"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."
Jas 1:25
Prov.14:15 "An unthinking person believes everything, but the prudent one thinks before acting." Simply stated this proverb is so true, and evil and the one through whom all evil comes (Satan) loves that type of person. People who don't think, who don't study to see how to make themselves a better person, people who care nothing for God, or God's word. Satan doesn't even mind you going to Christian assemblies or Bible discussions and studies, as long as you don’t do anything with what you learn.
If we assume that just because we have heard, read or studied a truth,that we have internalized or "got" it, then we are a fool. Practically everything in life teaches us the direct opposite. I have attended seminars where you are so busy going to the next session that you have no time to implement what you've learned. The colloquial expression is "In one ear and out the other." You forget it almost as soon as you hear it. The fact is, without implementation, our efforts become worthless. Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Mt.7:24).
God’s blessing comes from obeying the truth, not just knowing it. He said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (Jn.13:17). Yet, in the midst of these words from the Lord Himself, we have those who say, "I don't need all that study." or "I get all the religion I need and only come once a week." Yet others state, "I come all the time, but haven't learned anything new in years." Paul stated in Act 17:27 "God did this so that people would look for him and perhaps reach out and find him although in fact, he is not far from each one of us," Perhaps then we are not learning, growing or progressing because we are not looking for God, or looking for what God puts right before us.
The best way to become a doer of the Word is to always write out step to be accomplished as a result of your reading or reflection on God’s Word. Develop the habit of writing down exactly what you intend to do, based upon what you have just learned. It should be personal (involving you), practical (something you CAN do), and provable (with a deadline to do it). Every application should involve either your relationship to God, relationship to others, or your who you are. Being a part of a small Bible study discussion group, coming to Wednesday night studies, Sunday morning study or services. We always learn from others things that we would never learn on our own. Other people will help us to see insights we would miss and help us to learn to apply God’s truth in a practical way.
What has God told you to do in his Word that you haven’t started doing yet? Start today! Start recording and following through with steps as part of your Bible study.
Jim
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