Hurry up and Listen...

James 1:19-27 give us yet another list of commands laced in beautiful imagery seven in all.

We are commanded to (1) “understand this” we are to be (2) “quick to hear,” (3) slow to speak,” (4) and slow to anger.”

These first 4 commands are saying listen up! We need to stop being so quick to chime in… we should listen first and foremost and then when the time is right speak...

The next command we see is to (5) “rid ourselves” of all moral filth and evil. The Greek word for this is apotithemi (ap-ot-eeth’-ay-mee) and it literally means to lay aside, or renounce. It carries the idea of shedding a garment.

But as we “rid ourselves” of one we are instructed to (6) “receive” in simple humility God’s Word implanted in our hearts. When a seed is planted what is the expectation? That is always remain a seed? No! As the seed of an apple tree germinates it sheds its outer shell and life grows into a fruit bearing tree. Likewise, we at the hands of the Master Gardener shed our old selves and mature into a fruit bearing crown of creation.

The final command we see in this passage is to (7) “be doers” not just hearers…. Just coming to church week after week will leave you sorely disappointed one day when the Lord says your time here is done. James is instructing his readers to take the implanted word which they have heard, and apply it to their actions.

And it’s not just talking about doing… we are great at talking a good talk about our faith but James tells his readers at the end of the passage that real religion, religion that honors God, is religion that acts, a faith that cares for the homeless and the loveless where they are, not just offering them an encouraging word but truly caring for them.

Will you join us in being doer’s? Will you be implanted by the Living Word of God?

Don’t forget to read James this week!                                          

See ya Sunday!

James 1:19-27

My dearly loved brothers, understand this:

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself. Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.