|
“But be
ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…”
James 1:22
Hearing and reading the Word of God is imperative to having a
successful Christian experience. It is through the Word that we
learn and understand God’s will and plan for our life. We must not
only hear but ‘do.’ For many people, the issue is not as much
knowing God’s will but following the Word in obedience. Until we
become doers of the Word, nothing happens. We can’t expect to
receive the blessings of God with a mere head knowledge of the
Bible. We can only bear fruit and have the graces of Christ in our
life as we are faithful to put into practice the Word of God.
In most congregations, even the children could get up and give a
lesson or talk about how the Bible teaches people to love their
enemies and have a good attitude. The problem is that not everyone
is living that truth that they may be able to so eloquently talk
about. It is more important that we live the experience of the Word.
Many people are well versed in the scripture and can talk for hours
about God and doctrinal things. But unfortunately, I have observed
that some of these people have major needs in their relationship
with God because they aren‘t doers of the whole Word of God.
Many times people leave a worship service thinking about how the
message they heard was right and true. There is a measure of comfort
and peace in hearing the truth regardless of ones experience. But,
hearing the Word will never bring results unless we yield ourselves
to God. After camp meetings, people are challenged and stirred due
to what they have heard. We must remember that being stirred in our
spirit won’t change our relationship and walk with God unless we
allow it to work in our life by bringing about spiritual activity.
Many years ago a Senate investigation revealed that a committee was
receiving $70,000 a year and the committee was performing no
function other than meeting for a short time once or twice a year.
It was a ‘do-nothing’ committee. Lord help us not to be a
‘do-nothing’ people by meeting to hear the Word of God but not doing
anything with it.
The apostle James continues by saying that the doer of the work
“shall be blessed in his deed.” If you have heard the Word of God
and been moved by the Spirit to make changes in your life, don’t
forget what you have heard. Go the next step and ‘do’ what you have
heard and God will bless you and enable you to grow spiritually.
--Bro. Michael Smith |
