But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, 

and willing to yield to others.

It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds.

It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 

James 3:17NLT

Last week we looked at those first 4 attributes of "wisdom from above";

Pure

Peace loving 

Gentle (at all times)

Willing to yield to others

James adds 4 more;

Full of mercy

Has the fruit of good deeds

Shows no favouritism

Is always sincere.

Let's look at the first 2;

When I'm full of mercy, when I'm bumped, tipped over, or trip over my own clumsy feet, mercy is what comes out. 

Gotta say there's plenty of other things that spill out of me. But James is always inviting, always encouraging us as whaanau, so what's he inviting us to?

To let more "wisdom from above in, to let mercy fill us more and more, so when we are bumped, when we do trip, that is genuinely what comes out. 

The "fruit of good deeds" seems to be like the fruit of the tree - our lemon trees are bearing fruit at the moment. That is the result of planting, tending, watering the tree before. 

The fruit is now.

It's like James picture of wisdom is to keep doing good even though the fruit is in the future, later, and someone else might even get the benefit. 

Do good anyway. 

Do good anyway.

Do good anyway.

#james

#wisdomfromabove

#fullofmercy

#dogoodanyway