January 6, 2023
Because He Said So
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22 NKJV).
Friend to Friend
How many times were the words, “Because I said so!” spoken to you by a parent? I was determined to never say those words to our children. Of course, I failed to keep that commitment.
But I do remember the first time those words slipped out of my mouth! I was shocked. My next thought was how many times has God spoken those words to me?
Hearing the truth is only half the battle. Obeying the truth is where the real battle begins.
Jesus taught about this very thing in the parable of the soils. He compares those who hear the truth but do not act on it as follows:
“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away” (Matthew 13:19-21 NIV).
But if we don’t apply it, that word from God only lasts a short time in our lives. When trouble comes, we go right back to being the same way we were before we heard God speak.
It is not hearing from God that changes our lives. It is applying what we hear from God that changes our lives.
When God speaks to us and gives us new truth, we need to ask ourselves what our next step will be.
What am I going to do about the truth God has given me?
How am I going to apply that truth?
There is a valuable reason James gives us this amazing challenge:
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22 NKJV).
Remember how God commanded the Israelites to march around the walls of Jericho for seven long days? On the seventh day, the walls would fall.
I’ve often thought, What if I’d been one of those people marching around the walls for seven days? Some of them must have been looking at those walls, getting more and more worried and wondering how God could ever bring them down.
But a lot of those people had faith. Every day they looked at the walls and not only thought about what God could do, but also what He would do … and thanked Him in advance … and they kept marching in faith.
I have learned that the most powerful way to remain faithful to God is to hear and do what He commands us to do in His word. It really is simple, but costly. It will cost us our agenda, our pride, our will … our lives and everything we are. But what a great exchange!
Let’s Pray
Father, help me to be a doer of Your Word and not just a hearer. Forgive my lack of faith to obey You when it doesn’t make sense to me. I want to believe. Help my unbelief, Lord. Give me a love for Your Word and the strength to step out in faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What is one thing that you know God has told you to do that you haven’t done because it doesn’t make sense to you? What do you think God is saying to you today?
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© 2023 by Mary Southerland. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Friday, 06 January 2023.
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