ENDEAVOUR TO LIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD

2nd AUGUST 2020

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. …” James 1:22-27

The Scriptures tell us how God wants His children to live among themselves, and how to relate with Him as their father and God. When we live our life as commanded by God’s word, we are worshiping God in a special and unique way.  Today’s word tells us to be hearers and doers of the word of God same time. To be hearers alone and not act or do what the word says is to celebrate lies or insincerity.  There are many reasons why people don’t act or do the word of God. For some people, it is deliberate on their part to forsake doing the word of God, thinking that no benefit will come to them by so doing. However, there is a cardinal reason some tend to forego obedience to the scriptures. That reason is due to lack of understanding of what is expected of them in the scriptures. Many also do not understand the nature of God, and so do not remember that God lives in each person. Perhaps, this could be one of the reasons Jesus says; “whatever you do to the least of this brethren that you have done to me” This tells us how passionate God is about the comfort and wellbeing of everyone. If God is passionate about humanity, why then do we live differently, without loving each other? Some of the characteristics or behavior exhibited by those who DO LESS of the word of God are: 1. they do not believe in giving to the poor: they believe the poor should take care of themselves. 2. They are envious of God’s love, mercy, grace and goodness in the life of others. Envy leads them astray from the path of holiness and destroys the light of God in them. 3. They constantly lie against others, exaggerate facts, or are economical with the truth, thereby making it look as if they are the good ones, while others are bad; That is a way to give a dog a bad name in order to have reasons to hang it. 4.  They are constantly pretentious, lie to themselves, hide their sins and condemn others instead. This is not right; confess your sins regularly and seek the face of God in moments of trouble. 5. They are usually proud and arrogant thinking that they know more than everyone. These lapses are very serious weaknesses in the life of a believer, depriving the blessings of God from reaching them. The word of God is telling us today that, he who does the word of God will be blessed in his doing! Not doing what the scriptures say will pull us back from success, and if not careful, such a person can become stagnant in his spiritual growth as well. No matter how you pretend about your relationship with God, God knows the truth and He is constantly jotting down your lapses. Beloved, this is the time to adjust your life and be straight with God. Our success in life is largely dependent on the good things that we do. Those who live according to God’s word not only find their direction in the Scriptures; they find resources therein as well and they are richly blessed in all areas of their endeavors.

PRAYER

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I declare I am totally transformed in mind and body. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I declare that my ways are changed positively toward others. I give light in place of darkness; relief in place of pain; provisions in place of wants; joy in place of sadness. Lord, grant me an opportunity to transform lives, and to live in accordance with thy word. AMEN.

FURTHER READING: James 1:21; Luke 11:28