Today’s Reading: James 1:21-24
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.[1]
I was taught in elementary school that the best way to memorize something was to use all of sense. The more of our five senses we employed the better our chance of memorizing items. I was also told that we needed things broken into smaller chunks. If we can group items together (especially numbers) they are easier to memorize. I have found this to be very helpful in my life as I have tried to memorize different items. I have also found that the more time I spend studying something the better off I am at memorizing that item. At least that is the only way I could memorize my Jr.-Sr. High schedules.
I believe this is what is at the heart of James discourse on doing the word and listening to the word. Many people in the world and in Christianity have heard some great sermons. Just as many people have read the Bible from cover to cover numerous times. They can even recite from memory entire sections of the Bible. Yet, nothing seems to have changed in their attitude and daily life. They continue to live the exact same way. They are grumpy, frustrated, depressed and feel like they are missing something. James knows that we can hear all the great messages from preachers and the Bible, but without action, they are just words.
So if we want to really make Christ a part of our life, we have to take the words we have heard about Him and the message He has brought in His scripture and start doing what we are told to do. Afterwards, we will be able to learn scripture and His will much easier. We will be employing more senses in our lives. We will see a change occur and others will see it also. We will become a living testament to the life of Christ, a living Bible for people who have never heard the message of Christ. Let us not just be hears of the word of God, but also doers.
Tomorrow’s Reading: James 1:25-2:1
I believe this is what is at the heart of James discourse on doing the word and listening to the word. Many people in the world and in Christianity have heard some great sermons. Just as many people have read the Bible from cover to cover numerous times. They can even recite from memory entire sections of the Bible. Yet, nothing seems to have changed in their attitude and daily life. They continue to live the exact same way. They are grumpy, frustrated, depressed and feel like they are missing something. James knows that we can hear all the great messages from preachers and the Bible, but without action, they are just words.
So if we want to really make Christ a part of our life, we have to take the words we have heard about Him and the message He has brought in His scripture and start doing what we are told to do. Afterwards, we will be able to learn scripture and His will much easier. We will be employing more senses in our lives. We will see a change occur and others will see it also. We will become a living testament to the life of Christ, a living Bible for people who have never heard the message of Christ. Let us not just be hears of the word of God, but also doers.
Tomorrow’s Reading: James 1:25-2:1
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jas 1:21-24
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