Doers of the Word

     Read-James 1 

I love the book of James.  I often go here when I am struggling and need to get back on track with the Lord.

  

Are we hearers and doers of His Word?  One who is not a doer is compared to looking at themselves in a mirror and then walking away forgetting what they look like.

  

There are two ways of looking at ourselves in a mirror.

1-looks and immediately forgets what he looks like, what kind of person he is-it does not penetrate the heart.

2- looks and hears with a genuine faith- alert and eager to learn from God's message and obeys.

  

When we spend time in His word with Him I believe that we are having a conversation together with Him.  Sometimes I am listening more than asking and sometimes I have lots of questions and need His insight in what this means for my life.  I take what I have read and throughout the day I meditate on that and what I need to do about it. I would like to say that I am always successful but I am not.  Last week I talked about Jesus being our cornerstone in whom we should measure everything that we do.  When we get into His word we should be looking to being in alignment with Him.

James chapter 1 is full of what we should and should not be doing.

⦁ Do we consider it all joy when we are going through trials and temptations?  We should because it tests our faith and leads us to endurance making us complete and perfect lacking nothing.  One who perseveres has been approved and will receive the crown of life, a promise from the Lord.

⦁ Do we run to Him for wisdom?  He gives it to us generously.  But are we asking doubting that He hears and answers.  Did we forget the last trial or temptation and what He did for us and how it grew our faith in Him?

⦁ Do we have a tendency to always be questioning ourselves if it is the right thing to do and cannot make a decision?  A double-minded person is unstable in all his way.

⦁ Don't think your temptation came from the Lord, because He cannot be tempted and He tempts no one.  We are tempted by our own lusts and desires and if we let it get the best of us it leads to death.

⦁ Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.  Anger does not achieve the righteousness of God.

⦁ Put aside filthiness and wickedness

⦁ In humility receive the word implanted which saves your soul.  In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

⦁ Prove yourself doers of the word not merely hearers deceiving yourselves.  “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46  Read-Matt 7:24-27

 

⦁ Bridle (restrain) your tongue-I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue;  I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.” Psalms 39:1

⦁ Keep oneself unstained by the world.  God's word changes the heart and it manifests a change of behavior. 

 

What is your time like?  How do you spend your days?  Are you spending time in His word each day and meditating on His word that you read for that day?  Or do we forget what we read and just go about our day in our own strength?

  

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalms 1:2

  

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Luke 11:28

Father,  help us to be doers of Your word.  I ask You for an open heart that is listening and eager to obey You.  May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer.  Help us to take all of our thoughts to the obedience of Jesus Christ.  Amen

How can we pray for you?

Lyn