... for me...

For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn't shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

James 2:13-14

HCSB

The truth that... the one who hasn't shown mercy... does not receive mercy... jumping to... what good is it... to have faith without works... leads to a leap... 

MERCY... A WORK OF FAITH...

A word I've interpreted only as an emotion... a noun... I now see... as a verb... 

Real mercy... works... clothing the naked... feeding the hungry... caring for the sick... holding those who mourn... visiting prisoners... pouring out grace on the lost... treating all as bearers of His image...

A thought that has changed my perception of mercy... it not only feels... it works... by... faith...

James 4: thoughts... part 7

Having completed the memory work of James... but unsure how to know when thoughts are complete... I've set a goal... 7 thoughts for each chapter... to be completed... hope-fully... before Christmas gets too much closer... so here goes...

Read James 4

James... he hits us with a reality check... 

But who are you to judge your neighbor?... You don't even know what tomorrow will bring --- what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

James 4:12, 14

HCSB

Who do you think you are...?

You don't know anything about your own life... much less about others'...

Just a puff of hot air... that's what you are... smoke... that evaporates... poof...

A reminder we all need to hear...

Hearts... they reveal the true measure of a person... a place only God sees... He... the ONLY Lawgiver... and Judge... 

Our command... love your neighbor as yourself... the royal law... no judging involved in loving... just humility... consider others better than yourself... 

James... throughout the letter... he tells us... do not show favoritism... do not discriminate... or practice hypocrisy... don't criticize... don't complain about one another... do not judge... 

Instead... offer mercy... grace... follow the Way... of his brother... his Lord... our Savior...

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

James 5: thoughts... part 4

Read James 5

Come now, you rich people! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you. Your wealth is ruined and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your silver and gold are corroded...

James 5:1-3

HCSB

The rich... their future holds... ruined wealth... moth-eaten clothes...

Consider this contrast...

During the forty years that I led you through the desert, 

your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.

Deuteronomy 29:5

Moses... reminding the Israelites of God's provision... as they followed Him... dependent on Him for life... everything took on an eternal nature... their clothes... shoes... did not wear out...

But with the rich... who follow money... material possessions... for security... comfort... everything fails... falls apart... corrodes...

Only by following Him... looking to Him... for daily bread... provision... refuge... will anything last...

"I assure you, most solemnly I tell you,

he who believes in Me 

[adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me]

has (now possesses) eternal life."

John 6:47

Amp

Eternal life begins now... it is not a heavenly future... it is now...

Father God... may I no longer waste time... or energy... investing... pursuing... things that spoil... but pour myself into knowing... following You...

James 5: thoughts... part 3

Read James 5

I found it today... in my reading through... an exception to the words of James...

Your "yes" must be "yes," and your "no" must be "no,"

so that you won't fall under judgment.

James 5:12

HCSB

In the case of a "no" to God... there is room... for a change of heart...

Jesus tells a parable... two sons... one father... each son asked to work in the vineyard...
The first said "no"... but later... changed his mind... and went to work...
The second said "yes"... but never made it to the vineyard...

"Which of the two did the will of his father?" 

This morning... as I readied for my day... a thought came to mind... a chore I desired to delay... procrastinate... my answer... I'll do it tomorrow...

The next thing I knew... I was doing what I said "no" to... somewhere along the way... my heart turned "no" into "yes"...

To actually do... God's will... even if you tell Him "No"... is far superior to saying "Yes"... but not following through... 

In this case... a "no" that doesn't mean "no"... will save you from judgment...

James 4: thoughts... part 6

The daily discipline of memory... nears the end... but thoughts still stir... thoughts yet to be posted... will continue... till this entree of James... is complete...

Read James 4

A transition... one that seems awkward... may offer insight... into the heart of man...

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Don't criticize one another, brothers.

James 4:10-11

HCSB

Humble yourself before the Lord... jumping directly to criticizing a brother...? How does one butt up against the other...?

Consider... the source of criticism... doesn't it often come from a heart of insecurity...? jealousy...? pride...?

Doesn't criticizing... make the critic... feel superior... higher... exalted...?

We are not to lift up ourselves... at the expense of others...

