James 3:13

Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his (good) deeds with gentleness and humility of true wisdom. 

The wisdom of God far outweighs the wisdom of man. Our humility before the Lord will keep our hearts teachable so that we can walk in the knowledge of God. When we are still and willing to listen to the voice of instruction, we can bypass many problems. God will direct and lead us if we are willing to be led by Him. 

James 5:8-9

You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts (keep them energized and firmly committed to God), because the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged (for it). Look! The Judge is standing right at the door.

We don’t want to run this race for the Lord in vain. Our best defense against letting the devil send thoughts of judgment against a fellow Christian is to stop the ideas before they take root. We don’t know what another person is going through, but God does. God is the best judge of every situation, and a prayer for the person would free our hearts from any judgment from God.

Matthew 22:16

They sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are sincere and that You teach the way of God truthfully, without concerning Yourself about (what) anyone (thinks or says about your teachings); for You are impartial and do not seek anyone’s favor (and treat all people alike, regardless of status).

Jesus is a living example of how to walk in honor and be godly for the glory of God in heaven. Our goal is to follow the example of Jesus so that even the sinners know where we stand as Christians. When we seek only to walk pleasing before God, we will be impartial to man’s favor. We will be sincere in our faith, making known all that is good about God. 

Luke 6:40

A student is not superior to his teacher; but everyone, after he has been completely trained, will be like his teacher. 

As a Christian, life will be a road of failure and success, but we should learn from the example of  Jesus. We can never stop trying even after we have setbacks in our faith walk because as we grow in the knowledge of scripture, we will grow in the practice of faith. Our job is to get trained and be a godly example for others on earth. 

Luke 7:7

Therefore I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You. But just speak a word, and my slave will be healed. For I also am a man subject to authority, with soldiers under me; and I so this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Jesus is our healer and example of authority on this earth. Jesus spoke the word, and the servant was healed. We should speak the word daily in faith using our authority that Jesus died for and walk in healing. Our power to change our circumstances comes from God and confession of the word. Shut the devil down with the authority of the word. 

Jude 1:20-21

But you, beloved, build yourselves up on the (foundation of) your most holy faith (continually progress, rise like and edifice higher and higher), pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

How is your foundation coming? Do you build yourself up in Jesus every day? We are meant to develop in our daily learning from Jesus, our teacher, and the word given to us by the Bible. The Holy Spirit is our helper and will come alongside us as we pray and help us understand as we read the word.

Jude 1:4

For certain people have crept in unnoticed (just as if they were sneaking in by the side door). They are ungodly person whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom (viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want), and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

The attitude of immoral freedom is everywhere today, from the street to some pulpits. Sin does not lead to freedom, and distorting the grace of God does not lead to peaceful lives. We are to be wise in the world and in how we live. We cannot give up in the face of opposition because God is counting on us to be His representatives in these last days. 

Jude 1:1-2

To those who are the called dearly loved by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ. May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you (filling your heart with the spiritual well-being and serenity experienced by those who walk closely with God).

Only one relationship exists that will bring mercy, peace, and love into our lives. That relationship with God will lift us in any circumstance. The closer we focus our walk with God, the greater joy and peace we will have in our lives. The closer we walk with God, the easier it will be to fulfill God’s plan for our lives on this earth. 

3 John 1:11

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who practices good (exhibiting godly character, moral courage and personal integrity) is of God; the one who practices evil has not seen God (he has no personal experience with Him and does not know Him at all).

If we have a false vision of God, we will have a false vision of what is right and wrong. Without knowledge of God’s love and goodness, sin will seem right. We are to look at Christ as our example of how to live on earth because the world has an ever-changing standard of right and wrong. God has never changed His standards!

2 John 1:3

Grace, mercy, and peace (inner calm, a sense of spiritual wellbeing) will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

We can stay in inner peace as we keep our minds renewed to the word of God. Peace is essential in our spiritual lives because without the word and peace; we will flounder. Our focus away from the world’s influences and on the guidance of Jesus keeps our minds and spirits clear to hear from God. God and the word will support us in peace.