Posted in Faith Builders
JESUS IS COMING SOON! MARANATHA LORD!
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"If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless." (James 1:26, New King James Version)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20, New King James Version)
I find it difficult to to write a devotion focusing on these verses, because I struggle so greatly with he taming of the tongue, and equally with the control of my written words. It almost seems hypocritical for me to write about how important it is to keep our words submitted to Christ. So I just want the reader to be aware that I am not writing this because I think I have it perfected, rather I am writing this because I so greatly need to grow in this area that God has led me to meditate on these passages. I, perhaps more than anyone else I know, am often too quick to speak, before I have all the facts, too quick to give my opinion, often to the wrong person.
When it comes anger, or wrath, I do a little better, but not much. I am not often angry, but when I do become angry the intensity of it is disproportionate to the situation at hand. fortunately, through the grace of God, my anger is not expressed in physical violence, but my words can often do as much damage.
This passage is very direct, at the times when my words are out of control, my religion is rendered useless. No one is going to see the love of Christ through me. It does not matter to the world that I love Jesus if I don't show love for those around me. Even if deep in my heart, I know I do have love for the other person, if that love is hidden under wrath and biting words, what good does that love do? It is useless.
I am so thankful for God's forgiveness, so thankful that He does not abandon us when we fail, because I have failed many times. I know I need God's help, I need let God's Spirit guide me, rather than my own feelings at any particular moment. I pray that His Spirit will lead me and help me. I pray that I will follow where He leads.
Because, "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."
(James 1:23-25, New King James Version)
I wouldn't look into a mirror, notice that my hair is uncombed, my face smeared with dirt, and my teeth encrusted with old food, and then just walk away and go about my day. NO, I would clean up, comb my hair, and brush my teeth before leaving that mirror. So should it be with God's word, "the perfect law of liberty". When God's word exposes some failing or weakness in us, we need to bring that thing before God and let Him help us get rid of it. Otherwise, our religion will be useless, and our witness paralyzed.
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Posted by Gisele
