“You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” (James 1:19-20).
There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it” (Job 1:6-7).
On that day Satan found a righteous man named Job. He stole Job’s livestock, murdered his servants, and killed his children.
The devil visits everyone at some point in their lives to test them. That is because Satan is a persecutor of the law. He uses the law of God to condemn you. He also uses other people to cause you to sin. However, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
By faith, you are God’s righteousness in Christ. You are no longer under the law so the devil can’t accuse you of breaking the law. God has given you the grace of Christ to equip you for good works. He also sends His Holy Spirit to remind you of His precepts and strengthen you when you become weak. Today, determine that you will not allow the devil to cause you to sin with your mouth. Listen before you speak. Don’t be so quick to answer, and control your temper. In doing so, you will prove yourself worthy of being called God’s righteousness in Christ. Today, dear Lord, grant me the grace to be a better listener, that I may be slow to answer negatively. Help me to control my anger so that I may represent you as Your righteousness in Christ. Amen.