We are looking at the book of James, a Bible author who told it as it is. His teachings challenge the reader to act on and not only hear the Word of God.
We said in our previous message that the second solution to avoiding the moral filth and prevalent evil that James is talking about, in other words escaping a selfish and materialistic lifestyle that would lead to religion and a form of godliness without power, is found in the following passage: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 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 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does,” (James 1:22-25).
This is a mouthful, but how many of us look intently into the word of God, making every effort prayerfully to see exactly what it expects of us and then actually do what it says. “The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account,” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
The Bible is not just a book to entertain and bless us with its promises or to sooth our consciences that we have done our duty by reading it. It is not called the Word of God for nothing. It is God’s word, the way He speaks to us. If we read the Bible it is as good as if we stand to attention in front of the King of the universe, receiving instructions from Him who expects us to do as He said. If this was a physical Kingdom and we were able to see God standing before us, giving us verbally the instructions that He gave us through the writers of the Bible, what would the next step be? Once He gave the instructions He will tell us to go and do it and then report back after it has been done.
Hebrews 4:12-13 tells about the power of God’s living Word. It says that whilst we read it, it goes right inside our beings and separates the inner chaff from the wheat. We cannot read the Word of God and not be affected, but we can choose to ignore it. In the light of our simile of God being here physically expecting us to report back; Hebrews 12:13 tells us that nothing is hidden from the Lord and He will call us to account. Since we will be called to account, what can we expect if we don’t do the Word when we are urged to not just read it, but to do what it says?
At this point I felt the Lord prophesied and this is therefore what He says to some readers. This may not to apply to everybody, but may the Lord reach the hearts of those who need to listen: “Haven’t I spoken to you all these months? Day after day have I challenged you with truth from My Word, yet it fell too hard on your ears. Is it really that hard to obey My Word? It has been broken into digestible pieces to help you understand it, but you have either looked unto the messenger, not seeing it as My Word, or have found it too hard to obey. I have asked James to prompt you to obey My Word, I have told you so myself many times when I was on earth, I have used various of my servants to speak and write to you through the medium of My written Word, yet you have still chosen to follow your own mind. What I had written down I meant. If you wait and see whether I am going to call you to account it might be too late. Why not rather decide to believe and obey and enjoy the promise of my blessing and rewards.’
Shall we pray? ‘Lord, I need to obey your Word’.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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