Don't Get Caught Up In Our Feelings!

James 1:19-26 (NIV)

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.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

This passage emphasizes the importance of not only listening to the word but acting on it, as well as controlling anger and being mindful of our speech.

Sure! Here's a breakdown and explanation of James 1:19-26 with illustrations to help bring the message to life:

James 1:19

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"

Breakdown:

"Quick to listen": The first thing James urges is that we should prioritize listening. Listening is key to understanding, whether it’s hearing God’s Word, other people, or our own thoughts. It's important because when we listen first, we can respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively.

"Slow to speak": This emphasizes the need for patience in our speech. Being slow to speak means we think before we respond, allowing us to avoid rash words and misunderstandings.

"Slow to become angry": Anger, especially when it's quick and uncontrolled, often leads to sin. Being slow to anger allows us to pause and process emotions rather than acting on them impulsively.

Why this is important:

James wants us to avoid destructive responses like harsh words or anger, which can cause conflict and prevent us from representing Christ in our relationships. By being quick to listen and slow to speak and become angry, we align ourselves with God's desire for peace and righteousness.

James 1:20

"because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."

Breakdown:

Human anger: James points out that anger is part of our human nature, and unchecked anger can often cause harm, injustice, or oppression. It’s a natural, emotional response, but it doesn’t align with God’s ways.

Does not produce righteousness: Human anger rarely leads to good results. It may cause temporary satisfaction but doesn’t bring about lasting, godly change. God desires us to seek His righteousness (justice, peace, and love), not reactions driven by anger.

Why this is important:

This verse warns us that when we react in anger, we’re not producing the type of righteousness that God desires. Anger can lead to sin, and it often clouds our judgment, preventing us from acting in love and truth.

James 1:21

"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."

Breakdown:

"Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent": James is calling believers to remove the sin in their lives—moral filth refers to the corruption or impurity that can creep into our hearts and minds, such as selfishness, jealousy, or pride. "Prevalent evil" refers to the worldly attitudes and behaviors that often surround us.

"Humbly accept the word planted in you": James emphasizes humility here. We need to be receptive to God’s Word, allowing it to take root in our lives. Humility means being teachable, acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers, and being willing to let God’s Word change us.

"Which can save you": The Word of God is powerful, and it has the ability to transform our lives. It saves us by guiding us into the truth and teaching us how to live in alignment with God’s will.

Why this is important:

James is encouraging us to cleanse ourselves of sinful attitudes and behaviors so that we can fully embrace God’s Word, which is life-changing and has the power to lead us to salvation.

James 1:22

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

Breakdown:

"Do not merely listen to the word": James warns against passive listening. It's easy to hear the Word and feel like we've done something spiritual, but simply hearing it is not enough. We must actively engage with it.

"Deceive yourselves": If we think listening alone is enough, we’re fooling ourselves. True transformation comes from living out God’s Word.

"Do what it says": The core of James’ message is that hearing the Word should lead to action. We can’t just be hearers; we must be doers. Faith is shown through action.

Why this is important:

This verse underscores the idea that faith is not just about receiving knowledge but about living it out. If we fail to act on what we hear, we miss the point of God’s teaching.

James 1:23-24

"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

Breakdown:

"Looks at his face in a mirror": A mirror reflects what is in front of it, showing us the truth about ourselves. Similarly, God's Word reflects our lives and shows us where we need to change.

"Goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like": If we see something in the mirror (like a smudge or an imperfection) but don’t act on it, we’re being foolish. Similarly, if we hear God’s Word and don’t act on it, it’s as if we’ve forgotten what we saw in the mirror.

Why this is important:

James uses this illustration to make a clear point: We cannot ignore God’s Word once we’ve encountered it. Just as you wouldn’t forget your reflection in the mirror, you shouldn’t forget the truth revealed to you in Scripture. You need to act on it!

James 1:25

"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."

Breakdown:

"Looks intently into the perfect law": This refers to focusing deeply on God's Word, which is perfect and trustworthy. When we look into it with intention, it reveals the truth about how to live.

"Gives freedom": God’s Word doesn’t confine us; it actually sets us free. By following God’s law, we’re freed from sin, shame, and confusion. It leads to a life of fulfillment, not restriction.

"Blessed in what they do": When we apply God’s Word in our lives, we will experience God’s blessings. This means peace, joy, fulfillment, and purpose.

Why this is important:

God’s Word isn’t just for knowledge—it’s meant to lead to freedom and action. By living out God’s law, we experience blessings in all aspects of life. God’s way is not a burden; it’s the way to true freedom.

James 1:26

"Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless."

Breakdown:

"Consider themselves religious": People may claim to be religious or spiritual, but their outward actions are a reflection of their true faith.

"Do not keep a tight rein on their tongues": The tongue is a powerful tool that can either build up or tear down. If someone cannot control their speech, it reveals a lack of true transformation in their heart.

"Deceive themselves": If we say we are religious but don’t control our speech, we’re lying to ourselves. Our words should reflect our faith, and when they don’t, we show that we’re not truly following Christ.

"Their religion is worthless": This is a strong statement. If our faith doesn’t affect how we speak and act, it has no real value. True religion impacts every area of life, including our speech.

Why this is important:

This verse underscores the importance of our words. If we claim to be followers of Christ but cannot control our tongues, we’re deceiving ourselves. Genuine faith leads to transformed behavior, including how we speak.

Summary of James 1:19-26:

Listening and Speech: James encourages us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, because human anger doesn’t lead to God’s righteousness.

Acting on the Word: It’s not enough to just hear the Word; we must apply it in our lives. Like looking in a mirror and forgetting what we look like, hearing without doing is empty

Freedom and Blessing: The Word of God brings freedom, and those who live according to it will be blessed

Controlling the Tongue: True religion shows itself in how we speak. If we can’t control our speech, our faith is worthless.

This detailed breakdown shows the practicality of James' message: a life of faith must be active, it requires self-reflection, and it must manifest in godly actions, including speech. The key theme here is that faith without action is dead. True religion transforms us inside and out.

How are we able to control our feelings?

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

This verse highlights the qualities or "fruit" that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a believer. These characteristics reflect the nature of God and are evidence of a transformed life through the power of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:23 "Gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

This verse continues the list of the fruit of the Spirit and emphasizes gentleness and self-control as key characteristics of a Spirit-filled life. It also notes that these virtues are not things that the law condemns; instead, they align with God's desires for how we should live. There's no law against living in a way that is gentle and self-controlled because these qualities reflect God's holiness and love.

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