“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” -James 1:22 NLT
Yesterday, we learned to receive God’s word with an open heart and meekness. Today. we’ll talk about what to do with the Word we have received.
Imagine hurrying to put on an outfit for that important meeting. You glance in the mirror – your shirt isn’t properly tucked in and a few buttons are undone. But you’re running late, so, you convince yourself you’ll fix it later. However, you forget all you just saw once you leave the house and eventually stumble into the meeting looking haphazard.
A glance in the mirror is only helpful if you actually use it. This is why in his letter, James likens reading the Scriptures but not doing them to one who looks in a mirror and forgets what he sees (James 1:23-24).
God’s word is our mirror – When we look into it, we see our true reflection and we should, therefore, make adjustments and apply the teachings to better our lives.
So how do you put Scriptures to work in your life?
The first step is immersing yourself in Scripture. To truly apply the word, you need a solid understanding (2 Timothy 2: 15). If you don’t know what it says, you can’t do what it says. So, make daily Bible reading a habit. The T30 Bible reading plan is a good place to start.
When you read the Bible, you will receive instructions, corrections, and teachings to apply to your life as a child of God. As 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, the word of God teaches, corrects, and trains us in righteousness. Therefore, apply what you learn from the Scriptures to every aspect of your life. Like our anchor scripture admonishes – do the word.
If you read a passage on evangelism, go out and preach the Gospel that week. If you listen to a teaching on generosity, go ahead and create a structure of giving. By being doers of the word, our lives are transformed and we become more like Christ.
Putting the Word into action isn’t just about willpower. Remember, prayer and the Holy Spirit play a vital role. Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:13 that God works within us to will and to do what pleases Him. Rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and strength as you strive to be a doer of the Word.
Challenge yourself today: Are you a hearer of the Word, or a doer? Search yourself – if you’re already putting the Word into practice, how can you go further? It’s a lifelong journey of aligning yourself with God.
Remember, your actions are powerful reflections of Christ. Let the Word continuously transform you into His image.
Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 21: 23 – 46