James 1:19-21 (19)My dear brothers and
sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak
and slow to become angry, (20)because human anger
does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (21)Therefore, get rid of
all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word
planted in you, which can save you. (NIV)
There was a great mission that had
to be accomplished. This mission was like none other that had been given to
anyone before. The state of humanity was at risk, and if not carried out
successfully, it would mean an end to the entire human race. Therefore, no
mistakes could be made. There was no room for error. Everything had to go
according to plan. With one small slip, humanity would be doomed.
Preparation had to be made by
denying the flesh of its wants and spending time with the Father for forty days
and nights. Jesus knew that the task he was about to embark upon would take
supernatural strength, so he relied upon his Father to give him the divine
source that he needed. Being both God and man gave him insight into the will of
the Father, while also exposing him to the temptations of the devil. Yes, the
devil dared to tempt the Son of God.
The devil had three areas of temptation
for Jesus in which Jesus gave a response. He first tempted him with food. After
Jesus had completed the fast, he must have been very hungry indeed. However, it
was not a sin for him to eat, but the devil wanted to catch him up in the sin
of self-indulgence and abuse of power. Jesus listened carefully to what the
devil said, but uttered a response appropriate to defeat the devil at his own
game. Jesus could have fallen into the trap of appeasing himself and/or
debating with the devil, but his answer was simply put and to the point. Jesus
let the devil know that spiritual food from God was just as relevant as man’s
need for physical fuel. Jesus did not abuse his power nor did he succumb to the
enemy’s trap.
The devil was not done and tried to
encourage Jesus to throw himself down from the temple’s highest point. Jesus
listened to what the devil said, but once again he had a response that would
defeat the enemy. Jesus told the devil that no one is to put God to the test.
There was no need to prove himself to the devil. Jesus already knew who he was
and what his mission was to be. To do what the devil wanted would be the same
as questioning God’s authority to send him in the first place. The devil wanted
Jesus to test if God would protect him at all cost, but Jesus did not yield.
Therefore, the devil had one more test that he wanted to give.
The devil showed Jesus all the
kingdoms of the world and offered for him to bow down and worship him in order
to receive these earthly kingdoms. Jesus listened as the devil quoted scripture
after scripture in order to entice a response from him. However, Jesus, being
aware that the devil was well versed in scripture, but always with a deceptive
twist, did not yield to them temptation either. He did not give in to the desire
for material possessions, which the devil has used so often to win souls for
hell. With this, Jesus did not entertain any more of the devil’s temptations
for he let him know that worship is only given to God and nothing else. Jesus
showed restraint, poise, and the knowledge of God. He was quick to listen, but
slow to speak.
The Apostle James lets us know that
we must be careful in our everyday dealings with regards to communication.
There are times when it will be a challenge to deal with some people because
they will tend to push your buttons. However, as a Christian, we are called to
think before we react. Sometimes pressing pause by speaking calmly, after
listening to what the other person has to say, can defuse a negative situation
or prevent a disagreement. Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns
away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (NIV) In many cases, this
can help, but when it doesn’t, take it to God in prayer.
God
judges us on how we respond to others even if they may have done wrong. The
greatest blessing comes as a result of holding back the anger and responding as
Jesus did instead of allowing it to get the best of you. An argument cannot
exist when there’s only a party of one. Proverbs 29:11 Fools give full vent to their
rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. (NIV) If you have tried to make
peace with an individual and they continue on a destructive path, allow God to
work with them and he will fight your battle.
The Book of James: 30 Days of Devotion for Men by K L Rich is available on Amazon.com.
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