James: Wisdom from Above - Implanted Word

Two things are hard for me as a believer: first, seeing my sin; second, responding to it! When God started showing me how angry I was, I denied it. I said, “I’m just frustrated.” Then I heard my anger as I expressed it to imaginary people in the car, saying to them what I wanted to say, but couldn’t. Then I heard it expressed to my children when I corrected them. The hole that I made in the wall was the evidence. Then I heard them imitate me as they fought. Even my dog was scared of me! Each of these moments revealed the anger within, but my anger wasn’t the problem, my anger was just the fruit. No, the root was some deep desires that I had. Desires that were wrapped into my very sense of who I am, my identity. What finally got me on my knees was seeing my anger transposed in my children. I began to plead with God to change me, to lead me to repentance and faith. No, counting to ten didn’t help! All that did was lengthen the fuse before the explosion. But I knew that God’s Spirit could change me and I began to search the scriptures and pray. As I began to understand what was driving my anger, the Spirit of Christ began to transform me. He was there! He gave me hope! He led me to repentance and faith! He continues to do so.

If you’re a believer, He’s with you; He has the power to change you; He is the implanted word that can rescue you from you. Join us Sunday as we consider the next section in James and worship the One who has given us new life! What grace.