FRIDAY, APRIL 15
READ JAMES 1:17-21
JAMES 1:17 Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning. 18 Having made his decision, he gave birth to us through a Word that can be relied upon, in order that we should be a kind of firstfruits of all that he created. 19 Therefore, my dear brothers, let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry; 20 for a person’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness!
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But how are we to do it? Or more to the point, why is it so hard for us to do good? To be good? If we look around us, we do not need to look far to see that wasted lives, inhumanity, corruption, and evil are very much a part of our society, from the small family unit and the neighborhood to the national and global levels.
Perhaps we have misinterpreted our role in the task. James tells us that all good deeds have their origin in God. Even as God created the universe by a word: “God said . . . and it was,” so now in our midst the word of truth from God causes a fallen world to be good. If our hearts are hospitable to that word of truth, then God’s own goodness begins to recreate us.
We are to rid ourselves of all that opposes the good word, to pull out the weeds of anger and sinfulness like a good gardener who wishes to make room for the good seed. The good seed is God’s word. We cannot create it for ourselves— only make room and welcome it. That is task enough.
Give us hearts open to you, O God, so that your word may find a home within us. Amen.[Catherine Gunsalus González]
Our mailing address is:
Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
READ JAMES 1:17-21
JAMES 1:17 Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning. 18 Having made his decision, he gave birth to us through a Word that can be relied upon, in order that we should be a kind of firstfruits of all that he created. 19 Therefore, my dear brothers, let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry; 20 for a person’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness!
21 So rid yourselves of all vulgarity and obvious evil, and receive meekly the Word implanted in you that can save your lives.
We human beings are to do what is good. It is unlikely we would find much argument with that statement.-------
But how are we to do it? Or more to the point, why is it so hard for us to do good? To be good? If we look around us, we do not need to look far to see that wasted lives, inhumanity, corruption, and evil are very much a part of our society, from the small family unit and the neighborhood to the national and global levels.
Perhaps we have misinterpreted our role in the task. James tells us that all good deeds have their origin in God. Even as God created the universe by a word: “God said . . . and it was,” so now in our midst the word of truth from God causes a fallen world to be good. If our hearts are hospitable to that word of truth, then God’s own goodness begins to recreate us.
We are to rid ourselves of all that opposes the good word, to pull out the weeds of anger and sinfulness like a good gardener who wishes to make room for the good seed. The good seed is God’s word. We cannot create it for ourselves— only make room and welcome it. That is task enough.
Give us hearts open to you, O God, so that your word may find a home within us. Amen.[Catherine Gunsalus González]
Our mailing address is:
Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
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