"But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like."
James 1:22-24 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: The author of the book of James is thought to be James, the half-brother of Jesus. Imagine being the half-brother of the Savior for a moment. While they were growing up together and after Jesus started his ministry, do you think that James bought into what Jesus was saying? In his writing here, James certainly understands the importance of the message. He would have seen the Pharisees and Jesus’ other critics that would more than likely have been put into the "hearers" category, but this message is for both Jewish and Christian alike. If we only hear, but don’t put to action the things we have learned, have we truly been changed by the message and work of Christ? The doing is part of the learning process. I would be like reading and/or listening to a tremendous amount of information about renovating a house, but without actually doing the work, it is difficult to understand the variables and the different challenges the actual worker faces. We need to be people of action. We need to take ownership of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, encouraging others in their faith journeys, and working together for the good and growth of the kingdom of God. We each have a part to play in the bigger scheme of life. What are some things we can do to take action on what God has imparted into our lives?
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we would live each day as ambassadors of "grace in action." That God would continually teach us and grow us into the reflection of His son and that we would encourage others along the way. I pray that the glory and the name of God would become greater as a result of our obedience to His word.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
Prodigal Thinker 