James 1: 19-27

LISTENING AND DOING

James 1:19-27

 James 1:19  Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:20  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. James 1:21  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. James 1:22  But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:23  For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. James 1:24  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. James 1:25  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:26  If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. James 1:27  Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

These words "Quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to get angry". If only I had heeded those words in my adult life it my life would have been a lot easier. How often do you feel your blood begin to boil. There was a time in my life that it would boil quickly and when that happens my ears close and my mouth would open and in went the shoe.  What James is referring to here is that listening should come first. Those thoughts from another should be heard and analyzed before you answer back.

Anger is one of those things that can be righteous but most times you lose you biblical principles. The papers are full of anger that if thought through would have ended differently. Yesterday's news had a woman who stabbed her husband to death. Earlier in the day the Husband tried to run her over with a car. The Anger blinded both of their thoughts. She could have easily called the police and they would have handled the husband. What was the husband thinking when he tried to run her over. Anger is one of Satan's great tools it makes us foolish and outside of God's will.

Keep God's commands in your heart. James 1:21  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. James 1:22  But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. There is so much filth and evil in this world that it is extremely easy to get caught up in that world. If you follow the words that God has supplied you will live an easier life.

One of the greatest men in American history pray the following. See if you can relate the above verse to George Washington's words :O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul.

Direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural corruption, that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee, the everlasting God, in righteousness and holiness this day, and all the days of my life.
Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, & direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments. Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber. But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, friends & kindred unite us all in praising & glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Saviour, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father.
From William J. Johnson, George Washington, The Christian (New York: The Abingdon Press, 1919). Amen