"Hearing, Thinking, Doing"

"Post this at all the intersections, dear friends. Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life." James 1:19-21 MSG












I read this passage to my Bible class last Sunday morning and it generated much discussion about how the prevalence of anger has impacted all of human society. Learning to follow Jesus today is just as challenging today as it was in the mid first century when James wrote these words. Jesus taught and modeled a challenging new way of hearing, speaking and doing. In fact much of James' letter exactly mirrors Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5,6,7) with several direct quotes from Jesus' sermon.

For me, Eugene Peterson's (The Message) interpretation of the above passage speaks to the modern mind in a way that is unmistakable, undeniable and absolutely striking. Make your own comparison:

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires. Therefore get rid of all mental filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:19-21 NIV

As a follower of Jesus you face the same gut check challenge that your brothers and sisters in every age have faced - allowing God, through the Holy Spirit, to completely remodel your inner world. The process is always "snail-pace" slow because changing our thinking requires:

1. New information which we obtain from hearing, reading and observation
2. Asking questions of those we trust to speak truth (spiritual mentors)
3. Trying out what we learn at every baby step in order to make needed adjustments
4. Sharing what we learn with others in our life who are where we were

What all of that means is simply get your life involved with a Jesus following, Bible teaching church that makes your spirit feel humbled but excited! Surround yourself with people who have the joy of salvation and forgiveness evident in their faces, their words and their families. Consistent worship with this kind of church is an absolute must because none of us can get to heaven alone, which is why Jesus built his church and gave us his Spirit as a true gift.

James' three guidelines for building a righteous life pose a challenge. "Quick to listen" simply means quit talking so much and listen a lot more than you talk. "Slow to speak" means pay attention to what comes out of your mouth and learn to discipline your words before they are spoken. You don't always need to say everything you think. "Slow to become angry" means exactly what it appears to mean, keep your anger in check. Think about what pushes your hot button, seriously!

The payoff is enormous - God will use all the means at his disposal (which is a bigger thought than the human brain can even conceive) to "landscape you .... into a salvation-garden", the righteous life God wants all of us to experience to prepare us for eternity in his beautiful house.

Some final words to ponder from James 2:12-13 NIV

" Speak and act as those who are going to -be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"

THAT my friends, is a whole mouthful of truth. Please let it filter into your life and relationships.

Until next time, keep on giving God the glory!