When Vicious Words Offend Us - Encouragement for Today - June 21, 2019

Peace and perspective from God's timeless truths. [View this email in your browser]( Encouragement for Today --------------------------------------------------------------- June 21, 2019 When Vicious Words Offend Us [MARGARET KEMP, COMPEL Member]( [ Listen to this devotion]( “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” [James 1:19-20]( (NIV) I can’t believe she posted that! As I read the words my Facebook friend posted, I cringed. If I were a cat, all the hairs on my back would be standing straight up. I’d be hissing and baring my teeth. I began mentally formulating a reply that would put her in her place. My eyes narrowed as I stared at the computer screen; my friend’s offending words glared at me. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I prepared to type my clever comeback. But then I remembered some advice from James. It could read, “Be swift to listen, slow to post and slow to anger.” When Facebook posts come across as critical or malicious, ugly emotions begin brewing inside of me. And often when I read posts like these, my first inclination is to respond, “But the Bible says …” James tells me arguing won’t produce holy results. But I want to be vindicated, to stand up for the cause of Christ, to make my point! And therein lies the problem … in that little word “I.” I am offended because my feelings are hurt. I’m outraged because my opinion is being disrespected. My anger doesn’t stem from a passionate desire for righteousness to prevail. The root of my anger is self-centeredness. I want to win the argument and have my opinions validated. James says to be swift to listen … for motivation behind this friend’s post. The full verse says this: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” ([James 1:19-20](. [Continue reading...]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Subscription Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( --------------------------------------------------------------- © 2019 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Encouragement for Today. [Link](