Daily Bible Readings-Week 5
Starter Question
Describe a time you’ve had a meaningful conversation with someone this week. What made it meaningful? How did it impact you?
October 4
James 1:19, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
This week we are going to focus on the first part of this verse: “everyone should be quick to listen.”
This is so difficult but so needed. A continual talker has a difficult time hearing what anyone else is saying, including God. To listen is a selfless act where we get over and beyond ourselves. To listen is to pay attention. To listen shouts that we value others. To listen demonstrates genuine love and care.
It is not a surprise that we find many Scriptures which implore us to hear, listen, and heed. It is much needed in order to have healthy relationships with God and one another.
Proverbs 1:5, let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—
Proverbs 8:34-35, Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 18:13, To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
Psalm 85:8, I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly.
Isaiah 28:23, Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say.
John 10:3, The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Luke 9:35, A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
To have a sincere listening ear towards others, God, and His Word offers us life, wisdom, peace, and favor. Listening puts us in our humble place as the created before the Creator, the child before the Father, the sinner before the Savior.
Question to Consider:
When do you find listening to God and others to be most challenging?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:19, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
October 5
James 1:19, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
It is fascinating what we can learn if we stop from our hurried pace and take time to listen to each other. I appreciate some on our leadership team who contact me regularly to check-in, listen, and ask questions. They do not have an agenda but, rather, they are genuinely interested in hearing what is happening with me and the congregation.
Jesus modeled this kind of listening, even, as a 12 year-old boy. When his parents, mistakenly, left him behind in Jerusalem on one their pilgrimages, we are told, “After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” (Luke 2:46)
As a youngster, Jesus instinctively knew the pathway to learning and growing was through listening and asking, not first talking and telling. The older I have become the more I wish I would have listened and asked more questions of my parents and grandparents for the sake of knowledge and wisdom.
In Jesus’ ministry, he continued to listen to others and ask questions. On one occasion when Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13)
Jesus wanted to know what was being said about him. They gave several answers, and Jesus went on to ask, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16)
Jesus is still asking and listening. He wants to know from each one of us who we believe Him to be. What is your answer?
Questions to Consider:
Who do you say Jesus is? What is your profession of faith?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:19, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
October 6
James 1:19, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with a neighbor. In the midst of that conversation, she shared that her father had passed away and that her daughter-in-law was going through a severe battle with cancer. I had known generalities about both situations so I was glad to finally have the opportunity to stop, ask, and listen to learn more about both situations. I hope in some way it showed care and concern, and my offer to pray will bring a true sense of the peace and presence of Christ with her and her family.
Jesus spent his ministry listening to so many who were in need. He was continually barraged by a variety of problems and was willing to patiently engage with them to hear their stories.
On one occasion as Jesus was on his final trip to Jerusalem, he went through Jericho. There was blind man named Bartimaeus who called out after Jesus. Jesus heard his cry and asked for him to be brought to Him. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” (Mark 10:51)
Of course, Jesus gave him what he wanted and healed him. Jesus listened and responded to show his deepest love and care for all of creation.
So, it is no surprise that Jesus, intently, listens to us as we cry out to Him. He may not always give us exactly what we want, but will give us exactly what we need when we put our trust in Him.
Questions to Consider:
What is your answer to Jesus’ question, “What do you want?”
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:19, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
October 7
James 5:13-16, Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
We can look at this passage from the vantage point of speaking appropriately to one another and to God in prayer. However, I want us to look at this from the perspective of the listener.
If anyone would be able to confess their sins to us, if anyone is able to bring their deepest and most painful prayer concerns to us, then they need to trust us. Trust is learned through relationships that over time have demonstrated confidential care for one another.
To let you in on a secret, if people are going to have confidence and share their hearts with you, they need to know you are an active listener who can be trusted. They need to have experience with you listening intently knowing that you will not broadcast their information to others.
Small groups can become closely connected friendships where we become that for one another. After a period of time where the members of the group carefully listen without judging or jumping in too quickly to offer advice, trust will be developed. Deeper relationships will form. A climate of openness and vulnerability will be created.
Out of this kind of atmosphere will naturally flow conversations where we confess our needs, our struggles, our temptations, and even our sins with one another. We know it is safe to do so because we have no fear of anyone spreading gossip but confident that others will sincerely pray for us in the midst of our painful struggles.
Healing does happen through God’s answer to prayer, but there is also healing in the safety of a faith-filled community who lovingly listen to each other.
Questions to Consider:
How have you opened up to someone whom you knew you could trust? How well do you listen to others?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:19, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
October 8
James 5:13-16, Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
One thing I have discovered in our study is how much James directly and indirectly speaks of God’s desire to give His people good gifts. Such gifts often come, through prayer. God listens closely to the prayer of a righteous faith-filled person. It is not the magic words of the prayer itself but the character of the person praying.
If we want God to listen to our prayers, then our relationship with Him counts. As someone said, “The prayer of a person whose heart is right with God works wonders.” God is intent upon listening to us as we are intent in putting our total trust in Him.
James goes on to give an example from history. Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Then, he prayed again, and the heavens opened up, and the earth produced its crops.
If we are tempted to think that Elijah belonged to a higher creation than ourselves, James reminds us that he had the same kind of frail flesh. He was a mere man, subject to the same weaknesses and infirmities as other human beings, yet was in a right relationship with God.
We know to be right with God is to declare Jesus as Savior and Lord. It is to welcome His Spirit to fully command and transform us into the brand-new creations we were intended to be. Perfection is not required, however, a heart that beats strongly for God is.
God loves to listen to our joys, our thanks, our praise, and our deepest pains. Go ahead and tell Him everything. You can trust Him.
Questions to Consider:
Is there anything standing in the way of God listening to you? Do you need to confess sin? Do you need to declare Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life? What will you tell God today?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:19, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,