Friday 25th April
Read James 1:19-25
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 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.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 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.” (NIVUK)
Listening is at the heart of godly living. Listening is the principle underlying successful relationships. It is not enough to simply listen though – meditation on God’s word, listening closely – focuses our minds and helps us to remember. Repeatedly in scripture we find that the relationship between our senses and our God is rooted in remembrance. Anything we do, whether it is sight, sound, touch, taste or smell, that helps us remember God and His goodness to us in Jesus is something that aligns with God’s desires for us also. There is much to remember today.
