Don't rush off - think about it first. Part 2

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

                                                                                       James 1:19   NKJV

So after yesterday's reading on this subject, how many people were successful in heeding this word and how many failed miserably? I'll be honest, I failed miserably. My wife had a hospital appointment and the road was busy with roadworks, traffic lights, more cars than is normal for this time of day and very slow drivers. I almost managed this but then failed because there was nowhere to park. Every space in the hospital grounds was filled. After driving an extra couple of miles around the place, I finally found one. However, by then the damage was done. That little slit on my face that is called a mouth had begun to speak. Therefore, although my wife spoke peace to me, I refused to listen (Not swift to hear) and instead of being (Slow to speak) I began speaking utter nonsense and, what's the other one, oh yes (Slow to wrath) I wasn't; I was very quick to get fired up and after all of this, I felt God referring to what I had written and published that day "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." So I had to ask God for forgiveness and of course my wife. I then spent the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself because I had let God, myself and my wife down.

It is so difficult at times, isn't it? We think we have understood what God has told us and then boosh - He reminds us that we haven't and we need to give more attention to what He is teaching us. If we look in the Amplified Bible at our scripture, we read the two verses like this:

"Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; 20for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us]. "

So there you have it. The Amplified Bible is a good tool for digging into the Word and helping you to identify what God is saying. Note the last words of this piece that standard of behaviour which He requires from us. 

'I receive this loud and clear Lord Jesus, please help me and my brothers and sisters in Christ to reach this standard.. Amen

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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