Tag: Act

Don’t Just Hear, Act on the Law of the LORD

It is easy to sit in church and hear a sermon and think that it is great and it all makes sense. We get instruction and can see the benefit of it as we leave after service. Yet, that is where it all ends a lot of the time. We hear it and then tuck it away.

“23For 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. 24For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” – James 1:23-24 (ESV)

I know that too often we find ourselves receiving something, like instruction, and then walk away putting it aside as not useful, the Law of the LORD is no exception. How is it useful in today’s world as conditions are different? How are we going to implement those things here? Are they really the same today as they were in biblical times?

Doing the work of the LORD is not about our understanding of the impacts, but rather doing the work.

“18And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

Jesus did not tell us to hear Him and then think about going and making disciples. He said to “go” which is action and not thought. He did not tell us who would accept His invitation, He said to invite them. He did not say to have intentions on delivering the gospel, He said to deliver it. Our work is to do the work that we are given. We are to take action and not just sit and only profess to know.

“25But 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.” – James 1:25 (ESV)

James gives us the extension of and the results of our acting on the Law of the LORD. We will be blessed in doing so. He does not tell us that we will be receiving riches, or that our lives will be made easier, or that all of a sudden, everything will be in line, he tells us that we will be blessed. Line that up with the second part of Matthew 28:20 above and it aligns that our blessing will be our communion with Jesus always. Now that is a blessing. Don’t just hear the Law, but act it and you will be blessed.

What is your approach to learning you have received? Are you one who hears and tucks it away? What if you were to act on the Law of the LORD and receive His blessings of communion with Him?

Follow the Direction of Elders

This morning I find myself in 1 Samuel looking through the passage of the anointment and proclamation of Saul as king. We have a situation where Saul is chosen and then anointed and then proclaimed to be king at the direction of Samuel from the LORD.

Saul was told how things would go down and he, Saul, only needed to heed the directions and it would all come about.

“6Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you.” – 1 Samuel 10:6-7 (ESV)

Here we see that Samuel gave instruction and Saul would follow through with it. But these instructions did not just come from anyone. Samuel was the priest and revered in his work with the LORD. And therefore the instruction was coming from a trusted source and should be followed.

I find myself in a position of needing instruction. As a part of a discipleship group. I seek the advice and instruction from those in the group. The presumed leader of the group is one of our pastors with the church and therefore considered to be more in concert with the LORD as he is well studied and a teacher of God’s Word. I see him as an elder and look for instruction from him.

We should all find someone that we can listen to as a teacher and elder to follow. But, we have to be careful and identify the person of the LORD and not a person of great personality. It is easy to be swept up by the dynamics of the individual. It is not about the person, but about their understanding of the Word of God and how that applies to our lives individually. The instruction that comes from them should be for the glory of God and not for the glory of the person.

Once we have found the person to provide the instruction, it is up to us to follow that instruction and know that the LORD will provide, but in His due time and not our own.

Who are you listening to for instruction? Are you listening to your peers or those in similar situations as you? What if you found an elder and followed their instruction as led by the LORD?