31 Oct Book it! (Because a Bible that is falling apart indicates a life that isn’t!) Part 11
For the last few weeks we have been sharing “Four Awesome Assignments to Assist you with the Word”:
- Activate the Word
2. Accept the Word (Matt. 7:24-27).
3. Assimilate the Word (II Tim. 3:16-17).
Last week we began with…
4. Apply the Word (James 1:22).
Here the Bible tells us, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” The Greek word translated “hearers” is “akraotes”. This Greek word is an academic word and it is referring to one who audits a class. They are there only for the lecture. They have no homework and no tests.
You see, as a pastor, I have noticed that people bring one of two “tools” to church. They either bring a rake and apply the Word to themselves, or they will bring a shovel and throw the word they hear onto someone else. “Oh, I wish my husband was here to hear this…he needs this!” “I wish so and so was here at church to hear Pastor Jim’s message because they need that.” No…YOU need this! Don’t shovel it away…rake it in! Take the Word home with you. Don’t just audit the class…do the homework!
This week let’s continue with more from this topic:
Notice from James 1:22 what happens if you don’t hear and do it…you deceive yourself. Not the devil! Not your mother-in-law…you deceive yourself.
Awhile back I read a story of a man who was cleaning his gun at home. He was drunk. In the same night he shot himself in the foot three different times! Three different times the paramedics had to come to his house and treat the superficial, yet painful wounds. We laugh and think, what an idiot! Yet how many times do we do the same thing spiritually? We deceive ourselves and shoot ourselves in our own foot when we hear the Word and don’t do it!
Now I recognize that this is fairly simple, however the two greatest gaps in life are:
- Knowing and doing
- Wanting and having
If you will close the first gap, you will automatically close the second. Remember this: Train yourself in all of life’s situations to ask yourself, “What does the Bible say about this?” Then just do it!
Next month we will continue our series!