Listen, Hear And Do. James 1:19-25

James 1 NASB 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. These verses should be key in a Christians life. Do we listen to what others have to say before responding? While they are speaking are we reallylistening or are we forming our response? Defending ourselves is a natural response but if we listen and hear what others are saying we can avoid many disputes. I'm guilty of being quick to anger so this is a part of scripture I am familiar with. I recite it over and over in my head. I'm a work in progress but the key is to make progress and not stay stagnate. I know firsthand when I am quick to wrath I do NOT produce God's righteousness. The next verse tells us to put away filthiness and wickedness and receive God's word in humility. Do you still watch the shows you watch before you were saved? Do you still see movies with pornographic content and vulgar language? As a Christian, you are not following the teaching of the Bible if you do, you are guilty of not being doers of the word. You hear it but don't listen to it. You see the truth but walk away and do nothing about it. Do you want the blessings of God in your life? Then you have to do what the Bible says. So listen, hear and do. There's no other way. And you know, God doesn't expect us to be perfect, He just expects us to continue to move forward and not stay stagnate. Blessings, Cecilia