Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. James 1, verse 19. Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.
Scouting for Truth was written by Monica LeBrose and read by Rochelle Traube. James chapter 1, verses 19 through 27. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, 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. 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. Scouting for Truth.
Written by Monica LaRose. Reflecting on why people tend to be entirely convinced they're right, even when they're not, author Julia Galef suggests that it has to do with a soldier mindset, where we're focused on defending what we already believe against what we see as threats. Galef argues a more helpful mindset is that of a scout, someone focused not primarily on eliminating threats, but on seeking the complete truth, comprehending what's really there as honestly and accurately as you can, even if it's not pretty or convenient or pleasant. People with this outlook have the humility to continually grow in understanding. Galef's insights bring to mind James' encouragement in James 1-19 that believers adopt a similar mindset, one where they're quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
Instead of being driven by knee-jerk reactions to others, James urges believers in Jesus to remember that human anger doesn't lead to God's righteousness. Growth in wisdom is only possible through humble submission to His grace. When we remember that each moment of our lives is dependent on God's grace, not on us, we can let go of a need to always be right, and we can rely on His leading for how to live and care well for others.
Let's pray. Lord, teach us to let go of our need to always be right and to submit humbly to Your leading. Help us to respond with love and wisdom, trusting in Your guidance to care for others as You lead us. Thank you, Father. It's in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. What examples have you seen of a spirit of humble willingness to learn and change? How can you cultivate a willingness to learn from others?
Whisper: medium.en / 2025-01-12 20:10:33 / 2025-01-12 20:12:13 / 2