SWIFT TO HEAR - SLOW TO SPEAK - SLOW TO WRATH
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)
Our nation faces a major crisis today. With riots, violence, looting, lawlessness, and the resistance of civil authority flooding our land, the USA needs a touch of God's healing hand. As I write this article, the National Guard is being mobilized in some cities in our nation.
The death of George Floyd was a needless and ruthless display of police authority. Such crimes should not be tolerated or accepted, ever. However, what we are witnessing throughout our land today is not about George Floyd. We are witnessing the rise of resistance to law, order, and civil structure.
James tells us to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. These words need to be resounded throughout our land. If we are all willing to listen and hence reason, and be slow to speak without having understood, I believe we will also be slow to wrath and to the display of ruthless violence and anger. The works of man's anger and wrath (such as we are witnessing throughout our land) will never demonstrate or bring about the righteousness of God.
We should all honor the memory of George Floyd. We should all condemn any form of unnecessary and brutal force against a citizen of our land. What happened to George Floyd, and what has happened with many others before him, should never be allowed to happen again. We as Christians need to be calling on the Name of the Lord in prayer and begging God for His Hand to move over a frustrated, hurting people with His hand of justice, mercy, and love.
MAY GOD HEAL OUR NATION!
"swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath"... this needs to be my life. How much more peaceful would life be following this pattern reaction? All of the answers to man's problems are in the Word of God!