Daily Scripture
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
James 1:19-27
daily Devotion
Being in the “Bible Belt,” we have lived our whole lives around people who claim to read the Word and go to church, but yet they do not bear any fruit in their day-to-day lives. There are also times where it feels like the person in the row in front of you at church just couldn’t have possibly heard the same sermon you just heard, because of the way they are acting and the words they are saying after 12pm on Sunday afternoon. And you might even be thinking “Wait, this actually sounds like me sometimes.” If we are all honest with ourselves, we have all had times where we have not applied God’s truth in our lives. James emphasizes the importance of being doers of the Word.
What does it look like to be a doer of the Word?
Quick to Hear & Slow to Speak: We must be eager and ready to gain wisdom from God’s Word. When you come to God, spend more time reading and listening to his truth than you do coming to Him with a list of wants and complaints. Be sensitive to His spirit and listen for His voice.
Slow to Anger: Holding onto anger and resentment will start to show in your life. It will turn into an outwardly expression of bitterness. We can spot these people from a mile away. No one who is complaining, grumbling, or being hateful is showing the love of Christ. If there is wrath in a person’s heart, they do not produce righteousness.
Receive with Meekness: This is best described as having a teachable spirit. Allow God to do a work in your life. Come to the Word with a heart posture of humility.
Being a doer of the Word is a continuous action where we let the truth root in our heart and impact our life. It triggers a response for us to act, walk, live, and love more like Jesus. The Bible is relevant, active, and the living truth. It has the power to transform us and change our innermost being. If we seek God through His word and apply it to our lives, we find that we are equipped to do what He has called us to do.
Elise Williams