19 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.
James 1:19-25
We are called to listen more, speak less- and then do what we have heard. This principle escaped me for many years; hearing the word, the voice of the Master, but then doing nothing of what I had just heard!
In the natural world, we respond to those in authority over us, in the workplace, personal relationships, etc., but somehow we often choose to ignore the words of Life. There are blessings attached to this vital principle. V.25 reads "they will be blessed in what they do." We have all the tools we need, as the word tells us :"
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ"(Eph.4:12). Step forward. God has given us the armor, tools & weapons, that we need to advance the kingdom, each of us where He has placed us.
There is one thing He hasn't given us: the spirit of fear.
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