Slow to Wrath.

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 

Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

How slow is our wrath?  Seriously, how fast do we become wrathful?

Anger or Wrath is an intense emotional response. It is an emotion that involves a strong uncomfortable and emotional response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat. Anger can occur when a person feels their personal boundaries are being or going to be violated. Some have a learned tendency to react to anger through retaliation as a way of coping. (wiki)

Let me ask you this? Have you ever had any road rage? Even a little bit? Road rage truly has become an epidemic. The anger we feel when driving and encounter what we perceive as anger inducing situations causes us to react in ways we shouldn't. We yell, we swear, we drive unsafely, we let that anger fuel us and you know what? Many times things we get upset about from other drivers are innocent mistakes, unintended swerves, a hurried lane change from an instinctive reaction to get into the right lane for a turn, a total miscalculation of the time it takes to stop… there are a lot of mistakes made innocently, I know- I've made lots of them. Yet when we encounter *stupid* drivers we instantly feel we have the right to be angry, to get wrathful.  How slow are we to wrath behind the steering wheel of our cars?

There are many situations that bring wrathful feelings upon us- having to wait extra long in lines, at drive throughs of fast food places, at tardy waiters/waitresses, at slow moving people when we are in a rush (I've even gotten perturbed at my elderly dog- much to my shame- for not moving fast enough when I need to rush to do something(important somethings). It's not my dog's fault I'm in a rush and she can't comprehend I have to run to get to grandma before she falls on the floor.  We get angry in many, many situations and most of them have the root cause of us being self-centered. Did the need to get to grandma bring out my selfishness? No, not all anger is selfish but a lot of it is. We are in a rush simply because we don't want out precious time wasted in many situations.  That time we believe is being wasted could be spent in prayer, couldn't it? Instead we use it to get wrathful, to get angry and fueled by that anger allow it to rile us into doing things we shouldn't (swearing, etc)

Also, how many of us are swift to speak and slow to hear? Preferring to speak not listen? How many of us have to fight not to interrupt those talking to us because we are in such a hurry to add our point of view, our two cents to the conversation? We believe our need to speak supersedes the one talking to us because what we have to say is so incredibly important it might just take away the need for the other to speak at all.  We understand, we know things, we have opinions that matter greatly, we, we, we! 

God knows how important it is for us to be slow to speak, fast to hear and slow to anger. God knows and wants us to know and comprehend fully. If we want to work the righteousness of God, we have to pray for these words of the greatest wisdom to become a part of our lives- so ingrained in us it is natural for us to be slow to speak, swift to hear and very slow to anger.

Please, Lord, we would work Your righteousness! Live in us, let us do Your will, all through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and FOREVER!

Willing to learn.

Psa_25:4  Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

Psa_25:5  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Psa_86:11  Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Psa_119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

Psa_119:66  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Asking God to teach us, this is so important. Why do we often assume God will automatically teach us? If this were true would David have to ask over an over to be taught? David learned, but he never wanted to stop learning. One could say that if he asked once and God answered, why did he have to ask over and over? Perhaps the Holy Spirit was inspiring him to do so because of how important it is for us to be willing to learn from God.

It does no good to teach one who is unwilling to learn, one who has no desire to be taught. If we half-heartedly want to know God and His will, can we really know Him? Our heart's desire must be to know God.

Joh_17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

We can know God by being taught by Him.

Teach us!

We would know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ sent by the Father.

Psa_143:10  Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Mic 4:2  And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

Joh 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 

Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 

Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 

Jas 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 

Jas 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 

More on this tomorrow by the will and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ now and forever!

Teach.

Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Teach me.

How can God teach us?

Throughout our lives we have been taught many things by many people, many situations. As children we are made to go to school to learn, all the while our parents are still teaching us ways of life at home. It’s the parents that teach proper behaviors, personal hygiene, manners- when we begin school we are expected to have a certain amount of these.

We have educators all through our lives up to 18 years and beyond if we take on higher learning. Also, even if we don't take on formal higher education we learn out in the job force from our bosses, our supervisors and such.

