James 1:19–27 NIV84—“19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Four Steps to a Living Faith

1. Quiet yourself:

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (verse 19).

Quick to listen

• No one ever became wiser by speaking. #talk2meJames
• There is a big difference in hearing and listening. #talk2meJames

Slow to speak

Proverbs 10:19 (NIV84) — 19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

• Our opinions are based on our limited and imperfect perspective, so be slow to speak. #talk2meJames
• God gave us 2 ears and 1 tongue. Our ears are in the open and our tongue is caged in with teeth, a hint from our creator. #talk2meJames

Slow to anger

2. Prepare the way:

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent” (verse 21).

John 1:23 (NLT) — 23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’ ”

3. Humbly receive:

“Humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” (verse 21).

• It takes humility to receive a truth that defies your opinion. #talk2meJames
• Proverbs 14:12 (NLT) — “12 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” Allow the Word to be engraved in your heart.

4. Faith comes alive when we act:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does” (verses 22–25).

• True faith demands a response.
• Three actions that come from staring in the mirror of God’s
  
  • Word:
  • Repentance
  • Change
  • Mercy
• Matthew 7:24–27 NLT—24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”