The Greek translated as do not criticize... can also be rendered...
do not speak evil...
do not slander...
don't bad mouth...
The original intent clearly goes beyond a constructive critique... these are hurtful... accusing words... condemnation...

There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus...

Believers... brothers and sisters in Christ... are not to criticize one another... finding fault... in order to feel favored... we are to remember our own failures... be readily self-critical... humble yourself before the Lord... and He will lift you up...

Be completely humble and gentle;

be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit

through the bond of peace. 

Ephesians 4:2-3

James 5: thoughts... part 2

Thoughts of James continue... along with the work of memory...

Read James 5

A word that saves...

Brothers, do not complain about one another, 

so that you will not be judged...

James 5:9

HCSB

Cleaning a bathroom... mind drifting back through the day... complaints forming... just waiting for someone to ask... my words wound up to tell...

Then James interrupts my thoughts... do not complain about one another... so that you will not be judged...

Well... Amen...

A Word that put the brakes on the talk in my head... and hope-fully... keeps it from escaping my lips... the guard over my mouth at work...

Complaining... it breaks down the body... causes rifts... AND... brings judgment on your own head...

Thank You, Lord, for the words of James... for Your interference in my life... with saving grace...

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, 

bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

strengthening a heart

The word of James... to be patient... to strengthen your heart... continues in my thoughts...

Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near.

James 5:8

HCSB

What does it mean to strengthen your heart...?

Strengthen... also rendered... establish... translated from the Greek meaning... to make stable... place firmly... set fast... fix...

Heart... used metaphorically... representing the inner life... mind... will... emotion...

Make stable... your mind, will, and emotion...

How do we strengthen a heart... the one thing that is deceitful above all others...?

Counsel from the Lord through Isaiah says...

...in quietness and trust is your strength...

Quietness being a stable heart... a calm inner self... not stirred up... that... along with trust in Him... is our source of strength...

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

2Chronicles 16:9

The Lord strengthens our hearts... in response to... trust... commitment... counting on Him and His Way... no matter how things look... or how we feel... it is a gift of grace... when we choose Him...

It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace...

Hebrews 13:9

Strengthening of a heart comes through the exercise of faith... a hard walk... the one of seeing joy in trials... of being certain of the unseen... 

There is another way that some choose... that I have chosen before... it seems so much easier... 

Do not confuse the strengthening of a heart... with the hardening of a heart... 

It is tempting to harden a heart to emotion... to the possibility of more pain and disappointment... to judge and cut off... rather than hope and trust...

Exercising a muscle initially causes fatigue... pain... the same is true of our faith... but as we choose the hard work... we find strength... to be calm... with whatever comes... readied for the harvest... able to reap the reward...

The hardening of a heart... keeps the pain away... for a time... but a hard heart doesn't give... it eventually breaks... when the harvest comes there is only bitterness... anger... no joy...

We need a strong heart for His coming... or else we might miss the harvest... I've seen it happen in others... the change finally comes... the precious fruit ready... but the one whose been waiting... turns away... refuses... the heart too hard to bend and reap... 

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

Psalm 126:5

The one who refuses to sow in tears... hardening their heart... will not reap in joy...

Strengthen your hearts... because the Lord's coming is near...

Choose the work of waiting... patiently... just like the farmer... trusting in the One who causes growth...

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,

who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

2Thessalonians 2:16-17

James 5: thoughts... part 1

The process of memory continues... beginning James 5 a week or so ago... a verse struck me in a new way... stirring thoughts...

Read James 5

Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord's coming. 

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth 

and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 

You also must be patient. 

Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near.

James 5: 7-8

HCSB

See how the farmer waits... 

...for the precious fruit of the earth... 

...and is patient...

It became very personal... the precious fruit of the earth... the redemption of an unbeliever... the Lord coming to a heart near me...

Patience... the waiting required for the seeds planted in faith to grow... for God to bring the early and the late rains...

Into each life a little rain must fall...

Some need more rain than others to have hearts prepared... for the Word to take root... to bring about the fruit of salvation...

...be patient...

How often do I become impatient... thinking lost loved ones will never turn... ready to give up... harden my own heart to hope...