Can we ever say there comes a day when we cease to learn? I don't think so. I think we are learning all the time even if it's stuff we won't necessarily use, we can't help but learn because we are exposed to influences all around us- on our computers, on the television, in movies, books, just in people we meet all the time.

Teach me to do thy will - we say this to God. We want to be taught by GOD and God will teach us, He wants us to learn.

Psa_25:8  Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

Psa_25:9  The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Psa_25:12  What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

Psa_27:11  Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Psa_32:8  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Psa_34:11  Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psa_51:13  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Psa_86:11  Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Psa_90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!

Searched.

Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Our hearts are searched.

Psa 44:21  Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. 

And our response to being searched…

Willingness.

Psa_139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts

Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Knowing and Known.

We are known by God. Like it or not, we are all known by God.

God knows all about us.

Luk_12:7  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Mat 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 

Mat 6:27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 

Mat 6:28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 

Mat 6:29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

Mat 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Even as we are known-- we are known inside and out we are well known. We are known so well that everything we do is known- there is nothing we do in secret not a single thing.

Job 34:21  For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 

Job 31:4  Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

Psa 139:2  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 

Psa 139:3  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 

Psa 139:4  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 

Jer 23:24  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. 

Jer 17:10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 

When our Savior returns and we join Him we will know as we are known and if all of us is known, we will know all there is to know. Truly we are looking through a dark glass, and everyone knows how limited our vision is with darkness. We know so very little in the grand scheme of things. We do know enough though to teach us that salvation is found in our Lord, Jesus Christ! Knowing the salvation of the LORD is life everlasting. Everything else we learn and know is secondary to the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.  

Overcome Evil.

Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Overcome evil.

Evil can be overcome.

Evil would grab hold of us and never let us go if we allow it.

Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Deliver us from evil.

We don’t need to be delivered from something that hasn't gotten ahold of us, right? In fact you can't be delivered from something you aren’t afflicted with. You can only be delivered from something you possess. If we need to be delivered from evil there is a reason for it, right? Evil will attack us every single chance it gets.

Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 

Jesus is asking God, the Father to keep us from evil.

Let's read that entire prayer.

oh 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 

Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

Joh 17:4  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 

Joh 17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 

Joh 17:6  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 

Joh 17:7  Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 

Joh 17:8  For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 

Joh 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 

Joh 17:10  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 

Joh 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 

Joh 17:13  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 

Joh 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 

Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 

Joh 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 

Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 

Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 

Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 

Joh 17:24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 

Joh 17:25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 

Joh 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. 

An amazing prayer.

Are we among those Jesus is talking about? Are we His? Do we belong to Him?  We need sanctification!

We need to be delivered from evil.

Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Overcome evil with good.

3Jn_1:11  Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God

Isa 1:16  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 

Isa 1:17  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 

2Ti 3:10  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience

1Co 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

1Co 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

1Co 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

We know what it means to overcome evil with good- we know what is good. Our Savior is good.

By the grace of God may we overcome evil with good- with Christ!

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. May His mercy cover us always!

Looking.

Looking.

How do you look for something? You search for it, you're active in pursuing what you're looking for. If I say I'm looking forward to seeing you, then you know exactly what I mean. I'm desirous to see you again, I want to see you, it is a hope I have- seeing you. And if I'm looking forward to seeing you then I'm wondering when I will see you again, right?  I could say, I can't wait to see you again, and not know when I'll be seeing you and you'd still know that I really want to see you, probably sooner rather than later. If I'm looking for you then I'm expecting to see you. You can't look for someone or something without expecting to see it, can you? Without that hope of finding what you're looking for, you're not really looking.

Are we LOOKING for our Savior, for that blessed Hope? We should be, our Bible tells us to.

Looking unto Jesus.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith

Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jud_1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Looking for the coming of the day of God.

2Pe_3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God

Looking diligently lest we fail of the grace of God.

Heb_12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God

Looking unto Jesus.

Heb_12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith

Looking for that blessed hope.

Tit_2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