James 1:22-25 22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 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.
Do you have someone in your life who not only knows God’s word, but they also obey God’s word? That’s a good person to seek counsel from. Many people are hurting because the decisions they make are the opposite of what they know from God’s word. They can quote scripture and they are quick to use that scripture to encourage, counsel, challenge, and sometimes embarrass others. Unfortunately, when it comes to their own lives, they consistently choose not to obey God’s truth. Then after the natural consequences of their choices crash into their lives, they blame God for their anger, discouragement, and depression that they feel after the storm has passed through. We are called be doers of the word. If we listen but don’t obey, we are deceiving ourselves into believing we are victims.
Matthew 7:24-25 24
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
In what areas are you struggling to obey God’s Word? Are you easily angered at home or are you quick to show kindness and humility? Are you patient at work or do people avoid connecting with you? The storms of life keep on coming. Spiritual winds, relational downpours, and financial floods. Before and during these storms it’s so important that we build our lives on the firm foundation of not just knowing, but obeying God’s word because our protection and peace come from being doers of the word of God.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through these scriptures?