But patience... it's so important... if you don't wait for the rain to come and do it's work... for the water to soften the seed... for roots to grow... you destroy the potential... turning up soil too soon in hopes of replanting... simply ruins the planting already done... there is no digging down to see what's going on... only trust... in the One who makes things grow...

This verse reminds... be patient... strengthen your heart... because the Lord's coming is near... He is at work... He is coming...

Lord Jesus... forgive my impatience... strengthen my heart... fill me with joyful expectation for the growth and harvest... of the precious fruit of the earth...

James 4: thoughts... part 5

Read James 4

He... the One who gives greater grace... than jealous wrath... says...

God resists the proud,

but gives grace to the humble.

It's just a thought... but the One full of grace... could even His resistance be a gift... a kindness...?

The proud... set on a path of self-destruction... in His wisdom... and love... He opposes... throws up stumbling blocks... in hopes of turning... and saving...

Before his downfall a man's heart is proud,

but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12

The fall of the proud... may be just the gift they need... to bring about a saving grace...

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,

who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,

will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

1Peter 4:10

ESV

It's just a thought...

James 4: thoughts... part 4

Read James 4

The message of adultery... idolatry... unfaithfulness to God... cuts deep... the things of this world... our own broken nature... draw us away from Him... not to...

Or do you think its without reason the Scripture says

that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously?

James 4:5

HCSB

God's jealousy... reveals itself in wrath... as the Scripture says...

You shall not bow down to them or worship them;

for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,

punishing the children for the sin of the fathers

to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me...

Exodus 20:5

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire,

a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:24

Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;

for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God

and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you

from the face of the land.

Deuteronomy 6:14-15

Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the Lord. 

He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. 

He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 

If you forsake the Lord and serve other gods, 

he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, 

after he has been good to you."

Joshua 24:19-20

Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger...

1Kings 14:22

But James knows the Word of hope...

But He gives greater grace.

James 4:6

HCSB

Greater than the jealousy... the wrath... anger... that destroys... is His grace... that saves... redeems... restores... forgives...

Jesus... the source of greater grace... the One who on the cross bore the Father's jealous anger in full... the cup poured out...

Unless we know the depth of the trouble and disgrace we are in... we do not appreciate the greater grace that has been poured out for us... by His blood...

Yes... as great and as awe-full as His jealous wrath... is His greater grace...

Lord Jesus... today... fill me with awe an wonder of Your jealous love... and enable me to live in the joy of Your greater grace...

James... a new perspective...

The reading through... and what I know of James... gave me perspective... on his perspective...

In the study with sisters... I learned that James is considered the earliest of the New Testament writings... the first book written...

James himself... the half-brother of Jesus... gathered with the disciples... waiting... in the upper room after Jesus's ascension...

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Acts 1:12-14

ESV

(my emphasis)

A member of the early... early... church...

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. ...

Acts 2:42-47

ESV

(emphasis mine)

James... a member of this church... the one with all things held in common... possessions and belongings sold to fulfill any need that arose for any body...

Here is where James became intolerant of favoritism... 

witnessed the deadly effects of hypocrisy... 

and saw the trials... and ...persecution that lead to maturity...

A brother of Jesus... one with the apostles... the sight of flames of fire... the power of transformation... the church... truly being... the Body... James saw it all... and from this perspective he says...

James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ...

And he teaches us what is good...

James 4: thoughts... part 3

Read James 4

Wrestling with the Word from James is rough... he does not tread lightly into the heart... challenging Believers in the daily living of words... wealth... faith... and religion... demanding a heart of integrity...

Adulteresses! 

Don't you know that friendship with the world
is hostility toward God?

So whoever wants to be the world's friend 
becomes God's enemy.

James 4:4

HCSB
(emphasis added)

Adulteresses...!?
Hard words... for those who buddy up to the world...

What exactly does it mean to befriend the world...?
Aren't we supposed to love our neighbor... just not to the point of adultery...?

Who is the world anyway...?

The Greek translated as world... is kosmos... and when referenced as the world... it refers to... 

...the system of practices and standards associated with secular society (that is, without reference to any demands or requirements of God)... ---Louw & Nida

The world's way... void of God...
wealth as the source of security...
favoritism as a way to influence power...
envy and ambition as rungs to success...
this is what we are NOT to embrace...

