September 20, 2017 - - James 1:22-25 Hear the Word, Obey the Word

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 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. James 1:22-25 NIV

About the love of horse racing, he complained, "My sermons are applauded merely from custom, then everyone runs off to [horse racing] again and gives much more applause to the jockeys, showing indeed unrestrained passion for them! There they put their heads together with great attention, and say with mutual rivalry, 'This horse did not run well, this one stumbled,' and one holds to this jockey and another to that. No one thinks any more of my sermons, nor of the holy and awesome mysteries that are accomplished here."

Christianity Today Issue 44, 1994 on John Chrysostom

Where is the Word of God driving a point home to your heart? Are you harbouring anger against another person? Are you engaging in gluttony? Do you cheat your boss by not working diligently for the hours you are paid? Are you allowing lust to occupy a small corner of your life? Do you complain in your soul against those who have so much while you work and seem to have so little?

Perhaps you are listening to the Word and not implementing it and integrating it into your life. When you hear the word, act upon it. Pray about it. Ask God for His forgiveness in Jesus' Name with regards to your failures. Ask the Spirit of God to revive in you a renewed will to act and live in obedience to the will of God, which gives perfect freedom.

Ah, Father in heaven, don't You ever get tired of hearing my same confession day in and day out? I am ashamed to confess these sins. I am both surprised and weary to be in this very same place again. Yet I trust Your Word. I believe that Jesus came to bring You, my Father, glory by breaking down the strongholds of sin in my life. Send Your Spirit now to revive me in obedience, and to whet in my soul a greater appetite for all that is holy and true. The only reason You would have to hear me is Jesus Christ, He is my strength and my song, He is my salvation which brings You glory. It is in His Name alone I dare to lift my head and pray. Amen.