I will share about Christian books I have read or listened to.
I will be sharing about my life before and after Christ. I will include stories about my pet and other pets I have encountered.
Your Response Matters
When we’re in difficult situations, it isn’t always easy to stay calm or hold our tongues for very long.
But in James 1:19, we hear how we should respond…
Be quick to listen.
Be slow to speak.
Be slow to anger.
The world is the opposite:
Be slow to hear what others have to say.
Be quick to voice your own opinions.
Be quick to accuse, argue, and fight.
Why is it so important to James that Christ's followers don’t behave like this? Because “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:20)
So what does produce the right kind of living that God desires?
The Word of God.
James told his friends to “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:21)
He said that if they have the Word of God in them, and if they are obeying it, they will be blessed. (James 1:25)
James is clear that if we are to be followers of God, we must know God’s word and obey it. That means we need to take time to listen to others, pace ourselves when we speak, and keep our anger at bay.
So next time you’re faced with something that makes you angry, take James’ words to heart. Take time to temper your emotions, think through your feelings and arguments, and humbly pray for God to help you respond with kindness and grace.
“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”
Luke 7:36-38 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.7.36-38.KJV
“All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.”
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/ecc.7.15-18.KJV