This is the warning at the heart of James... beware the world...

Do not be deceived... 

In the Old Testament... God uses the term adultery as a synonym for idolatry... His people... chasing anything but His Way... are adulteresses... unfaithful sluts... foolish... rebellious...

We too are vulnerable to the same temptation... but the idols of stone and wood... take the form of wealth... a lavish lifestyle... relationships... power... status... self-gratification... entertainment... addictions... anything that pulls us away from God... is an idol...

As Believers... if we pour our lives into anything... apart from God's call on our life... we are... adulteresses... 

Are you cheating on God...?

James 4: thoughts... part 2

Still pressing forward on memory of James... its contents... continues to press me...

Read James 4

You do not have because you do not ask.

You ask and don't receive because you ask with wrong motives,

so that you may spend it on your evil desires.

James 4:2-3
HCSB

Verses with a sticking point... you ask and don't receive because you ask with wrong motives... can there be a wrong motive for everything...

What about salvation for a loved one...? Can that have an evil desire attached...? Is it possible to ask and ask... and not receive... because you ask wrong... for someone to know Jesus...?

A thought that sticks... a heart that wants to ask right... a soul that asks for searching... and cleansing...

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

an internal battle

Thoughts of James... continue... chapter upon chapter... verses building... bringing insight... seeing it made flesh... in me...

...resist the devil... and he will flee from you...

It's hard to resist when he sounds like you...

What about my rights?

I don't have to take that?

They made that mess... let them deal with it...

Well... at least my life isn't as big a wreck as hers...

I deserve to be recognized...

Discerning his voice is the first step to resisting... a battle that may make you feel bipolar... emotions the first evidence of his influence... discontent... envy... selfish ambition...

Don't be deceived... recognize the emotions he stirs... the thoughts he eggs on... resist... rid... replace with Truth...

Therefore... ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil...

humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you...

It begins in you... in me... identify the lie behind the emotion... the deception of the thought that judges... condemns... puts down... 

...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2Corinthians 10:5

It is our responsibility to resist... and rid... the evil from within...

Father God... help me to recognize... resist... and replace... the thoughts of the enemy... with Your Truth...

James 4: thoughts... part 1

Read James 4

Now remember... James is writing to Believers...

What is the source of wars and fights among you?

He poses this question to those who are to love one another in such a way they reveal the truth of Jesus to the unbelieving world around them... 

Don't they come from the cravings 

that are at war within you?

He quickly identifies the source of disputes among... it's the war within... cravings... desires... unmet wants... unfed flesh... the internal battle... raging... 

Believers are called to love... love one another... love enemies... When we don't the Spirit reminds... convicts... causing an internal war... the desire to be right... slams into what is right...

Jesus said... 

Greater love has no one than this... that he lay down his life for his friends...

To lay down your life is to battle the flesh... kill the cravings... deny self... take up the cross...

When we recognize and choose to fight the battle within... the wars among us wane... and we become more like the One we follow...

...for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8

Which is exactly what He came to do... fulfill the law...

So to fight... war with those among... we exalt ourselves over others... we break the law... leave the cross behind... and rebel against the One we call Lord...

But to do the daily denying... to wisely yield... to serve others with joy... is to love...

Lord... help me to choose You... over me... 

others... over self... for Your glory...

James 3: thoughts... part 7

Read James 3

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace

by those who cultivate peace.

James 3:18

HCSB

Words that come to mind on a regular basis... from the exercise of memory...

Righteousness... it's what we seek... what we desire... to be right... to be right with God... to have rightness of thinking, feeling, acting...

It is the wrong... the sin... that raises up crops of fear... death... pride...

To be right... provides peace... confidence... assurance...

Bearing the fruit of righteousness requires work... sowing... and cultivating... 

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace....

The seed for righteousness must be sown... planted... in peace... the peace found by trusting in the Lord... He is the only One who knows the way of righteousness... the fertilizer for the planting is trust in Him... without doubt... or fear...

...by those who cultivate peace.

Cultivating requires work... breaking up ground... removing weeds... and rocks... preparing good soil for growth...

To cultivate peace... requires the wisdom from above... the removal of bitter envy... and selfish ambition...

