Sow Peace

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:13–18
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Sow Peace
            Bitter jealousy haunts us more than we would care to admit. The job we didn’t get, the house we can’t afford, the “perfect” body we desire but don’t have, and so much more. We look to the blessings of others and inwardly despise them for it. The devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh tell us that we deserved it more, and in our sin, we concur. And these jealousies and selfish ambitions bring about pain, suffering, and disorder. Yet when exposed to the light of truth we must acknowledge none of us deserve the many blessings God has bestowed upon us, let alone the blessings of others. Yet God is a God of love. He loves us so much that He made it possible for our sins of jealousy and selfishness and all others to be forgiven. He unselfishly gave His own Son to die for us on a cursed tree so that we might have the riches of His blessings. Through Christ’s forgiveness, we are freed from the curses of sin, death, and the devil so that we might live by faith to sow peace through His righteousness. In Christ, all envy and spite are put aside so that the fruit of love for God and our neighbor sprouts forth. Bringing with it a life of faith strengthened through His Word and Sacraments, a life full of mercy and good fruits.