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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www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

Grading on a Curve

A Series on the book of James
Favoritism forbidden
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
James 2:1-13 

[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.]

  

When I was in school, I was a decent student. I paid attention in class, did my homework and studied for exams. But if a teacher graded on a curve, it was common knowledge that you didn’t have to work as hard. Just harder than the other guy.

 

Grading on a curve encourages us to compare ourselves to others. It doesn’t push us to excellence; it doesn’t push us to perfection. Instead, it allows us to accept mediocrity. This is true, not just in the classroom, but also in life.

 

The Jewish Christians to whom James wrote his letter, had a problem with showing favoritism to rich people. What he wrote regarding this was a scathing indictment.

 

¹ My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?    NLT

 

In their defense, you can understand why it might have been a temptation. During the first century, the vast majority of people were extremely poor. Plus, keep in mind that these believers had scattered across the Mediterranean world to flee from persecution. As a result, they were living on the edge – barely surviving at times.

 

So, if they crossed paths with someone of means; someone who dressed well; someone who was wealthy – it would have been easy to rationalize why it was okay for them to manipulate that person for their own personal financial benefit. While at the same time, ignoring the needs of poor people.

 

But not for James. Sounding similar to one of the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he reminded them about how God views poor people.

 

⁵ Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?          NLT

 

Then he quoted the “royal law” from Leviticus – “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Following this he explained that by showing favoritism, the believers were sinning. They were breaking the “royal law”. And if you break one of God’s laws, you break all of them.

 

Grading on a curve in life makes it much easier. All we have to do is find someone who we’re just a little bit better than. For example, we can say, “I may have showed favoritism, but at least I didn’t murder anyone”.

 

In America, we live in a secular culture where there are no absolute truths. But God doesn’t grade on a curve. His Word is unchanging. It’s immutable. This would be bad news for us except for the fact that we have a loving and merciful God.

 

Paul, who before he was converted, was systematically persecuting the church with murder in his heart. After his conversion, he had this to say about the mercy of God.

 

¹⁶ But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.              NLT   1 Timothy 1

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

A Culture of Change

A Series on the Beatitudes
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 4:17-5:2

[In this series, we will be looking at the Beatitudes in the context of the Old Testament Jewish culture. When Jesus spoke, what images, what scripture came to the mind of his listeners? And then to look at how those same words can change your life today.]

  

 

I love college football! The fall weather, the marching band, the mascot, the traditions, the energy of game day, and of course, the game itself. Even if your team doesn’t win, there’s something special about college football.

 

As for the team, each coach has to establish his own culture. Communication is the key element. The coach has to set clear expectations for his players, and then find a way for the players to buy into them. In a sense, he’s molding them into disciples that believe in him and will follow him anywhere.

 

That’s what Jesus was doing as he began preaching the Sermon on the Mount, starting with the beatitudes. The Jews had been anxiously waiting for generations for the Messiah. They were sure that he would take them out of the oppression of Rome and establish their own country; their own kingdom.

 

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus spoke a great deal about the kingdom of God, but it wasn’t the kingdom that the Jews were expecting. It was to be a kingdom based on faith and relationship and repentance.

 

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” NIV

 

Jesus had just started his ministry by telling people about “the good news of the kingdom”. He was also meeting their physical needs by “healing every disease and sickness”. He began to call individual men to be his disciples. And as he did all of this, large crowds began to follow him.

 

To establish his kingdom, he needed to set expectations; to let his followers know that his was not a political kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom. He needed to establish a culture of change.

 

The beatitudes were the beginning of setting those expectations for his disciples. They needed to make a shift in their understanding of what the Messiah was going to do; a shift in their understanding of what the kingdom of God meant; a shift in their values, beliefs and attitudes.

 

Things aren’t so different today. The kingdom of the world has its own expectations pressing in on you. But those expectations are drastically different from Jesus’. As his disciple, Jesus is still speaking to you and leading you. He is still establishing his kingdom; his culture. It’s up to you and me to listen to him and follow him.

 

Copyright 2021 Joseph B Williams