QT 7 Feb 19, Ja 1:25, There is blessing for those who act on what they hear

James 1:25 (ESV) — 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.

NOTE: There is a blessing in the specific measurable application of God's word. A hearer hears and can recite it. He files it away in his huge encyclopedia of bible and theology. But ultimately he forgets most of what he hears. The one who is "a doer who acts" is blessed in the doing. We allow the word of God to chip away at our sinful nature when we act on the word. For those who don't think you have to be specific -- you can't act on the word without specific actions. Application without action is a scheme of the devil to fill you with head knowledge and leave you devoid of life change. Last night, I heard a testimony of a man who had been in the church and Sunday School years before realizing that he did not know Jesus. How could that happen? Why did he realize this when he attended an Intentional Discipleship Group and not before? Because, we do not look any different in church! There is no difference with the religious person! None! And so how can anyway come into our church and say, "wow, there is something different about you and this Jesus person." They can't if we are not applying the word of God to our lives and changing. If they can't see it in church, they are not going to notice it in the workplace either.

PRAYER: Father, I am so excited by what I see you doing in our body. And I yearn that our church would move away from superficial lukewarm Christianity into life changing relationships with the Savior. Oh, that we would be doers who take action on what we hear. Have mercy on us. Fill us with your spirit!