Daily Worship

No messing about

John Povey May 01, 2018 0 0
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Image credit: E Cathcart

James 3: 17-18

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

The epistle of James is famous for its down to earth practicality. There is no messing about in this letter. In Chapter 3 James tackles the question of true wisdom. Worldly wisdom encourages us to be selfish and greedy, and to put our own interests before the needs of others. True and godly wisdom, on the other hand, leads to peace, mercy, and sincerity.

James concludes his thoughts with a beautiful word picture. Imagine a golden field, full and ready to harvest. Imagine this as a spiritual field. The crop of this field is everything those who belong to God would hope to see in the world.

How did it get there? The crop was planted by those who make peace. But it took hard work and determination. The farmer invests a considerable amount of time and energy and toil to produce a bumper harvest from God’s gifts of creation. There can be no sitting back complacently waiting for it all just to happen. So it is with those who harvest peace. Peace is God’s gift, but to grow that peace in the world takes confidence in God’s abundance, and a real commitment living humbly, participating in selfless good works, with singleness of purpose.

 

Lord God,

Thank you that your peace resides in many people in every land, for each person has been created with the potential to know your peace at the centre of his or her being.

May my prayers reach out to enfold all nations and people of the earth.

May your peace dissolve differences and bring reconciliation.

May your peace bring freedom to all.

As I hold on to this prayer and to the vision of a world at peace, help me to remember that peace begins with me.

In my weakness, grant me your strength, that my commitment to your peace may never waver.

In the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. 

Amen.