Wisdom from the Good Shepherd

James 3:17 (NIV)

17 But 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.

The wisdom of Heaven is pure. It is the wisdom that comes from the Good Shepherd.

Purity is not something we can achieve. The Scripture often analogizes the Christian journey to sheep following their shepherd. We are the sheep, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). The interesting thing about this analogy is that sheep cannot clean themselves. Their natural wool makes them susceptible to overheating, immobility, blindness, infections, parasites, sores, discomfort, and death. If the Shepherd does not shear them, any of these can happen. They need the shepherd to shear them. This is a picture of what Christ must do for us.

To discern the wisdom of Heaven, we must be made pure, and then we must learn to live in this purity.

Christ’s blood is the cleansing agent. Christ, who had no sin, offered Himself to be punished in our place to rescue us from the consequences of all our sins. We are initially made pure when we let our life be directed by the acknowledgment that we are sinners saved by His death on the cross.

Returning to our analogy, however, a sheared sheep can still wander off from its shepherd. It can look for its own way, which leads it into the domain of its natural enemies. It can get stuck in a thicket. It can follow other sheep straying from its shepherd. The sheep must listen to the voice of the shepherd and follow him.

Our initial purification work done by Christ on the cross must be continued as we live faithfully to Christ out of a grateful heart, remembering we are sinners saved, recipients of grace, the initial purification of our hearts.

As the shepherd continues to help and lead the sheared sheep, our initial purification gives us the Holy Spirit, who leads, guides, empowers, and teaches wisdom from Heaven. Our purity is continued as we follow the Good Shepherd.

Prayer: May Your blood cleanse me entirely. May Your Spirit lead me. And may I listen and follow You all my days. Amen.