James 1:22-27 NIV
[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 someone who looks at his face in a mirror [24] and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. [26] Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. [27] Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Good Morning!
There is a time for all of us to listen and learn. We spend the first 18 years of our lives learning from our parents, then going to preschool, then kindergarten and on up through 12th grade. This is all good for us, but what good is all of our head knowledge if we don’t put it into practicality?
God has called us all to be DOERS of His word, not just listeners. James gives us an example in verse 27 about what religion is — to look after orphans and widows and keep ourselves from being polluted by the world.
If all of the players in a football game just sat on the sidelines, there wouldn’t be much of a game. If all of the surgeons just read about surgery and never put it into practice, we would have a lot of people dying in hospitals. God wants us to use our faith in our lives to bear good fruit and sow seeds into other people’s lives so that they too can do the same. That is how the message of Our Lord has been passed down through the ages. The “remnant” of God has always been carried forward. “God never leaves Himself without a witness. He always has a faithful remnant chosen by Himself as special objects of His grace.” (Thomas Nelson, Believer’s Bible Commentary)
Romans 11:5 NIV
[5] So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
Today, we are the remnant of God. We are to be the ones that carry His message forward to future generations by being DOERS of His word.
God has a plan for all of us. As we become DOERS of His word, He will reveal that plan and it will unfold before us. As we ask, follow and obey God’s path, we will find the key to true happiness.
Psalm 119:35 NLT
[35] Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.
I love you and am praying for you today!
Dad