Stop the Spinning! – James 1: 19 Part I

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

Today James gives us a recipe for harmony: Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. How many situations have gone bad because someone did not listen? Have you ever opened your mouth and stuffed in a foot or two? When your feelings are hurt do you become angry before stopping to figure out what happened?

If I were to chart out all the problems I have suffered in my life, I wonder how many would be the direct result of doing the opposite of what James suggests. Just guessing, I am inclined to think that the answer is upwards of ninety percent.

Think about that for a moment. If you could eliminate ninety percent of all your unhappiness by following these three simple rules, would it be worth it?

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Listen – John 10: 14-16

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

Once again, Jesus repeats himself. “I am the good shepherd.” “I am the good shepherd.” If a man is the best at something and he says he is the best, that is not arrogance, it is fact. Jesus is not being prideful here or arrogant, but honest, truthful, and straightforward.

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Ears for God

Have you ever noticed how a well-trained dog will come to its master’s call and ignore everyone else? Years ago I had a dog named Adak. He was a beautiful Malamute Husky who was extremely intelligent. I worked with Adak every day and he became attuned to my voice and my instructions to the point where I could give a command and even if Adak was in the middle of chasing a squirrel (something he dearly loved to do!) he would immediately stop and obey.

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