Looking into the Word
James 1:25" But who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer ofthe work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
God's desire is that His Word would fill our hearts. He longs forHis Word to be hidden in our hearts, but He also wants us to live itout. The idea is that we woud be so filled up with the Word of God that we would become living Bibles in today's society, acting out the truth and displaying it before a lost and dying world.
This is our duty. In order to know what we're to do with the Word, we must first hearit. That word, "hear," is mentioned 522 times in the Bible. It doesn't matter what Scripture is open. It doesn't matter whatportion is being preached, or what portion you are reading; "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," and as God's people, we have a duty to hear His words. Sometimes, we as Christians determinethat we will have "selective hearing" when it comes to the Word ofGod.
I remember visiting my grandparents not too long ago. My grandfatherwas struggling somewhat with his hearing, and my grandmother said tome, "He can't hear a thing we say. He's nearly lost his hearing, buthe's too proud to get a hearing aide."A few minutes later, my grandmother said to my grandfather, "Paul, you need to take out the garbage." He didn't move, and after a whileshe came to me and said, "You see? Your grandfather can't hear anything!"
As she walked back into the kitchen, he looked up at me, winked, and said, "Selective hearing."
It is possible to mark our Bibles and yet never have the Bible markus. When Christians decide that we do not want to receive the meat of God's Word so that we can be nourished, get out on the battlefield, and stand up for Jesus as soldiers of the Cross, we are reading the Word of God selectively. The Bible is a mirror, a toolof God to show us the intentions of the heart.
It shows us what needs to be changed. The danger is that we will look into the mirror and see a something-a need-and do nothing about it.
We must not just learn intellectually; we must allow the Lord to touch and change us. Our children need parents that are living Bibles. I am speaking of living purely, so that we might stand before our children having taken in the Word of God, our lives different. We must be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When we look honestly into the Word of God, we see properly where we stand in the light of a holy God. We see not only the holiness, the sinlessness, the unchanging nature of God, but we see the sinfulnessof man. God's Word shows us where our lives resemble the world,where something needs to be changed, and we come to that place wherewe respond to the need.
Today, as you open your Bible, don't be a "selective hearer" in your study. Allow the Word of God to transform your perspective by therenewing of your mind, and the Spirit of God will speak to yourheart. Will you let Him guide your path and guard your lips today?
By Dr. Paul Chappell
Lancaster Baptist Church - California
God's desire is that His Word would fill our hearts. He longs forHis Word to be hidden in our hearts, but He also wants us to live itout. The idea is that we woud be so filled up with the Word of God that we would become living Bibles in today's society, acting out the truth and displaying it before a lost and dying world.
This is our duty. In order to know what we're to do with the Word, we must first hearit. That word, "hear," is mentioned 522 times in the Bible. It doesn't matter what Scripture is open. It doesn't matter whatportion is being preached, or what portion you are reading; "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," and as God's people, we have a duty to hear His words. Sometimes, we as Christians determinethat we will have "selective hearing" when it comes to the Word ofGod.
I remember visiting my grandparents not too long ago. My grandfatherwas struggling somewhat with his hearing, and my grandmother said tome, "He can't hear a thing we say. He's nearly lost his hearing, buthe's too proud to get a hearing aide."A few minutes later, my grandmother said to my grandfather, "Paul, you need to take out the garbage." He didn't move, and after a whileshe came to me and said, "You see? Your grandfather can't hear anything!"
As she walked back into the kitchen, he looked up at me, winked, and said, "Selective hearing."
It is possible to mark our Bibles and yet never have the Bible markus. When Christians decide that we do not want to receive the meat of God's Word so that we can be nourished, get out on the battlefield, and stand up for Jesus as soldiers of the Cross, we are reading the Word of God selectively. The Bible is a mirror, a toolof God to show us the intentions of the heart.
It shows us what needs to be changed. The danger is that we will look into the mirror and see a something-a need-and do nothing about it.
We must not just learn intellectually; we must allow the Lord to touch and change us. Our children need parents that are living Bibles. I am speaking of living purely, so that we might stand before our children having taken in the Word of God, our lives different. We must be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When we look honestly into the Word of God, we see properly where we stand in the light of a holy God. We see not only the holiness, the sinlessness, the unchanging nature of God, but we see the sinfulnessof man. God's Word shows us where our lives resemble the world,where something needs to be changed, and we come to that place wherewe respond to the need.
Today, as you open your Bible, don't be a "selective hearer" in your study. Allow the Word of God to transform your perspective by therenewing of your mind, and the Spirit of God will speak to yourheart. Will you let Him guide your path and guard your lips today?
By Dr. Paul Chappell
Lancaster Baptist Church - California
posted by mS eLoVe | 10:26 AM
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