James 1:19-25

James 1:19-25

“¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

“Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” when I read this for the very first time, I asked myself if I do this and do I do this enough… and no, I didn’t. I love the quote I heard at a Christian summer camp, Hume Lake, “Listening does not mean waiting for your turn to talk.” -Megan Fate, Hume Lake Director. So I took this verse and applied it to my every day: stopping everything to listen, thinking before a word came out of my mouth and with that time to think, anger would not follow. 

When I flip my Bible to James chapter 1, I have written down, “Don’t Plan, Just Do 22-27” in pencil. I wrote this, quoting a friend. It was when I first joined a high school Bible study group called Church of Acts, we were reading through the book of James, and after, we all took turns sharing about our prayer requests. It finally came to my turn and I remember that one of my requests was to have more of a desire to read the Bible, I wasn’t doing too well reading it every day, and I would get busy with school. My friend on my left looked at me and he said, “Well, it’s like what we just read in verses 22-27; you can’t just listen and say that you will do it later, because you will forget. Don’t plan just do…”

I want to encourage you all to listen, think before a word leaves your lips, and reflect with your hearts upon the circumstances, God will bless all who listen with open eyes, hearts, and ears.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your uplifting and Holy Word to give us guidance while we are here on this earth. Please show us ways to demonstrate your love by teaching us to listen quickly, to speak slowly and kindly, and for our hearts to live in tranquility. Thank you for all that you give us

-Amen

♥Mer