Would you like to know how you can make the Word of God personal to you? Would you like to know how the Word of God can be more effective in your everyday life? The answer is simple: you must receive the Word of God as a real, relevant, relatable and practical Word. You cannot look at the Word of God as being merely theoretical.
Although the Bible contains excellent advice and illuminating insights, the purpose of the Bible is not simply to provide interesting insights and advice for us to muse over. The Word of God is an authoritative, indisputable statement of eternal truth. It is to be given real-world application.
Jesus said, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock" (Mt 7:24 NKJV). The man who utilized a rock-solid foundation in building his house withstood the fiercely tempestuous storm. In stark contrast, Jesus warns, "Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them," is a fool, and the turbulent storms will destroy his foundation and, in turn, his house (v. 26-27).
Notice that the man was not chastised because he built an inadequate structure. The man was not at fault for failing to hear. He was not faulted for failing to understand or even believe the Word of the Lord. No, the man was faulted for failing to act on them. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says...the man who looks intently into the perfect law...not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it he will be blessed in what he does" (Jas 1:22-25 NIV).
We can easily get caught up in self-deception if we think reading, knowing, and even believing God’s Word fulfills our obligation to it. God desires to bring to pass -- to fulfill -- His purpose in giving us His Word. That requires not just believing, but doing the Word. James didn’t say, "he will be blessed in what he believes," but "he will be blessed in what he does!" When Moses read God’s Word to the Israelites, they responded by saying, "All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient." That must likewise be our response.
We can easily get caught up in self-deception if we think reading, knowing, and even believing God’s Word fulfills our obligation to it. God desires to bring to pass -- to fulfill -- His purpose in giving us His Word. That requires not just believing, but doing the Word. James didn’t say, "he will be blessed in what he believes," but "he will be blessed in what he does!" When Moses read God’s Word to the Israelites, they responded by saying, "All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient." That must likewise be our response.
Father, I pray that this message compels those reading it to act on Your Word. Let it motivate those who have received revelation and instruction from You to do that which You have instructed. I pray for a special impartation of grace necessary to do Your Word. I pray that the one reading this will say, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (I Cor. 15:10). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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