Righteousness farmed with peace... 

Peace with God...

Peace with others...

Peace with self...

The hard lessons of James... finding joy in trials... fighting temptation... accepting God as only good... sin of favoritism... foolishness of faith without works... the deadly tongue... the wisdom from above... Each lesson a hard row to hoe... for one born broken...

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness

and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11

Righteousness... sown in peace... by those who cultivate peace...

What are you planting...?

What kind of environment are you cultivating...?

James 1: thoughts... part 7

As the exercise of memory continues... James saturates thoughts... connections and understandings grow...

Read James 1

An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.

James 1:8

HCSB

...indecisive... Merriam and Webster define as... not decisive: inconclusive... marked by or prone to indecision: irresolute... not clearly  marked out: indefinite...

Not a lot of stability with the indecisive... unknowns abundant... boundaries unclear... decisions vacillate...

What makes one... indecisive... unstable...?

Lack of FAITH...

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:5-6

(emphasis added)

Do you ever find yourself... indecisive...?

Or do you know an unstable soul... whose Yes... turns to No... or their No... could be a Yes...? They do not say what they mean... or mean what they say... your standing with them... constantly unsure...

According to James... it's all about faith...

Once we choose to follow Christ... things are no longer up to us... many decisions come ready-made... He has a way... and a not the way... in all things...

We find ourselves... indecisive... emotionally tossed about... when we refuse to trust His way... or are ignorant of His way...

Faith is ultimately about trust... and once you trust... indecision... disappears... after all... He is the Rock... not sinking sand...

The faith-full... are stable... and trustworthy... strong...

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

"In repentance and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength...

Isaiah 30:15

(emphasis mine)

In Hebrew... the word translated quietness... is not about sitting without a sound... but implies a state without tumult... strife... or a lack of surging... rolling... in a liquid...

While trust... in the Hebrew... has to do with firmness... solidity... confident expectation...

Calm... confident... the elements born of faith... a house built on the Rock...

Wherever there is indecision... emotional... relational... rocking and rolling... it may all come down to faith...

James 1: thoughts... part 6

This practice of memory... the whole book of James... has made it visible... in ways I wouldn't have thought... continuing the repetition... from chapter one... to my current location... halfway through chapter four... keeps my thoughts in all of it...

Read James 1

...the Dispersion... filled my waking thoughts...

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.

Greetings.

James 1:1

HCSB

In Greek... diaspora... Israel's family scattered... my children scattered...

Dispersed... yes... disconnected... no...

The Truth... behind the dispersion... the presence of the Spirit... brings comfort... peace...

In Christ... we are one... just as James and his diaspora... A picture reinforced by communion this week... one bread... one body...

The Spirit... knowing hearts and needs... resides with the diaspora... gives guidance... wisdom... direction... plus interprets my prayers... for loved ones scattered...

Though we are dispersed... separated... in Christ we are one... the Spirit in each... connecting...

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body...

1Corinthians 12:13

James 3: thoughts... part 6

Read James 3

Wisdom... knowledge... insight... judgment... it's what we desire when making decisions... the daily choices that make up our lives...

James... distinguishes two sources of wisdom... earthly... human wisdom... and... above... divine wisdom...

Now... things get a little disturbing when he equates... earthly wisdom... that of man... with the unspiritual... and... demonic...

Earthly wisdom... illustrated as the desire to deny sin... cover up truth... do whatever it takes to make you look good... rather than be good... could be summed up in the phrase... image is everything... (hmmm... sound familiar...?)

But... the wisdom from above... exhibits itself as...

• pure... without moral defect or blemish...
• peace-loving... peaceable... not contentious or quarrelsome...
• gentle... gracious... forebearing...
• compliant... willing to yield... reasonable...
• full of mercy... showing kindness... concern... for someone in serious need...
• full of good fruits... the outcomes are morally sound...
• without favoritism... impartial...without variance... or inconsistency...
• without hypocrisy...  sincere... genuine...

Divine wisdom... unlike... earthly wisdom... is other-centered... just like our Savior...
 

Who is wise and has understanding among you?

James 3:13

(my emphasis)

Test wisdom... is your brand... unspiritual... demonic... or... Spirit-filled... untainted...?