Welcome to another daily encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our Reading is titled Listen and Learn, and it was written by Anne Cetus.

On one side of the street, a homeowner displays in his yard a giant, blow-up bald eagle draped in a U.S. flag.

A big truck sits in the driveway. Its side window features a painted flag, and the back

bumper is covered with patriotic stickers. Directly across the street in a neighbor's yard are

signs that highlight the slogans for current social justice issues in the news. Are the people in a neighbor's yard are signs that highlight the slogans for current social justice

issues in the news. Are the people in these homes feuding or friends, we might wonder? Is it possible

that both families are believers in Jesus? God calls us to live out the words of James

1, verse 19. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to

become angry. Too often, we stubbornly hold on to our opinions and aren't willing to consider

what others are thinking. Matthew Henry's commentary has this to say, we should be swift to hear reason and truth on all sides,

and be slow to speak,

and, when we do speak, there should be nothing of wrath.

Someone has said,

Learning requires listening.

The practical words from God in the book of James can only be accomplished

if we're filled with God's loving spirit and choose to respect others. He's willing to help us

make changes in our hearts and attitudes. Are we open to listen and learn?

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from James, Chapter 1,

verses 19 through 27.

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.

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