Hope for Today

James 1: 19 know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

I have finally reached the mountain top and I am filled with joy, worship, and praise for my God. He has taught me some things and given me just a glimpse of His goodness and I am craving more. I can look out over the landscape and see the mountain range full of more valleys and higher mountains to climb but today I am just setting here pondering how far we have come. This verse in James spoke to me today because I have heard it preached several times usually as an encouragement to get involved in some kind of ministry or service and there is nothing wrong with that I believe I should be sharing what I have freely received, however today it has nothing to do with working but my perspective of the world around me. God is really dealing with me about how I respond to everything and for me it all starts with “bringing every thought captive” and “the renewing of the mind” and “giving account for every spoken word”. Naturally like everyone else I would like to make a list of the things good Christians do and get it done so I can consider myself a doer of the word but what about “think on these things”? The Bible uses action words like humble, meek, loving, kind…ect, very doable things but like all works worthless if not done with the right heart. I have had many people over the years tell me the Bible is full of rules do this and don’t do that but what it is really full of is a view of the world through the eyes of a loving God. “Who am I that He should be mindful of me” and yet I am valuable enough that He would come and die for me, humble should not be a problem. Mercy, grace, forgiveness, understanding are all things that He pours into me until I am overflowing so being a doer of the word would mean letting that overflow pour on to others, giving as easily as I take. “Be set apart, holy, righteous, a living sacrifice” I used to think these were things to strive for and to work on but they are simply trading up. Every time I listen, think before I speak, and look at the other persons point of view before I respond I am rewarded with joy and peace the two things every person in the world is searching for. This is the change; I spent many years angry and hateful just to push people away so they couldn’t hurt me and was crushed by it but God is teaching me that the more I love and draw people in that it is impossible for them to hurt me and I am lifted up. There is not really a lot of sacrifice in letting go of the lie to be set free by truth! How great is my God!! And I am beloved!