Mom and Apple Pie

A Series on the book of James
Two kinds of wisdom
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
James 3:13-18 

[James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In some ways, it’s similar to Old Testament wisdom literature like Proverbs. It includes many practical applications to help a believer grow in their faith. In this series, we will look at the wisdom of James’ letter and how it applies to our lives.]

 

I love all things “apple”! Apple pie, apple fritter, applesauce, apple crisp… all of them! I came by this love honestly as I grew up in an apple orchard. Not quite a real apple orchard, but it had been one in the past. However, at some point it was developed into a small subdivision called Orchard Hills.

 

With the trees and hills, it was a very pastoral setting. There were a number of apple trees scattered throughout the neighborhood including several in our yard. When the apples were ripe, my Mom would go out with her bushel basket and pick them up to make applesauce and apple pies. Both were delicious!

 

The Jewish Christians who James wrote his letter to were in a difficult position. As a result of being persecuted, they were scattered around the Roman Empire. Because of this, they experienced pressure to compromise their faith. Therefore, in the first three chapters, James advised them on how to follow their faith.

 

Knowing that they would experience trials and temptations, he tried to prepare them for that. He also wrote about the importance of not just listening to the word, but doing it. In addition, he wrote about the close connection between faith and deeds, as well as how important it was to control their tongue.

 

In the passage today, we’re going to look at what James had to say about wisdom. In some ways, it’s a summary of what he had written in his letter prior to this. He described wisdom as what you do and how you do it.

 

¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.       NLT

 

Keep in mind that the people to whom he wrote were experiencing real life pressure to conform to other religions and rituals. They not only needed head knowledge of what wisdom was, but also what that looked like in day-to-day living. With that in mind, James expanded on his picture of wisdom with words that led to action.

 

¹⁷ 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.     NLT

 

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described what it means to be a wise person and what the benefits were.

 

²⁴ “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. ²⁵ Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.     NLT            Matthew 7

 

Just like those apple trees in Orchard Hills were identified by their fruit, so heavenly wisdom can be identified by its fruit. The fruit of one’s character; of one’s life. Wisdom comes from within, but is witnessed through obedience. It is the result of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. When that happens, nothing can stop it.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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A Mother’s Love

A Series on Living by Faith

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

Exodus 2:1-10; Hebrews 11:23

 [Hebrews 11 is a recounting of the Heroes of the Faith. Even though they never saw what they had been promised, each person is commended for living “by faith”. At the end of these commendations, Hebrews 12 tells us, “Therefore, because you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… throw off sin; run with perseverance; fix your eyes on Jesus”. In other words, live “by faith”.]

  

A mother’s love will lead her to defend her children no matter what the circumstance. I don’t have to look any further than my own Mom. The story is told in our family about the time when my Big Brother was driving her home to South Carolina from Michigan.

 

During the trip, my brother was stopped by a state highway patrolman for speeding. When the officer came to the window, my Mom leaned over, looked the officer in the eyes, and in no uncertain words, told him that he should be chasing real criminals, not innocent tax paying citizens.

 

Moses’ Mother was a lot like this. She actually risked her own life to protect him from Pharaoh. In order to understand how it came to this, we need to look at the back story.

 

Following the death of Joseph and his brothers, a new king of Egypt came to power and became the Pharaoh. He didn’t have the history with Joseph that the preceding Pharaoh did. Therefore, when the Israelites grew significantly in numbers, he saw them as a threat, and decided to enslave them, working them ruthlessly.

 

But the people of Israel continued to grow in numbers. So the Pharaoh told the Israelite midwives to kill all the baby boys. But the midwives feared God, and didn’t obey the Pharaoh’s orders. So then he gave the order to all of his people that, “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”

 

It was into this world that Moses was born; it was into this world that his Mother defended him at the risk of her own life as mentioned in Exodus 2.

 

About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. ² The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months.       NLT

 

It was more than her parental instinct that led Moses’ Mother to hide him from the killing order of Pharaoh. It was her faith that the God of Abraham; the God of Isaac; the God of Jacob; would ultimately fulfill his promise. The promise that He would lead the Israelites back to the Promised Land. Little did she know that her son, Moses, would be called to lead them.

 

The example of Moses’ Mother is still applicable for us today. We make decisions every day by faith, not knowing how the Lord will use us in fulfilling His perfect plan; not knowing how He will use us to demonstrate His love, grace and faithfulness; not knowing what great results might come by our small acts of faith.

 

 

 

 

Won’t You be My Neighbor?

A Series on Advent - Love

Isaiah 9:6; John 3:16-17; John 1:14; 1 John 4:9-10

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%209%3A6%2CJohn%203%3A16-17%2CJohn%201%3A14%2C1%20John%204%3A9-10&version=NIV;NLT

 

If you haven’t seen the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” - you should.

 

 

There is a scene where Mr. Rogers is having lunch with a journalist by the name of Lloyd Vogel in a busy New York City restaurant. Vogel has been driven throughout his life by his deep seated anger towards his Father, who deserted his Mother when she was dying.

 

During the conversation, Mr. Rogers leans over the dining table, looks him in the eyes and says this to Lloyd Vogel, “Take a minute to be still, and to think of all the people who loved you into being”. As he did this, the whole restaurant grew quiet; as did the theatre.

 

When I took a few minutes to think about Mr. Rogers’ advice, my parents came to mind. My Mom always supported me and believed in me no matter what. Like a momma bear with her cub, my Mom would have defended me to the death. She loved me without limits.

 

My Dad didn’t really know how to express his love, but he did provide for me. And, he took me places on Saturdays. He took me to the bank; to his office; to sporting events. It may not sound like much, but that was how he showed his love.

 

Christmas is a good time to think about “who loved you into being”. Psalm 139 tells us this.

 

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful, I know that full well.     NIV

 

Indeed, He did create us into being, and yet something is missing in our life unless we have discovered the truth of Christmas.

 

⁹ God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. ¹⁰ This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.           NLT

 

The lyrics from the theme song from Mr. Rogers’ TV show begin like this:

 

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won't you be my neighbor?

 

That’s what Jesus is saying to you this Christmas. Won’t you be his neighbor?

 

¹⁴ So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.            NLT