Persevering in the Word
"One who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does" (James 1:25).
"One who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does" (James 1:25).
The phrase "and abides by it" in James 1:25 demands our close attention. "Abide" translates a Greek word that means "to stay beside," "remain," or "continue." The idea is that a doer of the Word continually and habitually gazes into God's perfect law. In other words, he is a persevering learner.
When you have that level of commitment to the Word, you will be an effectual doer--one who is in union with God's will and seeks to obey it above all else. As you do, God will bless you. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll be successful in the eyes of the world, but your priorities and perspectives will be right and the Lord will honor what you do.
This verse is a call to carefully examine yourself in light of God's standards. That's not a popular thing in our society because many people have an aversion to serious spiritual thought and self-examination. I believe that's why Christian television, music, and other forms of entertainment are so popular. Escaping reality through entertainment is far more appealing to most people than gazing into the mirror of God's Word and having their spiritual flaws and blemishes exposed. But if you desire to be like Christ, you must see yourself for what you are and make any needed corrections. To do that, you must continually examine your life in the light of Scripture.
Can you imagine what the church would be if every Christian did that? Can you imagine the changes in your own life if you did it more consistently? Only the Holy Spirit can enable you to be a doer of the Word. So yield to His leading through prayer and confession as you continue to study and apply God's Word.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Whenever you study Scripture, ask the Spirit to illuminate your mind and heart, and to use the Word to transform you more and more into the image of Christ.
For Further Study:
Read Colossians 3:16-17, noting what Paul says about responding to the Word.
Prayer request standouts this morning:
All my kids and their kids......
Praying for safe trip for Kimberly and Rylie back to Arizona
Praying for Steve J. as he prepares for surgery on his knee in the morning...praying for Drs. involved and successful surgery and healing to move on to the final surgery in a few weeks. Pray for help with the pain...
Praying for the Blums as they get ready to leave for their trip to Florida.
Believe it or not....praying for rain again....
Praying for loved ones who might not trust Christ as Lord and Savior.
Praying for other family and friends with health problems......
Devotion from GTY....Drawing Near by John MacArthur
1 comment:
I love that term, "abide". At camp, we shared with the girls how a shepherd seeks to keep a wandering sheep very close to him, often carrying it around his neck, until it forms a deep relationship with the shepherd, and even when the shepherd finally lets the sheep go out into the flock, the sheep has developed such a strong love and commitment to the shepherd that it effectually desires to "abide" as close to the shepherd as possible.
The entertainment issue is so alarming and so true. Examining ourselves is not fun at all and I know how much I try to avoid it and seek other things to think about that are on a much simpler and superficial level. What a pointless waste of time for me!!!
Thank you for sharing these notes today, Mom!!!
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