Devotional for Thursday, March 1, 2018
“Being a Doer of God’s Word”
by Dona Hake
James 1:22-25 (Amplified)
“But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;
For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and
promptly forgets what he was like.
But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).”
There may have been a time that you have heard the Word of God, and your heart seemed encouraged, enlightened, and lifted up. I love when I see His light on my heart that I have never seen. It is at that moment that we either receive or reject the life changing Word into our hearts. If we do not act on the challenge of God’s Word, we will be tempted to back burner the living Word, and thus go unchanged in that area of our life. It is the same as seeing yourself in a mirror. Just think…you look, your hair is a mess, and instead of fixing it you walk away with an I see it but I could care less attitude.
We need to heed to what James is speaking here. Hearing the Word without obedience following will never change us. May we never betray and deceive ourselves by our own reasoning. If we excuse ourselves from acting on God’s Word we are being unfaithful in guarding our hearts. Action on God’s Word by faith in Him must follow!
As we look into the glorious mirror of the living Word of God, and it reveals what we need let us ask God to help us receive the wisdom, understanding and direction to deal with our own hearts. He who has shown this great light of His Word will be faithful to accomplish the change we need and we will be blessed as we obey Him by being a doer of His Word.