James 1:12-27
Be Still: Holy Spirit, our Advocate, the One who comes alongside - please read with me today as I open your Word.
Read: James 1:12-27
'My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 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. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.' (v19-22)
Encounter: As someone who works a lot with children, I find myself often despairing at how I can give a clear instruction and then watch the exact opposite unfold. I’ll say, 'Let’s walk in quietly and sit down,' and suddenly there will be kids doing laps of the room and knee-slides along the floor. The thing I find most infuriating is when you give an instruction, and they have the audacity to nod back at you, implying they have listened and understood what you said, and then STILL do the opposite.
But, if we’re honest, we’re all guilty of doing this. I wonder how often God watches us do the opposite of what he’s asking of us. As James says in today’s passage - 'Do not merely listen to the Word … do what it says.'
It’s hardly a ground-breaking instruction, but it is so easy for us to forget. The Word of God has the power to transform us but listening in itself is not enough; our actions need to match up with what we’ve read and heard.
James gives us specific examples about being 'quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.' He talks about us getting 'rid of all moral filth' and keeping a 'tight rein on our tongues' (v26). This stuff is easy enough for us to hear, but much harder to put into practice, particularly when we’re tired or frustrated or up against it.
Apply: Look over the list below of some of James’ instructions in this passage and ask the Spirit to highlight what you need to work on today.
Being quick to listen
Being slow to speak
Being slow to anger
Getting rid of moral filth
Keeping a tight rein on our tongues
Devote: God, thank you for your Word that challenges and changes me. Help me not just to hear it, but to live it.
