What do you do at least once a day? At least once a day, we stand in front of a mirror and check out the way we look. If an adjustment is necessary, and it usually is, then we straighten our clothes or comb our hair – all because the mirror has helped us by revealing things about how we really look. “Mirror, mirror on the wall …” Do you know that when God looks at you – God says, “You’re fabulous.”
James 1:19-21 says, “Understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore, rid yourselves of all sordidness and wickedness and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.”
To adequately prepare our hearts, James gives us four guidelines. These behaviors will enable us to accept the word and receive the full benefit also.
1. Capacity to listen – Be quick to hear the Word of truth. “… swift or quick to hear …” refers to an alert ear. But James isn’t just talking about physically hearing the words as they impact our ears, but listening for what God has to say.
“Quick to hear” describes an attentive heart, listening for what God has to say. That is often true when it comes to what God is trying to communicate to us. How many times has there been needless misunderstanding, resulting in hurt feelings, just because someone didn’t listen. You can physically hear words and yet not really hear them.
2. A controlled tongue – “slow to speak.” One of the things that keep us from hearing is that our mouth is already moving – we need to be slow to speak. You can’t be an effective listener if you are doing all the talking. When God was giving out body parts, God gave us two ears and one mouth – that ought to say something to us – if we can hear it.
We’re not quick to hear when it comes to receiving what others are trying to tell us. Sometimes – we are like that with God.
3. A calm demeanor – The third thing we need to do is “cultivate a calm spirit.” We need to be “slow to anger.” James not only tells us that we need to be slow to anger, but that “anger does not produce God’s righteousness”. So we need to calm down.
You can’t communicate with an angry person. If you don’t calm your spirit down and let God speak a word to you, even when that word is uncomfortable, you will never hear.
Cultivate a calm spirit. When we are angry, we are closed. We’re not listening to reason. We’re looking to get even and sometimes to get ahead. We feel resentment, or bitterness, and sometimes even hatred. These are barriers to communication. God cannot speak to you when you hold these attitudes in your heart.
4. A righteous life – that’s another thing we need to work on. Just like we clean our bodies and wash our clothes, James tells us to “rid ourselves of all sordidness and wickedness.” What we are to lay down is anything that causes us to put up a wall between ourselves and God – remember, nothing can separate you from the love of God. We are the ones who put up the barrier.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall … Mirrors show us what we really look like. When you look into the mirror, you see the brutal truth. Now, sometimes I don’t want to acknowledge that truth. Let God’s Word, God’s promises, God’s all-inclusive love show you the truth about yourself. You are worthy. You are lovable. You are gifted. You are a child of God.
Don’t look into the mirror, walk away and forget about yourself … your true self. Don’t forget how God views you – and how we are always in formation, in process, to become all that God has to offer us.
Develop a capacity to listen, to hear. Develop a controlled tongue and a calm demeanor to receive the Truth of God’s love and promises for you. Finally, develop a life that is full of God’s light, God’s love, and God’s grace.
I celebrate who you are today. I bless you.
I invite you to attend the MLK community choir in our church Sunday, June 3, 6:30 p.m. Free admission.
Rev. Dan Koeshall is the Senior Pastor at The Metropolitan Community Church (The Met) in San Diego, California, themetchurch.org.
