10/07/20 Quick to Listen

READING: Jeremiah 17-20, James 1

Quick, uncontrolled, unrighteous anger can leave long-term scars. Many of us can speak of difficult times in life when the anger of others wounded us—or, even times when our anger harmed others. It does seem that one angry generation can quickly become a second one, too.

What often happens is that we respond to something too quickly and too emotively. In contrast to what James required in today’s reading, we’re far too often slow to listen, quick to speak, and hasty toward anger. That kind of anger is neither evidence of God’s work in our lives nor a helpful witness to the transforming power of the gospel. It’s instead divisive and painful.

Those of us who wrestle with anger must admit that we can live in victory only if we lean on God every step of the way. This is especially true when we’re facing great difficulties or trials—precisely the times when we might be prone to give in to anger. Many a divisive argument would have lost its force had we been “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). May God bring this text to mind today if you face uncertainty and pain today.  

PRAYER: “God, please halt my steps when I listen too little and speak too much.” 

TOMORROW’S READING: Jeremiah 22, 23, 26; Psalm 77; James 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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