Day 3: James 1:19-27 - A Christian is a Sponge

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For every action, there is an equaly reaction. What will that reaction be based upon? James tells us that simply knowing the Word is not enough; we must "do what it says" (vs. 22). Easier said than done. Preventing anger from lashing out takes so much will power that it can take me quite a bit of time to recover from a simple sentence that triggers my brain to think, "I am offended." Fighting those words takes so much energy that oftentimes, it is just easier to admit your anger and to dwell in it, to justify it, and to wish that you could speak your mind to the other person. Verse 20 states that nothing righteous comes from anger. To drop your pride and to just let it go is much to ask, but again, in the end, you honor God. God feels your anger and hears your justifying arguments, but He encourages us that love is greater, mercy is greater, and grace is greater.

"For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.'" - v20

I think lashing out at man at its core is a lack of trust in God's justice. We feel like if we don't do something about it, this person will NEVER know how wrong he is nor will they ever have to pay for it.

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” " - Romans 12:19

At the same time, this anger at man always seems to forget that the same wrath we have is the wrath we deserved too (and more). Instead we received grace. If we have a low view of that grace, then we'll have a low view of grace for others.

My biggest problem isn’t this traffic jam
But anger at God and how I lash at man

You say we have innocence
But our biggest problem isn’t even being sinned against

But how I respond to their sin,
Cuz how I long for revenge shows I'm just as awful as them

My problem’s my pride
I can’t see clearly. Hold up, I've got this log in my eye

- "I'm The Problem" by Timothy Brindle

25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

James seems to make a connection with receiving the word of God and verse 25; persevering and doing what the word of God commands; and being blessed. At a recent GG leaders meeting with the elders we talked about the rigor of being an NFL player at training camp, and how the "labor" without the "ambition to be an NFL player" was borderline torture. The ambition flowing from the new heart necessitates the labor. And the labor necessitates water discipline-- drinking deeply from God and making that the most important, choicest, and most vital time of every day. God help us to drink deeply! We need your Holy Spirit

I think it's interesting that James doesn't just stop at telling us to be doers and not hearers, but goes on to say that people who are only hearers deceive themselves. I am reminded that I need to constantly be evaluating my life to see whether I am a doer or merely a hearer. It's so easy to be deceived and think we're in a good place because we are checking off the boxes... we are going to church, we go to growth group, we say the right things.... but do we even feel the tension from trying to truly have God as the Lord in our lives?