Today’s Reading: James 1:19-27 (English Standard Version)
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Takeaways:
- This passage focuses specifically on hearing and doing the word of God.
- One of the major areas of my life that I am constantly working on is being quick to hear and slow to speak. If you read this, will you hold me accountable to that?
- I have the privilege of belonging to an incredible Bible teaching church and working at a Christian school that is full of godly leaders. I really have to guard my heart so that I will be a doer of His word and not just a hearer only.
- God has called me to bridle my tongue.
- The world does not sustain me…it never should.
- God has called us to care for orphans and widows.
- Hearing and doing God’s word should work together…always.