This post is Day 18 in a series of studies about “James”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

James – Day 18

Paul is telling this Galatian church that just like any farmer, they will reap what they sow. But James in this last verse seems to be going further than that. He tells us that not only will a peacemaker reap peace, but also righteousness which means right standing with God.

James 3:18

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

The Thought

We quoted this verse at the end of yesterday’s study, but it is a rich verse and worth a separate study. We also mentioned the verse quoted from Jesus telling us that peacemakers will be called “children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Wouldn’t you like to be known as one of the “children of God”? That means that we act and talk as He does!

Because many of the people Jesus was talking to worked the land for their livelihood, the Bible often uses farming language as helpful pictures.

From beginning to end the Word of God is clear about sowing and reaping.

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will receive eternal life.

Paul is telling this Galatian church that just like any farmer, they will reap what they sow. But James in this last verse of the 3rd chapter seems to be going further than that. He tells us that not only will a peacemaker reap peace, but also righteousness which means ‘right standing with God’.

Remember that in His sermon on the mount, Jesus told us all that peacemakers will be blessed. More than that, they will be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9).

God loves us to be people of peace.

Just as we heard in chapter1 Abraham believed and used his faith and he received the harvest of righteousness too. In God’s kingdom miraculous harvests are to be expected.

Action

Think about what you can sow today that will reap a harvest in the kingdom.

Pray for the gift of peacemaking, pray for a large harvest for the peacemakers you know.

Praise God that His harvest gifts are always bigger than the small amounts we have sown.