Slow Down

James 1:19-21

Have you ever said something that you later regretted? Maybe it is just me, but I know my mouth has got me in trouble more than once.

Have you ever not listened to someone and what they were telling you was important?

Have you ever gotten angry and said or did something that you regretted?

Well let’s take a look at our text this morning:

James 1:19–21 ESV

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

My brief retelling of this passage in my own words would be.

Slow down when you act in haste, sin is there. Whether you don’t slow do to listen, slow down to speak, or slow down when you feel yourself getting angry. It seems we sin in our haste unless of course your are quick to listen. Why must you slow down and stay calm? Because your anger does not produce the righteousness of God. Because of this, we need to put away ALL sin and how do we do that? The Word of God. Only the Word has the ability to save us and sanctify us. You must be in the Word and the Word has to be in you!

You must be seeking sanctification by the Spirit of God by His Word through His Spirit in prayer. There is no other way. You can’t try harder or implement behavior modifications. You need to be quick to listen to His Spirit and quick to listen to His Word.

Because what does our passage tell us about our actions? By default what does the anger of man produce?

That you want to produce what? The righteousness of God right?

How often do you think about that? That all of your actions need to strive to produce the righteousness of God.

This of course can only be accomplished by the indwelling Spirit of God.

Look at verse 21,

James 1:21 ESV

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

How much of our filthiness and rampant wickedness are we to put away? A little bit? What we want to give up? The easy ones?

No ALL

How is that possible? Let me ask you, “Which is easier, seeing your own sin or others?” I think we all know the answer to that. It is so much easier to see the sin of others. We can become very blind to the sin in our own lives. That is why you need to spend time in prayer and The Word this is where the Lord primarily reveals your heart to you.