Description
Meditating on James 1:22 is like a slap in the face. Unpleasant, but it wakes us up. And sometimes that’s what we need. James … (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
James chapter 1, verse 22. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James is so straight down the line, he is very direct. He is saying that we must do what we’ve been told. We must follow the example of Christ.
We can’t simply attend church on a Sunday, if we do that, and listen to a good message, and sing some songs, and leave it at that. We can’t merely listen to podcasts, or consume videos. We have to put into effect what we have been taught, and what we are receiving from the Bible, from the Word of God.
Because otherwise It’s ineffective in our lives, the Word of God, it’s not transforming us, the Holy Spirit isn’t active. Where’s the evidence that we’re even Christians? We must be doers of the Word. And in that way, we avoid the challenge that people love to throw at us, Christians: you’re just hypocrites, you’re like everybody else.
Well, I mean, it’s true, we are like everybody else, we’re all sinners. But we’re saved. And we have access to the power of the Holy Spirit working through us that enables us to do good works.
So I’m recording this at the start of the year. It won’t go live until the end of January, but the start of the year is a really good time to say to ourselves, we are going to put these things into effect that we read in the Bible.
We are going to take generosity and charity seriously. We are going to love our neighbours as ourselves. We are going to be open hearted. We are going to practice hospitality. Now is a very good time to start all those things.
Lord, we can’t do anything of any value without you. Please help us this year to be doers of your word, not hearers only, in your power and for your glory. Amen.
