Scripture

But the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, and without hypocrisy.

~James 3:17, GBV

Quote

The wisdom from above is the faith that works by love.

~Charles Wesley

I love to compare list; especially when I find them in scripture. James gives us eight characteristics of wisdom from above. In the Geneva Bible the list includes: pure,  peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, and without hypocrisy. Compare that with the NLT: pure, peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others, full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. NASB reads, The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. The NIV,  The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Wow, what a list!

The Greek word for the highlighted words means easy to entreat.  The Geneva Bible gives us a literal interpretation but reading various translations is insightful. We should be easy to entreat, willing to yield to others, reasonable and considerate. It describes a person who is easy to talk to; someone who is considerate and who listens attentively to your point of view. Of course we have all known people who were unreasonable. It does no good to talk them. Even if they become convinced or convicted of being wrong, they will not admit it. They had rather be wrong than to change or repent.

To be taught we have to be teachable. A tractor-trailer got stuck under a railroad underpass. The cab had started its accent with the trailer got lodged under the overpass. The driver could neither pull up or back up. Rescue personnel showed up and a long discussion was carried on about how to get this rig out of this jam. They tried two or three things and none of them worked. A little boy was sitting on the bank of the road and he hollowed: “Why don’t you let some air out of the trailer tires?” A reasonable person says, “Thank you son” and then lets air out of the tires.

Extra

We got two more rains yesterday evening late. I was just going out when the first one came so I waited it out. It quit and the sun came out so I went on out and started working and then it rained me out again. I think we got rain almost every day in June. I don’t think I remember a June like it. It should be a bumper crop for corn. I think the Christmas lights have worked with the coons but the squirrel’s are ticking me off. I plan to shot a couple today. We probably have a dozen.

Today is the first day of the second semester. This means 2025 is half gone which is incredible to me: time is flying. I never dreamed of living to 2025. When I was growing up, 2025 was science fiction. I wish I could find one of those old science books, it would be like reading the comics. They hot practically everything wrong. They envisioned the computer but not the cell phone.

Have a good day and thanks for reading the blog.