Hearing and doing

Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose. So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you. (verses 19-21)

Read James 1: 16-27

There is a time to listen and a time to speak the truth in love. I can avoid a broken relationship if I take the time to listen to the other person’s point of view. I may not always agree with what the other person has said. However, after listening, I may be able to give helpful Christian guidance on the basis of God’s word.

I must not only be a hearer of God’s word. I must also put it into practice by doing what the word says. If I look into a mirror and see that my hair is untidy and don’t do anything about it, then I’m like a person who doesn’t pay attention to God’s word. I may find his word unpleasant at times and rebel against it.

Pray that God will give you grace to submit to his word – which will also involve not being angry.

Lord, help me to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. Amen.

by Paul Albers, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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