Todays Bible Study centers on an age old problem. It's that little moving, wagging flexible tool inside our mouths called the tongue. In our last study we honed in on the Skill of Listening. We learned what it means to be a good listener and gave some tools that will increase our Skill of Listening.
This Bible Study Lesson, Be a Doer, picks up another aspect of listening. This type of listening involves listening to instructions and then following through. Are you one who listens but does not follow through with application? What good does it do to have head knowledge with nothing to show you have learned anything? Let's get started on today's Bible Study Lesson found in James 1:22-25.
SEVEN SIMPLE STEPS TO BIBLE STUDY
TYPE BIBLE PASSAGEJames 1:22-25 22 " Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does."
READ AND MEDITATE
Read the passage three times praying for the Holy spirit to interpret God's Word to you.
GIVE IT A TITLE
Title: Be a Doer
WHO DOES IT INVOLVE
As we look back at James 1:19 we see James writing to those he calls dear brothers and sisters and ultimately you and me as God inspired James to write His message to His kids
PARAPHRASE THE PASSAGE - PUT INTO YOUR OWN WORDS
James is beginning this passage with a directive - DO NOT. I am not to listen (only) to the word of God - it's just like looking in a mirror .. perhaps seeing mascara smeared under my eye .. but instead of wiping it away .. I walk away and leave it there .. no changes so the mess remains. Sounds ridiculous but if I look and do nothing about it .. yet think it is enough just to see it ... I would definitely be deceiving myself. No, listening is not enough - I need to take action and DO what it says. If I just listen without action I will forget everything. By looking closely with great concentration and then not only remembering what I have studied but taking action, on God's perfect law, I will find myself in the midst of Blessings in all that I do.
APPLICATION - PERSONALIZE IT
I have to take time when I sit down with God's Word. This is no ordinary book - God is instructing me each time I seek His face with Bible in hand. It's not about taking my 15 minutes to get it under my belt and move on. It's about time with God where He speaks directly to me and I not only listen but I put whatever truth He teaches me, into practice. Writing down an action and putting it on the mirror in my bathroom will be a great 'double' reminder of the man looking into the mirror - what will I do? Will I leave the smeared mascara on my face or will act on what I have seen?
When I act upon truth and make changes I will be blessed - God's word is Truth and as I obey and apply His word I will always be in the middle of His blessing.
I'm going to practice His word. Today, as I search my heart I am sensing a self esteem issue. I'm feeling not very useful these days. Arthritis is limiting my ability to 'do' physically. Fibromyalgia is causing brain fog which means it is taking much l-o-n-g-e-r for me to complete these studies.
So what I am going to do is look up verses about my value. I will allow God's word to sink in as His word is truth. I will get these verses deep into my hardware - to replace the lies the enemy would have me believe. To assist me further in this process of ingraining the word for application I will commit a few of them to memory - TODAY by utilizing one of my favorite tools: Scripture Typer
What God Says About My Value
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
I am going to practice praising God today for creating me so intricately.
2 Corinthians 12:10
"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I will choose to be content with weaknesses because when I am weak - His strength shines.
2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
God's grace is sufficient in my weakness and its not only sufficient but made perfect weakness. I will be glad about my weakness knowing that in it the power of Christ Rests on me.
Philippians 4:11b
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
I am learning to be content right here, right now.
STEP 7: COMMENTARY - CONSULT RELIABLE BIBLE SCHOLAR
I am utilizing John MacArthurs Commentary of the Book of James. John ties the previous teachings to this weeks by seeing this weeks lesson as the third test of a true believer. The first in vs. 2-12 The Believers
John points out that not only is it important to receive God's word and act upon it .. but its important to know that if one hears but refuses to do anything about what he is hearing it becomes further judgement against the hearer. When we hear God's word our attitude must be submission and further obedience. A mark of a true believer is one tat not just have a momentary feeling of compliance or commitment but it is a long term obedience.
A true believer will not be satisfied with merely knowing Gods Word because the Holy Spirit will convict of sin within and when exposed the conviction will continue until the child of God obeys.
DOER - The word (doers) carries the characterization of the whole personality all of a person's inner being - mind, soul, spirit and emotions. James has in mind 'a person whose life is characterized by holy energy.'
HEARER - passive as in listening to a concert or auditing a college class - required to attend and listen to but not required to do outside study, write papers or take any tests. Not held accountable for what they hear. Many attend Churches today and benefit from great teaching but leave the building unchanged but thinking they are 'covered' because they attended Church when in fact they are deceiving themselves and are merely pretenders not believers.
The biblical line between saint and sinner is abundantly clear. "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious; anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother" I John 3:10.
DECEIVE - Don't deceive yourself by thinking listening is enough. Any response to the gospel that does not include obedience is self-deception. If a profession of faith in Christ does not result in a changed life that hungers and thirsts for God's Word and desires to obey that Word, the profession is only that - a mere profession. Satan of course loves such professions because they give church members the damning nottion that they are saved when they are not.
Men are not naturally inclined to look at themselves honestly, to perform a self-evaluation under the bright and perfect light of God's Word - They know instinctively that their pride, self-will and love of sin will be exposed under the Lords righteous standards. The person who humbles himself to get a better look at the word proves his right spiritual motive and attitude. His concern is not with bare facts but with divine truth - he obeys what he learns and in doing so he is blessed and God is glorified.
As he see's himself as he really is he essentially says, "Lord continue to expose my ugliness, my hopelessness apart from You. Draw me to Yourself and cleanse me from my sins. Fill me with Your truth, your love and purify." The true believer loves to do what the Bible command him to do because that is the will of his Heavenly Father. God's blessing results from a believers obedience.
There is so much more hidden in these three verses. In the commentary I consulted there were so many applications and illustrations - too many to include in this blog. May God help each of us to see ourselves as God see's us. May our hunger for God grow as we look intently into His word wherein we find Life and Joy and Meaning.
