“Do Not Merely Listen To The Word…Do What It Says!”

“Do Not Merely Listen To The Word,,,Do What It Says!”
All parents know the headache of repeating the same dos and don’ts to children in the home. They listen, but fail to do. We too were once like them and we still are to God.
Drivers do not violate traffic rules because they are ignorant of the rules, they are either adamant, adventurous, careless or outrightly heady! And this has been the reason behind many fatal accidents in which many lives have been lost.
These two examples are a microcosm of the general behaviour and attitude which reveal the wide gap that exist between listening (hearing) and doing.
Christianity like other religions have moral and ethical teachings which emphasises on what ought to be. Everyday we are on social media pulpits listening to or reading meditations which are intended to take us from where we are to where we should be. Sadly enough we are either stagnant or retrogressive rather than being progressive.
Jame advises, “Do not merely listen to the word, and decieve yourselves. Do what it says…the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he is blessed in what he does.”
Jesus says whoever hears his words and puts them into practice is like a man who built his house on rock. The rain and wind couldn’t prevail against it. Meanwhile the reverse is true for the one who hears the word and does not put it into practice (Mtt.7:24-29).
It is in the same light that Joshua said, “…if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Jos.24:1-2a & 13-25). There is a choice to make; to belong or not to belong. And if you choose to belong, then it is no longer a matter of choice but a compulsion to do what God says!
Faith is made complete through action! Do what it says.
Doing what the word says means doing what it says you should do and desisting from doing what it says you should not do.
James expects us to keep a tight rein on our tongues, “to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (Jm.1:22-27).
My friend, summarily is that “Put the word of God into practice!”
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit inspire me to always put God’s word into practice. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!