Thoughts on God's word (3)

Wednesday 10th August 2022

'God will bless you...if you listen and obey.' James 1:25 CEV

Your life must be governed by the word of God, not your impulses, or your thoughts, or the opinions of those around you. God's word, in the Bible, is not God's attempt to offer you interesting insights or good advice for your consideration; it's his fixed opinion.

Jesus said, 'Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock' (Matthew 7:24 NKJV). This builder's foundation withstood life's storms. On the other hand, Jesus said, 'Everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them' is foolish and the storms of life will sweep them away (see Matthew 7:26-27 NKJV). Now, Jesus didn't condemn the second man for building an inadequate structure or failing to hear, understand, and believe his words, but for failing to act on them.

James writes, 'Obey God's message! Don't fool yourselves by just listening to it...God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don't just hear and forget' (James 1:22, 25 CEV). If you think reading, knowing and even believing God's word fulfils your obligation to it, you are mistaken. Because it's God's word, his instructions must be obeyed. That requires not just believing it but behaving according to it. James didn't say you would be blessed because of what you believe, but because of what you 'do'. When Moses read God's word to the Israelites, they said, 'All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient' (Exodus 24:7 NKJV). And that must be your rule for living, too.