Verse of the Day 3/15

Verse of the Day 3/15

James 1:22

New Living Translation

22 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Our Tuesday Men's Bible study began a study in the book of James this morning.  The book is filled with practical, everyday advice for the Christian.  Today's verse is one of those practical statements.  Putting what we learn from God's word into practice is what Bible reading, devotions and listening to sermons should be about. It should never be like so many of the commercials that we see on TV or hear on the radio which come in one ear and quickly go out the other.

John MacArthur writes, "Hearers" in James 1:22 translates a Greek word that speaks of auditing a class. Auditing students attend class and listen to the instructor but don't do any work. Consequently, they don't receive credit for the course. The phrase "delude themselves" speaks of being victimized by one's own faulty reasoning. People who listen to God's Word but never obey it are spiritual auditors who delude themselves by thinking that hearing the Word is all God requires of them. Unfortunately, many churches are full of such people. They attend services and hear the sermons but their lives never seem to change. They're content to hear the Word but never apply it. Like those whom Jesus condemned in Matthew 7, they've chosen religious activities over true faith in Christ."

The verse says that if we don't listen to and do what the Word says, we are fooling ourselves.  Bible reading, devotions, sermons and attending Bible studies don't mean much, other than being a checklist; if we don't apply what we hear in our daily lives.  When we take God's Word to heart, it becomes implanted and God will cause it to grow.

God causes all things to grow
Through every season we know
He will guard the life
That He's planted in our souls
And when we feel the cold winds blow
We'll hold to what we know
God causes all things to grow.   (Steve Green)

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

James 1:21-24

New King James Version

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.