Prayer
I’m coming to you today with a quiet heart. I’m sipping this coffee and listening to the silence and the faint voices from the TV downstairs. It’s a privilege to spend time with you, God. Thank you. As I read today, please show me more wonderful things about who you are and what you’re doing. Amen.
Scripture
James 1:19-21 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.
Reactions
What first comes into your mind as you read this?
Digging below the surface
Make a list of the commands/challenges in this passage.
Define some things. What do you think the following terms are talking about – “God’s righteousness,” “evil excess,” “message implanted within you”? Use a different translation or two and compare what they’re saying.
How does the message of salvation impact how we listen, speak, and keep our temper?
Making it stick
What are you going to do about these challenges from James?
Pray about it and seek God’s help with any area you feel weak in.
Notes
The Phillips version says this: “Man’s temper is never the means of achieving God’s true goodness.” Bam! I don’t know about you, but I have a fierce temper. It kind of strikes like lightning and then blows away in the smoke.
There are times when anger is healthy. It’s a God-given emotion. But like every other emotion, we can abuse it. It is not healthy for me to snap harshly at people who interrupt my nicely controlled plans. So for example, my son disobeys one too many times and I lose it. My temper tantrum definitely isn’t going to help him obey – it isn’t accomplishing God’s purpose.
So convicting, right?
But here’s the blessing. The message of salvation – that God loves me and poured out his grace and forgiveness on me – didn’t only save me the moment I first believed it. No, it continues to save me and make me new every day. I can’t change myself. But God and his word can.
This verse is on my bathroom mirror. I see it every day and God reminds me that I can’t accomplish his goodness through my own efforts.
Lord, my temper is wrong. It will never accomplish anything I want it to. It will never give me the control I want. Will you use your word as I read it to cleanse my heart and soften me? I’m sick of losing control and giving in to my flesh. You alone save me from my sin.