FRIDAY: BEING A DOER OF THE WORD

WEEK ONE – FRIDAY

“A Doer Of The Word”



The Bible places a great deal of importance on not only Hearing God’s Word but also Practicing it.  Today we look at JAMES 1:22-25.


“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” E.S.V.


·        How does James say the Word affects us as we hear and act on it?


James touches a key point in these verses.  He says we are foolish to think that merely being exposed to God’s Word is sufficient for our spiritual lives.  Isn’t that what a lot of people do?  I know many who will not spend time in the Word on Wednesday and Sunday because they will be in church!  The Word was meant to CHANGE US!  That’s what happens when we look intently into the Word, persevere in it, and act on it.  We are changed, forever!



< HEART CHECK >

·        When you read God’s Word, how often do you apply it in a concrete way to your life, in a way that puts into real life action what you have learned?



o   On A Very Consistent Basis

o   On A Somewhat Consistent Basis

o   Occasionally

o   Almost Never


·        Think about an experience in which you applied a specific scripture to your life.  How did God’s truth affect the outcome of the situation?



If you find yourself struggling with “Application of Scripture” you need to know you’re not alone!  We live in a world that takes Scripture out of context and speaks vaguely in mushy, and general terms.  We make it fit where we like it, so there is no need to be specific and clear.
 

When you look at the teachings of Jesus, you never see Him speaking in shallow, unspecific generalities.  He was always clear and concise, and demanded very specific changes in people’s lives. 
 

Think about some of the Specific Instructions Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount:
  • Don’t be Angry (Matthew 5:22)
  • Don’t Lust (Matthew 5:28)
  • Give Up Your Coat (Matthew 5:40)
  • Go Two Miles (Matthew 5:41)

Jesus meant for people to put His Words into action in very specific, tangible ways.

The problem is that we think it is enough to grasp general concepts, as if taking the Word of God is a MENTAL ACTIVITY.  Jesus, on the other hand, meant our interaction with the Word of God to be a LIFE ACTIVITY!

 In stead of saying, “I need to love people more” in some noncommittal way, ask “What am I going to do today or this week to show love to a specific person?”


In stead of saying, “I need to have more faith” we need to identify ways we can express our faith very specifically today! 


Application of Scripture should be tangible, measurable, and specific!

At the end of the day, or week, we should be able to look back and say “I worked that Scripture into my life in this way: ________” and fill in the blank with the specific way it took root in our lives.  THEN we can start to see, “THIS is when I began to see my life change in exciting ways!”





·        Read the following teachings of Jesus and write a SPECIFIC way you could put each into action:

      Ø Matthew 5:16

Ø Matthew 5: 23-24

Ø Matthew 5:39

Ø Matthew 5:44



 As we come to the end of each week’s lessons, I want you to go back to the Three Keys to reading the Bible well (Listen, Understand, Respond) and identify something you have discovered during the week that will help you Read God’s Word Well and More Effectively.    Think about it…


-         LISTEN: Look back over this weeks study.  What did you learn that will help you Listen to God’s Word more effectively.

-         UNDERSTAND:  Make note of one way you have grown in your Understanding of God’s Word this week.

-         RESPOND:  Make note of one way you have responded specifically to God’s Word this week.


“Dear God,

Do not let me be satisfied with only being exposed to Your Word.

Give me a hunger for Your Word personally.

Give me a passion to live our Your Word actively.

Don’t let me hear Your Word and not Respond in a tangible way.

May my steps and actions be ordered by Your Word.

Teach me.  Guide me.  Be my vision.  Be my passion.

Make me a Hearer and Doer of Your Word.

Amen…”

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