JAMES 1:21 - 27

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2007

DON’T JUST THINK, HEAR AND DO!
 

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:21 - 27 (NKJV)

A NOTE FROM RON - Most of the time I choose--at random--passages from Scripture without a particular reason. There are times when I feel that God has led me to choose a passage needed by someone who might use these devotions. Occasionally, I like to do a series that covers every verse of a Book of the Bible so that the devotions can also be used as an aid in Bible Study. Recently I did such a series on the First Epistle of John. These can be found in the ARCHIVES of Prayer and Devotions. I like to choose Books of the Bible that are less often read and/or studied. This is the fourth devotion of a series on the Book of James. It is my hope that these words may be an instrument of God in helping you to draw nearer to Him.

Maybe you are like me. There have been far too many times when I have made my plans for the day only to discover at days end that I accomplished very little. When I would review the day, I would see that I was busy, but I never did put my plans into action.

This is like the person who thinks that a diet is needed for his or her health or just to look good in summer clothing. The diet may be planned, certain foods purchased, and even an exercise schedule developed, but it seems that there is never enough time to put the plans into action.

There is the business opportunity or the special deal that is offered that seems to good to pass up, so you think about it. By the time you decide, the window of opportunity is closed or the final day for the special offer was yesterday.

This is what James is talking about when he says “be doers of the word and not hearers only.” This can only make sense to us, who are the new creation in Christ because we have experienced the joy of facing and conquering the trials and tribulations that confront us as Christians. We need to hear these words because we are going to continue to be confronted by temptations. When we are confronted, we have to do more than think about what God says, we have to hear His Word AND do it. A simple example:  In many parts of the nation, the tornado warnings are issued, and the sirens blow.  In other areas, the hurricane warnings are up, and people are told to evacuate. Instructions have been issued over and over as to what people MUST do for their own safety.  What happens? Many ignore them. Many are injured. Some die. People say they knew what to do; why didn’t they listen? People drink and drive. Warnings have been given. Many are injured. Some die. People say the drinking driver knew what to do; why didn’t that person listen?

God has spoken. God continues to show us the way to Eternity. Many ignore Him. Many will spend eternity in Hell. Then they will say, “Why didn’t I listen?”

DON’T JUST THINK; HEAR AND DO!

WE PRAY:  LORD, my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. So many times I listen, but I do not hear, and, therefore, I do not do. Like St. Paul I ask, “Why do I do the things I should not do and do not do the things I should?” Lord, help me to understand and to live according to your Holy Will. AMEN.

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

At the end of the day, when you give thanks to God for the blessings of the day, remember also to talk with Him about the things you wanted to do and did not get done. Ask God to help you see what benefits might have come to you or to others had you accomplished the goals for the day that you had asked God to help you establish.