Learning to live; living to learn Day 3

James ch 1 verse 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.

How I wish I could remember this verse at times when I am tempted to become annoyed… irritated… all the words we use to soften the truth – that we get angry… human anger does not produce righteousness.. That is what God is trying to grow in us.

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.

So I need to try harder to remember!! I need to practice humility, remembering that I am not always right, or justified, in my assessment of a situation where I think angry thoughts, or say angry words.. but it iS good to know that God forgives me when I DO remember, and return to Him for forgiveness!!

26 Those who consider themselves followers of Jesus and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their outward expression of faith is worthless. 27 The way of living that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Yes, I’ve changed the words slightly, but I hope not the sense. Sometimes it helps to read it differently, to enable us to think differently..

Father, help me to be so filled with the Spirit of your Son that I see no reason for anger in the things people say and do to me. Help me to hear what You say, to read Your word, to do what I learn to be Your will. Help me to speak kind words, not angry words, to those around me, even to those who upset me… help me to do YOur work, to be Your hands in this broken world. Amen.