James 1: 19-27
We are to be quick to listen, slow to speak,
and slow to become angry.
Listening means that we take time to hear what others are saying,
asking questions that draw others out,
encouraging them to think, examine and share with us.
It means letting go of our initial impressions or judgments,
maintaining a receptive attitude toward the other,
being empathetic and active in the process,
clarifying and summarizing what is said.
Anger is an emotion that can be quickly elicited
and the handling of it, tricky.
It can do immeasurable damage,
hurting others and destroying the good that God desires.
It is necessary to throw away
every thought, attitude, and behavior
that is not God-honoring
and willingly, humbly take in and live out the word of God,
which is able to deliver, save, protect,
and bring both us and others into wholeness.
We are not to be people who only talk about
what is good and right, what the Bible tells us,
we are to DO it,
taking what we have heard and say we believe,
putting our work clothes on and translating it
into a language that others can easily understand.
If we don't do this, we deceive ourselves.
(Others already see the discrepancy, our hypocrisy.)
Our only hope is to stay “in the Word”,
remembering who we are and always being cognizant that
blessing comes when
hearing and doing are walking hand-in-hand with each other!
It is easy to do the things
that make others think we have a relationship with God.
However, there is a test ~ the test of the tongue.
If we do not control our tongue, we are providing evidence
that shouts duplicity.
Pure worship, the kind that can not be faulted by God or man,
is that which seeks to help those who are distressed and in need
and that which keeps us from allowing the dirt of the world
to pollute our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors!
Prayer:
You are a God whose Word is truth.
Jesus came to earth, spoke Your words, and translated it
into a language that we could understand.
Help us not to be people of duplicity.
We want to be people of integrity, like Jesus.
We want our words, attitudes and behaviors to be consistent
with what we profess.
Help us see ourselves as you see us.
Give us the will and strength to involve in true worship
through the way we live out what we have heard.
Twila Charles Leichty
January 20, 2010
We are to be quick to listen, slow to speak,
and slow to become angry.
Listening means that we take time to hear what others are saying,
asking questions that draw others out,
encouraging them to think, examine and share with us.
It means letting go of our initial impressions or judgments,
maintaining a receptive attitude toward the other,
being empathetic and active in the process,
clarifying and summarizing what is said.
Anger is an emotion that can be quickly elicited
and the handling of it, tricky.
It can do immeasurable damage,
hurting others and destroying the good that God desires.
It is necessary to throw away
every thought, attitude, and behavior
that is not God-honoring
and willingly, humbly take in and live out the word of God,
which is able to deliver, save, protect,
and bring both us and others into wholeness.
We are not to be people who only talk about
what is good and right, what the Bible tells us,
we are to DO it,
taking what we have heard and say we believe,
putting our work clothes on and translating it
into a language that others can easily understand.
If we don't do this, we deceive ourselves.
(Others already see the discrepancy, our hypocrisy.)
Our only hope is to stay “in the Word”,
remembering who we are and always being cognizant that
blessing comes when
hearing and doing are walking hand-in-hand with each other!
It is easy to do the things
that make others think we have a relationship with God.
However, there is a test ~ the test of the tongue.
If we do not control our tongue, we are providing evidence
that shouts duplicity.
Pure worship, the kind that can not be faulted by God or man,
is that which seeks to help those who are distressed and in need
and that which keeps us from allowing the dirt of the world
to pollute our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors!
Prayer:
You are a God whose Word is truth.
Jesus came to earth, spoke Your words, and translated it
into a language that we could understand.
Help us not to be people of duplicity.
We want to be people of integrity, like Jesus.
We want our words, attitudes and behaviors to be consistent
with what we profess.
Help us see ourselves as you see us.
Give us the will and strength to involve in true worship
through the way we live out what we have heard.
Twila Charles Leichty
January 20, 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment