The four sayings in today’s reading all focused on various ways that our words either build up or tear down those who hear them. Proverbs tends to divide the human family into people of righteousness, love and wisdom, or people who are wicked, hate, have no sense and speak foolishly. Most of us, if we’re honest, recognize some parts of our self in both sides of the equation. In what ways have you seen your use of words grow wiser over the last few years? Has this, as verse 12 suggests, reduced the amount of conflict in your life?
TUESDAY James 3:7-18
James, Jesus’ brother, was the most prominent Christian leader in first-century Jerusalem (see Acts 15:13-21). His letter carried on many aspects of the Hebrew wisdom tradition. In his day, some Hebrew zealots claimed that “wisdom” meant violence and hatred against Rome. James described instead a godly wisdom that was “pure … peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine.”
- Verse 9 described a painful reality that has continued right to today. How can the kinds of inner issues listed in verses 14 and 16 help to trigger angry, cursing speech toward others? What people in your life have instead modeled “wisdom from above” that is “pure … peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine”? What impact did they have on your heart and the way you live?
WEDNESDAY Ephesians 4:25-32
One aspect of using language wisely, hinted at in James and present in today’s reading, is silence. Silence lets us listen, which is vital for speaking in ways that build up. When is it helpful to hold back a comment or observation, even if it might be accurate? Ephesians 4:25 also quoted Zechariah 8:16: “Each of you must tell the truth to your neighbor.” When is the truth so helpful that it would be wrong to keep silent?
THURSDAY Romans 12:9-21
Paul challenged the Christians in Rome to “Be the best at showing honor to each other.” Too often, “be the best” means surpassing everyone else, and sets us against one another in a race for honor. But Paul’s vision was built on inner honesty and authenticity, God-centered humility, and a counter-cultural willingness to let go of human status distinctions.
- Verse 21 may seem quite unrealistic. But history is full of people who overcame evil with good—including Jesus. Commentator Everett Harrison wrote, “Being overcome by evil means to give in to the temptation to meet evil with evil, to retaliate. To overcome evil with good has been illustrated in v.20 … To receive kindness, to see love when it seems uncalled for, can melt the hardest heart.” Is there a situation or person where you can release a desire for revenge, and seek instead to overcome evil with good?
FRIDAY Romans 14:4-18
Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome saw lots of issues (e.g. observing holy days, eating “unclean” meat) differently. Each side thought they were right—it was easy for them to condemn those who saw things another way. Scholar Leslie Allen summed up Paul’s message to both sides: “It is nothing less than usurping Christ’s sovereign authority over a fellow-Christian to criticize him over a difference of opinion: for the less scrupulous to look down on the more scrupulous, or for the more scrupulous to judge the less scrupulous. Christian fellowship does not imply a right to run other people’s lives for them: only Christ can—and will—discharge such a right.”
We usually don’t argue about which kinds of meat it’s okay to eat, so it may feel easy to agree with verse 17: “God’s kingdom isn’t about eating food and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We DO, though, have varying views about politics, economics, social issues, what “the Bible is inspired” means, even church music! How can you apply the principle of verse 17 as you relate to other Christians you have disagreements with?
SATURDAY Psalm 19:7-14
The psalmist prayed, “Clear me of any unknown sin … Then I’ll be completely blameless; I’ll be innocent of great wrongdoing.” The Message interprets those verses as, “Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! … Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.” In what ways will you begin or deepen the practice of praying every morning, so that you start every day washed in the sunlight of God’s love and grace?