Thursday, May 04, 2023

¹⁹ Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. ²⁰ This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness. ²¹ Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you—the very word that is able to save you. ²² You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. ²³ Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror. ²⁴ They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵ But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do. ²⁶ If those who claim devotion to God don’t control what they say, they mislead themselves. Their devotion is worthless.                                           James 1:19 – 26

Speaking and Listening – James admonishes us listen and be careful what you say.  I’m a speaker.  Many times, I think by speaking aloud.  I speak in casual gatherings.  I speak from the pulpit and from the lectern.  Speaking is what I do, but … listening is what God demands.  Oh that my mouth was glued shut!  I would probably find a way to hum my stupidity and show my ignorance!  I must learn the art of silence, not just in my solitude, but especially in my interactions with others.  I must learn to ask questions of others instead of speaking my truth.  I must control my tongue so that I can hear God in my brother or sister.  O God, make it so today.  Amen!