Humble, Patient Listening

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19).

While I was stopped at a red light this week, another car beside me kept easing past the designated white line. He ducked down to read the light of the crossing traffic to time the light change. As soon as the crossing traffic light turned red, he tapped his accelerator. Unfortunately, the oncoming turn lane became green as our light stubbornly remained red. He had to brake well into the intersection. And he looked foolish doing it.

We are not natural listeners. We are quick to speak and quick to judge. When someone has a problem, we talk to fix it. When things aren’t going the way we want, we speak quickly to let others know it. Our hearts explode through our mouths to make certain our preferences and ideas are met. We jump out in front, and often look foolish doing it. But the new creature in Christ is commanded to use the new heart Jesus gave us. 

It takes a great deal of humility to be quick to listen. Before speaking, we are to value the person and listen to their words. We listen to gain understanding, yielding because we desire a genuine relationship with someone else speaking. We listen so we provide a biblical, thoughtful, and loving response. This means our first desire in conversations is to possess a patient humility. Why? Because love is patient (I Corinthians 13:4). Our natural reaction is not humble patience. 

We are not commanded to NOT respond, just to be patient in our response. Proverbs 12:18 says, “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Our temper is to be crushed by a humble, patient love. We have a thoughtful, biblical response to be delivered out of true loving care for others. We possess a tongue to proclaim Jesus in His Word, and His Word pierces (Hebrews 4:12), and His Word heals (Psalm 107:20). In other words, the Bible does the work. Not our sinful hearts which complain when our preferences aren’t met, or rebukes sharply when we don’t get what we want, or refuses to listen because of selfish indifference. We are called to have loving hearts patiently humble to listen, giving a clear, biblical response of God’s grace.

Lord, be gracious to us and give us humble, patient hearts to listen and use our mouths to proclaim the truth of Your glory. Amen.

Do Not Be Surprised at the Fiery Trial

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (I Peter 4:12).

Recent shifts in our culture have many Christians concerned about how we will be treated. However, the Bible tells us that when cultural shifts occur and the church of Jesus Christ is mistreated, this is an opportunity and not a time to panic. The church of Jesus Christ is mighty in seasons of comfort and seasons of discomfort.

The early church went through several generations that experienced fierce, bloody persecution. However, in this time, the global church grew exponentially. When Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4^th Century, the church became comfortable. The church became internally focused. Discipleship waned. The clever, devilish enemies of the church is not discomfort and trial, but comfort and internal focus.

When the culture around us begins to see following Christ as a freakish thing, let us not cower and panic, but seize the opportunity to show what the powerful grace of God in Jesus Christ does to a person. We are here on earth to be on mission to make disciples of Jesus. Don’t be surprised that the world finds Jesus and His Word to be disgusting and wicked in their worldview. 

The very next verse, Peter says to “keep on rejoicing.” Why? “That you may also rejoice and be glad when (Jesus’) glory is revealed.” Rejoice now so you will rejoice in eternity. When the culture shifts, when Caesar issues new decrees, when judges make unjust decisions, God has not lost anything. He is still just as sovereign as yesterday. His return and completion of His eternal Kingdom has not lost any days or any joy. Therefore, we Christians are to keep on rejoicing! Our joy is not lost in trials, and we are not to think that trials and insults are strange things.

Let us remember to rejoice in the Lord always. Not in how agreeable our culture is to the church, not in how comfortable I am; we rejoice in the Lord. Always. Keep on rejoicing. We will rejoice when His glory is revealed. His joy is in us, and our joy will increase and be completed on that day. Rejoice in the Lord.