| Flow Of God |
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The Word is in all of our hearts, as a seed. If we learn how to nourish and feed that seed then we grow. If we learn how to let God flow through us with the water of the Word (the spiritual nutrients we need), then the seed will grow up into a huge fruit bearing tree, right? JAMES 1:19,20
(KJV)
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
(Cressman)
My dear brothers, do not forget this. Every man should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to be angry
when a man is angry he does not do what God says is right
(Phillips)
In view of what he has made us then, dear brothers, let every man be quick to listen but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper
For man's temper is never the means of achieving God's true goodness
(Barclay)
My dear brothers there is something you must bear in mind. Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry
Human anger can never produce the kind of conduct God desires
(TCNT)
Mark this, my dear brothers:---Every one should be ready to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry;
for anger in man does not produce the righteousness required by God
I have always thought it was pretty interesting that the Spirit of God told James to write these verses in right here. It really doesn't seem to fit, now does it? Or it didn't to me, until I ran into this guy a while back and he was the epitome of this scripture verse. Everything anyone wanted to say around him couldn't be said. He had to have the first word, the last word and all the words in-between. If he wasn't able to get the full attention of everyone whenever he had something to say, then he would get puffy, pout and maybe even leave the room. How in the world is this guy ever going to learn anything if all he wants to do is listen to himself speak? My Brethren let us not speak before we think, rather, let us listen to what God would have us say before we open our mouth. Let us not be so much in a hurry for everyone to hear our opinions, but let us seek to speak the truth to one another in the love of God! Right after we are begotten by the Word of God, God tells us: "Now do not continue in the ways of the world, wanting to be heard all the time. No, you be ready to listen to me speaking to your heart. In doing so, you will learn to be slow to speak and never impatient or angry because nobody will let you talk." You see, this type of conduct does not promote true Christianity by any means. On the contrary, the complete opposite occurs. We cannot be focused on ourselves and God at the same time. We have to choose who or what we give our attention to, is it our mind or our heart? This is where we have to make a decision, listen to our hearts or our heads? True Gospel power comes from knowledge of the truth, as it is IN CHRIST, and not in our opinions. We should all be careful how much weight we give to our own opinions, because that is what they are, opinions, nothing more. JAMES 1:21
(KJV)
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
(TLB)
So get rid of all that is wrong in your life, both inside and outside, and humbly be glad for the wonderful message we have received, for it is able to save our souls as it takes hold of our hearts.
(Cressman)
So stop all your dirty living. Stop doing so many bad things. Listen quietly to the word that has been put in our hearts. It is able to save you.
(Barclay)
So then, you must strip off everything that would soil life, and all that malice that is like an alien growth on life, and in a teachable spirit you must receive implanted in your heart the word which is able to save your souls
(Wade)
Therefore, laying aside all foulness, and the lengths to which malice can proceed, welcome in meekness the Divine Message, which, if you accept it, roots itself in you, and which is able to save your souls
(Parker)
Wherefore, my brethren, lay aside all filthy thinking and excessive naughtiness, and in humility receive the word of life, which is able to create life in your being and brings salvation to your soul
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