I Loved The Sermon! What Part Did I Like? Uh….
Ξ September 12th, 2007 | → Comments Off | ∇ Christian Living, End Times, Growing In The Lord |
Welcome back!
For several days last week and this week, God has been keeping the words “do not be deceived” rattling through my mind. When that happens, I need to study the phrase more. I have obviously not finished writing about it.
One of the more famous scriptures or at least one that I know fairly well and have for years is:
(James 1:22) But become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
God tells us that we could be deceived if we only listen to the Word and do not apply it to our lives. That gives me a picture of large numbers of people who go to church, sit and listen every week to the pastor’s sermon and, when asked what they liked about it, could not even remember what the most basic point was. Or the people who do not attend a brick and mortar building but watch the television preachers who, for the most part, do a great job of preaching the Gospel but if no one applies what they hear, it is of no account.
It is vitally important that we actually apply what we hear. So, when you attend church this week or you listen to a TV or radio preacher, see how you can apply the scriptures and lesson to your life.
God also impressed on me about not only hearing but doing the Word by bringing up another scripture:
(Mark 16:15-18) And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.
We are given a mission, go into all the world and preach the gospel. I can hear it now..”I can’t do that. I’m not a preacher. I haven’t been to school for this!! No way!!” Or how about “I want to but I’m too nervous and scared to try to talk somebody into that.”
God gave us a way to be a doer instead of simply hearing and doing nothing. We can ask Jesus into our hearts. When that happens, usually, there is a need to tell others what happened. Jesus died so that we would have life. We should be so grateful that we want to let everyone know what He did for us. The joy of the Lord wells up inside and it feels almost like we could just burst if we don’t tell someone about this!!!
On the other hand, God says that He is not mocked, what we sow is what we reap. That scripture was always kind of ominous to me. It was a warning that if I do not sow the stuff I was told to sow, I would end up reaping some stuff I didn’t want. Well, guess what? That is so true. We do end up sowing and reaping things we didn’t want because we did not pay attention to the scripture about being a doer of the Word.
Is this a punishment? NO WAY! It simply means that when we do not do the will of God, we leave ourselves wide open for being deceived and going down paths that were not meant for us to go. We lose the protection of God because we have wandered off away from where His protection is. His protection is where He has asked us to be. If we choose to walk another way, His protection is no longer there. Then we reap the benefits of disobeying God. I’ve had about enough of those benefits, thank you very much!!!
Today is the best day to start to follow Jesus. Today is the best day to begin the task of being a doer of the Word, not just a hearer. Today is the best day to witness of what the Lord has done for you! Because of your grateful heart, you will find it easy to tell someone else about how Jesus died on the cross to save you from your sins. It will be easy to tell them how they can have the joy of the Lord like you have and that Jesus will come dwell in their hearts just like He is dwelling in yours. God is not mocked!!! But He is a wonderful, giving Lord and Father who wants the best for His children. What a blessed day this is!!
For more information on how to become a Christian or learning to grow in the Lord, please come to Lura’s Bookcase and read the many articles. Thank you for coming to read my blog.
