IT PAYS TO BE A DOER OF THE WORD
SCRIPTURE: JAMES 1:25
(AMPC)
”But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [WHO OBEYS], He shall be blessed in his doing. (HIS LIFE OF OBEDIENCE)”
The scriptures speak clearly of hearers of God’s Word and doers of God’s Word. The difference is seen in certain ways. You see it is the lives of those who are mere church goers and the lives of serious practicing disciples.
James 1, verse 22 reminds us that those who just hear the Word and don’t determine to be doers of it are actually deceived people. To be deceived is to believe lies. On the other hand, those who resolve to be doers of the Word “shall be blessed in their doing ie their life of obedience.” Praise God for what obedience does! The Word “blessed” means:
- To be well off
- To be fortunate and happy.
- To be empowered
Many times, there are a variety of forces that fight against your desire to be a doer of God’s Word. Our own flesh has desires that fight our obedience. Circumstances, difficult times also often discourage us from obeying God’s Word because obedience in these times comes with a price. Joseph experienced this when his master’s wife lied about him.
This is where the Holy Spirit who dwells in us comes in to help you to overcome the temptation to sin and any desire to disobey God’s Word. The same Holy Spirit then grants you the strength to do what God’s Word requires. At this stage the Holy Spirit will help you turn your attention to the reward of your obedience. Why? The knowledge of the reward will encourage you more to live the life of obedience more and more.
The result is seen in today’s verse. You will be blessed, empowered, happy and well off. Hallelujah! It pays to be a doer of the Word, dear child of God. Your life of obedience is a catalyst to a better life, or a blessed life.
Do well to kill your excuses. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you resist and overcome every temptation to disobey. Divine provision is made for you. Therefore “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” Your victory is assured. Your life is getting better. Why? Because your life as a doer of the Word is working and bearing fruit.
CONFESSION By my choices I steer my life accordingly in the direction of the Word. I choose to be a doer of the Word and to go on and be successful and prosperous. My actions are productive and impactful. I habitually remain a doer of the Word whether my circumstances are favourable or not. The Spirit of God is at work in my life in a dynamic fashion and is cooperating with me in Jesus’s name.
FURTHER READING (NJKV)
I PETER 2: 1-5
[1]Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
[2]as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
[3]if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People
[4]Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
[5]you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.