My best friend is currently reading through the book of James. Everyday she sends me text messages with passages of scripture that speak straight to my heart.
Take last week for example.
My husband and I were having a “discussion” about the overwhelm of life. I admit, I can get rather “passionate” when life feels out of control, and before I knew it, my tongue was running a mile a minute with a mind of its own. *sigh….when will I learn…*
That’s when I got Chey’s text.
Proverbs 13:3: “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”
James 1:26: “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceived himself and his religion is worthless.
Big challenge, hey?
My first thought was, awe crap.
My second thought was, I suck.
My third thought was, I’m sorry Lord.
Ever been there?
Ever wish you could seal your mouth?
Ever wish you could zip those lips and throw away the key?
I don’t write today’s devotional to challenge you (although I pray it does). I write today’s devotional to humbly admit that I in no way have my act together. I am as much a work in progress as you.
It’s hard to come clean when you’ve wronged somebody else.
It’s hard to humble yourself before another person and ask for their forgiveness.
It’s hard to submit your own selfish pride, lay yourself down (again and again and again) and ask – for the millionth trillionth time – if they can find it in their heart to accept your apology.
Heck, if I’m being totally honest here, let me admit that I find it extremely difficult to be Christ-like. There, I said it.
But it’s what the Holy Spirit asks us to do.
It’s how Luke 9:23 challenges us to live.
It’s who Christ asks and calls us to be.
So you know what we do?
We lay ourselves down…
We forgive…
We pray…
We praise…
We worship…
We believe…
We turn the other cheek…
We love…
We accept…
We listen…
We trust…
We obey…
And we say sorry…
Seventy.
Times.
Seven.
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
