Today's Devotional Thought
October 12, 2012 by Rachel Piferi
Receive the Word
For the last month, we have been studying the book of James with the ladies at our church. If you saw our "Random Things About Me" posts a few weeks ago, then you know that James is my favorite book of the Bible. I could not wait to get my hands on this study by Beth Moore. And now that I have been studying James in depth for the last month, saying it is my "favorite book" is a gross understatement.
I am absolutely in love with the book of James.
And girlfriends, it is changing my entire perspective on living.
When you read through the book of James, you quickly see that it is a very practical book. It has clear guidelines for living that make our relationships with others better, make us more peace-living and loving, and generally speaking, James gives us good advice on how to live a good Christian life.
But, if you pause and really intently look at the book of James, you will see that it is a deeply theological book. In fact, I would argue that this book is where the rubber hits the road regarding the truth of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
And the bottom line is this. If you claim to love Jesus and serve him, then you will live like it. All the time. With all people. Period.
You will love the unlovable. You will bridle your tongue. You will treat the poor and rich alike. You will take care of those less fortunate than you.
But, you will not just do these things as a sign of outward religiosity. You will do these things as a true servant of Jesus Christ. You will do these things with a heart that is radically sold out to serving Jesus. And, you will do these things because God's Word is living and breathing and abiding inside of you.
James even goes so far to assert that if you don't do these things, then you are not fully receiving the Word of God that has been implanted in you. You have not fully surrendered to the living, active, breathing Spirit of God who wants nothing more than to show the Glory of God through you and your actions. In fact, James tells us that you are deceiving yourself if you call yourself a Christian and do not really act like it by fully loving others.
Whew.
Now, that's powerful stuff.
This study has challenged me to examine all of the parts of my life (both inside my home and outside) to see where I am reflecting God's glory and where I simply am not. And, it has caused me to pray daily for God to overtake my person and show me where I need to love, where I need to show mercy, and where I need to simply shine God's glory in every circumstance and with all people.
As James says in Chapter 1, we are to, in humility, receive the Word implanted which is able to save our souls. Only through the Word of God implanted within us and our full and humble dependence on it are we able to live the life that Christ asks us to live. And only when we fully surrender to his ways, his plan, and his precepts will we fully display his glory to others.
Today, I pray that you humble yourself before God and ask him to overtake you and guide your footsteps today. Get in His Word and let the Word get inside you. Receive it and ask him to control your tongue and show you where you need to act to show his love to others.
And when you do that, I guarantee that you will be changed. You will become a true doer of the Word and not just a forgetful hearer. A doer who is doing because the Word of God is active inside of you. You will reflect the glory of God and you will be blessed in what you do.
December