Parking Lot Quarrel

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading, titled Parking Lot Quarrel, was written by Lesley Coe. The scene in the parking lot might have been funny if it wasn't so tragic.

Two drivers were arguing loudly over one of their cars that was blocking the passage of the other, and harsh words were being exchanged. What made it especially painful to watch was that this quarrel was taking place in the parking lot of a church. The two men had possibly just heard a sermon about love, patience, or forgiveness, but it was all forgotten in the heat of the moment.

Passing by, I shook my head, then quickly realized I was no better. How many times had I read the Bible, only to fall into sin moments later with an uncharitable thought? How many times had I behaved like the person who James 1 says looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like? James was calling on his readers not only to read and reflect on God's instruction, but also to do what it says. A complete faith, he noted, means both knowing Scripture and putting it into action. Life circumstances can make it hard to apply what Scripture reveals, but if we ask the Father, He'll surely help us obey His words and please Him with our actions. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from James 1, verses 19-27. Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves.

Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it, not forgetting what they have heard but doing it, they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves and their religion is worthless.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this, to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Let's pray. God, forgive us for the times we lose our cool and say hurtful things to others, forgetting who we are and whose we are. Give us the courage to reach out and apologize to the person we've spoke harshly to and to seek to repair the damage we've done. May you be honored in everything we say and do. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.