The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:20,
"Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."
God has a "righteous life" that he desires for us and from us. James tells us in this verse we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" as a part of what that life looks like. He says our anger doesn't bring about that "righteous life", living our lives in a manner that he desires for us. James goes on to say that this life God desires for us should prompt us to "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." James 1:21.
The importance of this desire God has for us is illustrated in a comment that Paul makes, a comment that is both striking and far-reaching. In Romans 8:29, he says that God decided before hand that all who love the Lord, who have been invited into his family (all who embrace the Lord in faith), will grow into this righteous life that God desires. He says, "Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." God has determined that we "morph" or conform into the likeness of Jesus Christ himself!
God is not passive in this process. He is very engaged in each of our lives to bring about this very thing. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5b-11.
As it may be a painful process, it nevertheless brings about this "righteous life that God desires". God's desires are never thwarted, but are always fulfilled. The beauty of this process is found in the beauty of God's character that is reflected in this new life God grows us into. Paul describes it in Galatians 5:22-23, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
As this "righteous life that God desires" is a reflection of his very own nature, we find it to be the very things we yearn for as well. Having lived our lives enslaved to a sinful nature that prompted anger, immorality, hatred, envy, jealousy, etc. we were never able to find that which leads to a life of fulfillment, purposefulness, happiness and joy. It is these very things God desires for us, no matter the effort to drag us kicking and screaming into it.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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