My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry for human anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19-20 NIV)

In today’s world, people seem to need to be heard, to get an immediate response to a text message, to get a live person to answer our call, to read our blogs, to read and like our Facebook posts, to agree with our pontifications. But is being heard the same as being listened to? 

The ancient writer of today’s scripture is giving us some very modern advice: we should be slow to speak and quick to listen.

Maybe in 2024 we could give others the gift of listening, truly listening to them. Agreement is not the goal, rather it is the respecting and valuing of others. Perhaps, with time, they might even reciprocate. 

When my spouse and I first met, we were strangers, each with decades of different life experiences. We each had our story to tell. And tell it we did. We walked, just the two of us, for miles nearly every day.  Questions were asked and responses were listened to. Preconceived notions of relationships and parenting and work and religion softened when presented in context. Listening did not always result in agreement; but it did evolve into respect and appreciation. 

Prayer

Lord, there is no disagreement that we live in a divided world and nation. But, through Christ’s example, we can do our part to reduce that divide. Help us resolve to give to others our gift of listening to them, not through mass media, but one-on-one, in our homes and neighborhoods, and organizations. This is the method Christ used and taught us by example. 

This devotional was written by Roger Wilson and read by Judy Wilson.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.