Be Slow to Wrath
James 1:19-20 (NKJV)
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
 As we have seen from our text, God expects every one of us to be slow to wrath. The wrath of man can never bring about the righteous judgment of God. As such, God instructs us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Many of us will be surprised at how much trouble we will avoid by being slow to speak and quick to listen. For many unbelievers, they are quick to wrath, quick to speak and slow to listen. This is not the character of a Spirit led believer. We have the life and nature of God dwelling in us and therefore, we are controlled by the Spirit. We are not vengeful, full of wrath and hate. No, we are peace makers, loving and full of the Holy Ghost.
The righteousness of God is reflected in the fruit that the Spirit bears in our lives, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-24: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
We are Spirit-led believers in Christ and are no longer controlled by the flesh. Instead, we have victory over the dictates of the flesh in Christ Jesus. Halleluiah! As Spirit-led believers, we should work towards being compassionate and slow to anger, just like our Father in heaven. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. (Psalm 145:8)
PRAYER FOCUS: I have the life of God in me. I have the Spirit of God in me. I live above the dictates of the flesh. I am born again. Amen.
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