Doers of the Word (Sep. 21)
Read: James 1:19-27
Living out the truths we read in God’s Word helps us avoid the consequences of sin and experience the blessings of following Jesus.
Once upon a time, there was a mother of four children ages 2, 6, 9, and 11. They were wonderful children and she loved them with her whole heart. Oftentimes the children misbehaved, didn’t listen properly to her instruction, or repeated the same mistakes time after time. It made the mother angry. Why, oh why, was parenting so exhausting? Why wouldn’t they just listen and obey? Why were the children always in need?
The mother knew her anger was not appropriate, so she decided she would no longer be angry with them. She pushed the anger monster out the door and barred it against him. However, soon, the children would act like children in need of parenting and correction again, and the anger monster was there again too, accompanying their frequent misbehavior. The mother was strong and did not open the door to the monster. But as wayward children do, they returned again to their wayward ways and the mother was becoming so tired of always holding the door closed against the monster. He eventually burst through! No matter how hard she tried, he won again and again.
The monster was not always obvious- sometimes he burned slow and hot in her heart and nobody except the mother knew he was there. Other times, he tainted her words or her tone and the mother snarled at the children. The mother found that by strength of will alone she could not do the good she wanted to do, but rather continued to do evil. Who could save her from this struggle?
One day while reading an ancient and revered book, she heard the Truth. It taught her that ungodly anger would never lead to righteousness. She knew this well, for even if the anger monster lived secretly in her heart and did not escape through her words or actions, he was tainting her thoughts and perspectives and her relationship with her children. So she replaced the filthiness and worldly wickedness in her life with the Truth, and confessed her sin to her own Father in humility.
Slowly, Humility and Truth did their work; she realized she was more like her children than she knew. She too did not obey her Father perfectly. She too had to be corrected again and again. She too was a constant recipient of forgiveness and mercy. Knowing He did not respond to her waywardness with anger and punishment caused her to see and respond to her own children differently. Over the years, the anger monster banged on her door less and less often.
Action Step: James 1:19 tells us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry.” (NIV) Pick at least one of these areas today for reflection:
- Quick to listen – When was a time when you either intentionally chose to listen to and follow God’s Word or turned away from His instruction? What happened?
- Slow to speak – Think of someone in your life who is a “doer of the word” and is “slow to speak.” Pick 5 adjectives to describe that person’s speech.
- Slow to become angry – Has God’s Word ever played a role in your life in helping you control ungodly responses to anger? How?
Prayer: Lord, I acknowledge that you are the Maker of all that is good, true, and beautiful. I praise You for your Goodness. I trust in your Truth. I love your beauty. Thank you for the special revelation of Your Holy Word and all that you have chosen to reveal about yourself, your creation, and your plan. Thank you for your Light and your Life. Thank you for instructing me in the way I should go. Lord, I confess that I often turn away from your Word because of selfishness, self-centeredness, laziness, or ignorance. I confess I often do not believe the promises of Scripture- Lord, help my unbelief! I ask today, Lord, that you would continue to grow my love for your Word. Please counsel and instruct me with your Holy Spirit, give me the strength and courage to obey to do the good works you have prepared in advance for me to do. Amen.
Author: Laura Hawkins