James 3:13-18 CSB
Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. [14] But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and deny the truth. [15] Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. [17] But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. [18] And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
Ephesians 5:1-2 CSB
Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, [2] and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
Walk in Light
I sometimes wonder how many of us are wearing the wrong pair of glasses without even realizing it. When we look at the world through those distorted lenses, it is easy to see a vengeful, wrathful God who is simply waiting for us to make a mistake so He can doom us to eternal darkness. When reflecting on our Father in Heaven, how do we truly view our LORD? It is true that God is a righteous Judge, but He is also the one who has offered forgiveness to every soul on the face of the earth. So often, however, it is easy to find ourselves focusing on the judgment while completely missing the love that flows from the Father. This matters immensely because we naturally find ourselves imitating whatever image of God we hold in our lives. Will we reflect mercy, or will we reflect judgment and fear?
When we begin to view God as a loving Father who has given everything for us—who sustains both believers and non-believers alike in this life—we put on the right pair of glasses. It is incredible to realize that God has placed His own Spirit directly into the believer’s heart. He is the one who gave His Son to pay the penalty for all the wrongs we have done. He is the one who welcomes fellowship with us, protects us, and, yes, at times corrects us, just as a loving father does for his precious sons and daughters.
We naturally grow to resemble the ones we look up to, a truth we can see played out in families every day.
There are certain pictures in life that bring instant warmth to the heart. It is the loving daughter who dresses up in her mother’s clothes, or the little child who steps into his father’s oversized boots just to be like him. Even in my own life, I see distinct places where I have mimicked my earthly father. My father had a very distinct laugh; everyone in the room knew exactly who it was the moment he chuckled. It is a laugh that no one else has—except me. As a son who lived with him and loved him, I inherited that exact same laugh, becoming like him in so many unexpected ways.
In the very same way, we discover that we are called to be like our Heavenly Father, but this only happens as we learn to see God as He truly is.
As we discard the negative, distorted views offered by the world, the truth comes into focus. When we read Exodus chapter 34, we get to see God proclaiming His own nature to Moses. This is the true nature of the God we are learning to trust:
The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD–the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished.
When this beautiful description becomes the God we see, it naturally transforms the way we treat the people around us.
The Golden Rule becomes a natural guide rather than a rigid rule: doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. We start to see that true, heavenly wisdom brings a quiet, inoffensive, and gentle spirit that is easy to entreat—leaving no room for a stubborn, sour, or morose attitude. Instead, this wisdom shows itself through a heart that is bursting with good fruits and vibrant life, a heart that gives generously and loves completely, without favoritism. It is a journey toward a heart that rejects evil, holds fast to what is good, and forgives others just as we ourselves have been forgiven. Ultimately, it is a daily discovery of what it means to mimic our Father in Heaven.
Reflection Questions
- How do the “wrong glasses” distort a person’s daily Christian walk, and what causes us to accidentally put those lenses on?
- Think about your own family or those who raised you. What is a specific trait, habit, or mannerism you unconsciously picked up from them?
- James describes heavenly wisdom as “compliant” and “easy to entreat” (open to reason). How does seeing God as slow to anger help us deal with others?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You that You do not look at us through a lens of swift judgment, but with the eyes of a compassionate, gracious, and loving Father. Forgive us for the times we have viewed You through the distorted glasses of the world, forgetting Your immense goodness and the sacrifice of Your Son. Holy Spirit, transform our hearts so that we might truly imitate You. Soften our rough edges, remove all bitterness or selfish ambition, and give us a gentle, peace-loving spirit. May our lives reflect Your character so clearly that those around us catch a glimpse of Your grace. In Jesus’ noble name, we pray.
Amen.
