Through the Bible - Ezekiel 2-3, Hebrews 9
Good morning,
For today's verse we go to the book of James, a book which deals with practical Christian living. The passage that we'll look at starts by telling us that "every perfect gift comes from God" and finishes with a challenge to be "doers of the Word" not just hearers.
James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. NKJV
God brought us into His kingdom by the "word of truth" as first fruits that we might bear fruit, make disciples as we saw yesterday.
J.I. Packer writes, "the point that James is making in this verse is that God brought Christians to birth through the Word. He uses it to illustrate the principle of the previous verse that all good things come from the "Father of lights" the unchanging Creator of sun, moon, and stars, whose ordering of the universe is the measure of His power to bless and who through Christ shows Christians a Father's love. As born again children, Christians are the firstfruits of creation- that part which is given to God to be His sole possession and to be partaker of His holiness. These are dimensions of the new dignity and destiny into which the Word introduces us."
Again, as verse 25 points out that we are to be doers, putting the Word into practice. Not listening to what the world would tell us, that we're not good enough, smart enough, strong enough for the task at hand. We are to listen to the voice of Truth. David listened to the voice of truth and became a doer. How about you?
Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand
But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
James 1:16-26
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Qualities Needed in Trials
19 So then,* my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Doers — Not Hearers Only
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does
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