“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
James 1: 22-25
Hamish hurt his paw by playing ball last week.
It was a rather tame session of ball compared to others but it resulted in him drawing the paw up close, hobbling along on the remainder of his 3 legs. You see we hadn’t been playing ball for a few days before it, so his muscles had begun to forget what it felt like being stretched like that and it hurt.
Our spiritual muscles can hurt when we start using them as we aren’t used to it. Something may seem strange at first. It could be finding time to have a quiet time as you never had time before. This week my spiritual paw hurt. I am doing a bible study with a friend on ‘James.’ My paw is hurting all over the place. Last week it was all about ‘putting a bridle around that tongue,’ and 'slow to speak' – ouch that hurt.
It’s not about hearing it and agreeing it’s a good thing to try and do, it’s about doing it.
My paw also hurt in a different way as Beth Moore is encouraging us in the study to memorise the WHOLE book of James. Did I take a huge gulp when I read that!
My friend has already memorised the first 3 chapters (and we are only in the 3rd week in!) and I’m struggling with the first 5 verses! Thankfully she puts no pressure on me but instead is the good encouraging friend that by example is spurring me on. I am finishing the fun stage, like someone who is motivated to go to the gym and goes out and buys new trainers (sneakers) and a new outfit but hasn’t actually started the hard part; I went and bought a laminator. I had fun in 'publisher' putting flowers around the verses and printing them out and then laminating. So I can stick them everywhere around the house and memorise them while in the restroom, driving etc.
It’s been a long while since I made a concerted effort to memorise verses and it hurts. But what hurts the most is living it.
At different times God places on our hearts different things we need to work on in our lives. He convicts us either of things we are doing that aren’t helpful in our life or things we aren’t doing or practicing as well as we should be. I don’t know what and how it is with you but when I start doing things I’m not used to or feel that I should be stopping something, it can be hard at first. But by doing it, and repeating it over and over, it won’t hurt as much; you will get used to it and be more mature in that area as God helps and encourages us. (Isaiah 40:29-31) If you are doing a daily quiet time for the first time, it might be initially hard making time for it, but very soon you will find as you are growing closer with God, you can’t do without spending that special alone time with Him.
As Beth Moore points out in the study we can underline verses in our bible in lovely colours, or feel convicted reading something or ‘that’s a good word today pastor.’ But as James says if we don’t actually do it, it’s not going to benefit us or bless us. Just like me if I stay at the stage of making the verses look pretty and not memorise it or the person who buys the clothes for the gym to look the part but doesn’t go to the gym, how is that beneficial?
But when we do continue growing up and maturing in God, obeying Him, then we will reap the benefits. It will bless us as we genuine love those who are unlovable. Or whatever it is that God is challenging you on today. At the beginning you may feel like the ‘I can’t catch my breath walking up one flight of stairs’ person. But wouldn’t you love the equivalent feeling of running with ease and standing at the top of a mountain looking at an amazing vista?
God gives us the help and strength to do it.
Come back tomorrow and the next few days and bring a friend who is maybe seeking and doesn't know what Easter is all about. We will be looking at videos done in a 'seeker friendly' way - the eye-witness accounts of what happened.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
James 1: 22-25
Hamish hurt his paw by playing ball last week.
It was a rather tame session of ball compared to others but it resulted in him drawing the paw up close, hobbling along on the remainder of his 3 legs. You see we hadn’t been playing ball for a few days before it, so his muscles had begun to forget what it felt like being stretched like that and it hurt.
Our spiritual muscles can hurt when we start using them as we aren’t used to it. Something may seem strange at first. It could be finding time to have a quiet time as you never had time before. This week my spiritual paw hurt. I am doing a bible study with a friend on ‘James.’ My paw is hurting all over the place. Last week it was all about ‘putting a bridle around that tongue,’ and 'slow to speak' – ouch that hurt.
It’s not about hearing it and agreeing it’s a good thing to try and do, it’s about doing it.
My paw also hurt in a different way as Beth Moore is encouraging us in the study to memorise the WHOLE book of James. Did I take a huge gulp when I read that!
My friend has already memorised the first 3 chapters (and we are only in the 3rd week in!) and I’m struggling with the first 5 verses! Thankfully she puts no pressure on me but instead is the good encouraging friend that by example is spurring me on. I am finishing the fun stage, like someone who is motivated to go to the gym and goes out and buys new trainers (sneakers) and a new outfit but hasn’t actually started the hard part; I went and bought a laminator. I had fun in 'publisher' putting flowers around the verses and printing them out and then laminating. So I can stick them everywhere around the house and memorise them while in the restroom, driving etc.
It’s been a long while since I made a concerted effort to memorise verses and it hurts. But what hurts the most is living it.
At different times God places on our hearts different things we need to work on in our lives. He convicts us either of things we are doing that aren’t helpful in our life or things we aren’t doing or practicing as well as we should be. I don’t know what and how it is with you but when I start doing things I’m not used to or feel that I should be stopping something, it can be hard at first. But by doing it, and repeating it over and over, it won’t hurt as much; you will get used to it and be more mature in that area as God helps and encourages us. (Isaiah 40:29-31) If you are doing a daily quiet time for the first time, it might be initially hard making time for it, but very soon you will find as you are growing closer with God, you can’t do without spending that special alone time with Him.
As Beth Moore points out in the study we can underline verses in our bible in lovely colours, or feel convicted reading something or ‘that’s a good word today pastor.’ But as James says if we don’t actually do it, it’s not going to benefit us or bless us. Just like me if I stay at the stage of making the verses look pretty and not memorise it or the person who buys the clothes for the gym to look the part but doesn’t go to the gym, how is that beneficial?
But when we do continue growing up and maturing in God, obeying Him, then we will reap the benefits. It will bless us as we genuine love those who are unlovable. Or whatever it is that God is challenging you on today. At the beginning you may feel like the ‘I can’t catch my breath walking up one flight of stairs’ person. But wouldn’t you love the equivalent feeling of running with ease and standing at the top of a mountain looking at an amazing vista?
God gives us the help and strength to do it.
Come back tomorrow and the next few days and bring a friend who is maybe seeking and doesn't know what Easter is all about. We will be looking at videos done in a 'seeker friendly' way - the eye-witness accounts of what happened.
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