(Photo by Ashwini Chaudhary(Monty) on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible)
James 1:22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
James is not saying there is anything wrong with hearing the Word. Hearing God’s Word is essential. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The problem is stopping at hearing. We are not only called to hear God’s Word but to put it into practice.
In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that He had commanded them (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus did not simply say to teach people His commands. He told His disciples to teach them to observe them. This means to put His commands into practice.
It is also important to understand that we do not do good works in order to be saved. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). But we are then created in Christ Jesus for good works that God has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Obedience is not the way we earn salvation; it is the proper response to God’s grace.
The next time you read the Bible or listen to a sermon, don’t simply ask, “What did I learn?” Ask, “What does God’s Word call me to do?” Then ask God to give you the strength and willingness to obey what His Word teaches.
If we continually hear God’s Word without seeking to obey it, James says we are deceiving ourselves. Fill your life with God’s Word, believe what it says and put it into practice. Don’t just be a hearer of the Word. Be a doer. ~ Jeff M Newman
Latest Bible Study
Observe Jesus’ Commands
Hear the word of God, cling to it, understand it, carry it out, and produce a crop.
Matthew 7:24-25 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears, let him hear. (Mark 4:23, Mark 7:16, Matthew 13:9, Matthew 13:43, Luke 14:35)
Luke 8:21 But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.” (Mark 3:35)
Luke 8:15 But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Luke 11:28 But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Mark 4:20 Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.” (Matthew 13:23)
Previous Bible Study
Lesson 9 -1 John 1:2...and we proclaim to you the eternal life...
Welcome back to our verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. Last lesson we focused on sharing your testimony. You were encouraged to write out your testimony of what your life was like before Jesus, when you believed in Jesus, and how Jesus is transforming your life now. You were encouraged to ask God to give you the strength to share your testimony and t…
Yesterday’s Devotional
I Press On Toward the Goal to Win the Prize of God’s Heavenly Calling in Christ Jesus
(Photo by Steven Kamenar on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible)
Prayer requests
Please share your prayer requests with me in the comments. If you get this by email, just reply and let me know how to pray for you.