Saturday 27 May
Saturday 27 May
‘Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.’
James 1:19
‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.’
Really?! We can recover more or less from a physical injury, but once our reputation is damaged, or lies are told about us, it can be impossible to repair, with consequences - for our relationships, our employment prospects, our whole life. The human tongue is a truly powerful weapon: human words can inflict deep wounds. In stark contrast to God’s word, which goes to work to change things for good.
It’s so easy too to snap when things aren’t going quite the way we want. Our patience runs out, and we snarl, feeling that a bit of our anger will sort things out. There is a time and place for righteous anger, but on the whole, it’s better for us to keep a check on our tongue, and let God’s word go to work.
When we really pay attention to God’s word, it can alter for good the way we see the world, the way we feel towards other people, and the way we behave. If we only pay lip service to God, then we will fall into the same traps time and again, lose our temper, say things we regret. God exhorts us to patience and compassion: when we really pay more attention to others than to ourselves, when we stop to listen properly before speaking out, engage our minds and our hearts before we speak, we are less likely to do harm
and might even do some good.
and might even do some good.
God gave us two ears but just one mouth for a reason!
Prayer
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
filled with messages from Thee.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
ever, only, all for Thee.
O, Lord, help us to master ourselves
so we may better serve others and you. Amen
so we may better serve others and you. Amen
Longer Bible reading:
James 1:19-21 Listening before Speaking or Acting
‘You must understand this, my beloved:
let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word
that has the power to save your souls.’
that has the power to save your souls.’
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- Last Updated on Monday, 22 May 2017 21:42
- Written by Graham Merrington
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