Proof!

Proof!

James 3:13 AMP

[13] Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.

James, the writer of this letter, considered himself as a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is not a popular way to present yourself, particularly when it is the fashionable thing to give yourself room to be seen, noticed and celebrated. The way of the world lies in recognition and appluase. It is the language that is universal to all who are under the control and influence of the human nature. Who are you? What are you? What are your priorities? What do you consider to be important and strategic to your long-term impact and relevance? The answers to these questions will go a long way to determine if you know where you are headed. James knew who he was and what he had been called to do. He did not start off like that, but by being in God, seeking Him out and knowing as much as he could about God, he gained the  wisdom he needed to navigate the life he had been given. 

The audience for this letter were the twelve Hebrew tribes that were now scattered abroad among the Gentiles in the dispersion. At this time, it did not matter if you were a Jew or not; persecution had led to the church being scattered, and people found themselves in uncomfortable places and positions. Picture someone who is used to a particular lifestyle who now has to deal with unusual and sometimes uncomfortable changes. For as many as have had to change countries or continents for any reason, I am sure it was not an easy decision to make, and settling down was equally not a walk in the park. It would have been easy to retreat into a shell and focus only on that which suits you, but the verse above makes clear what the priority should be: publicly mpacting lives with the private investment made. How can I change the world around me if there has not first been a change inside of me? 

It is inner change that drives public impact. It is one of the messages of the verse above: if you are wise, as defined by God, it means that you have what the world needs at this time. The bible says that the world earnestly awaits the manifestation of the sons of God. If there is no difference between my actions as a child of God, and the world around me, there is a problem. If I am able to blend in with the world, maybe I was not different from it in the first place. There is a way a wise man behaves. There is a way a wise man speaks. There is a way a wise man interacts with the world around him. You do not have to make any claim to wisdom; as soon as you speak, or as the world around you watches what you do, it will be clear who you are and what you have. It is like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Wisdom from God has no room for pride or self-glory. It is proven by a humble life and true service. Can you define who you are on the terms of the above? God's time of favour is here.