This Week's Scripture: Wisdom from James

The Letter of James is often called Christian "wisdom" Literature. Jesus himself was also a wisdom teacher. Jesus focused less, however, on conventional wisdom concerning behavior and more on provocative themes like what constituted true righteousness. We are lucky, then, to have the practical wisdom found here in the letter of James (as well as elsewhere in the New Testament).

In this passage, it is helpful to see James' teachings on behavior as flowing out of the understanding of God's gifts he puts forward in the first paragraph: Wisdom and good behavior are not ends in and of themselves, but rather are gifts given for the fulfillment of God's purposes. They are, therefore, part of the transformative mission of God.

From the Letter of James:


Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

You must understand this, my beloved:let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves* in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for School Supplies!

Food, fun and calories are the rule at Grace United Methodist. We had a bunch of homemade ice cream and a toppings at our annual Ice Cream Social to raise money and supplies for the Texas City ISD. We had a blast!

Scripture for this week John 6:56-69

Jesus has been teaching a number of difficult teachings in the synagogue at Capernaum. Previously, he described himself as the "Bread of life" (v 35). That caused controversy. Now he creates even more controversy, causing many of followers to leave him. Jesus said:

'Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. ⁵⁸This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ ⁵⁹He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

The Words of Eternal Life

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ ⁶¹But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? ⁶²Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. ⁶⁵And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’

66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. ⁶⁷So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’