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?

Question God? Go Ahead

I have studied and written in the past of whether or not we should be questioning God and what He is asking of us. And each time, the prevailing answer is sure, go ahead and question God. The thing is, questioning Him is okay, but it does not absolve us from doing His work.

Moses was not confident in himself and subsequently questioned whether or not he was qualified to speak with the Israelite people or Pharaoh about their release and migration to the promised land.

“¹Then Moses answered, ‘But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, “The Lord did not appear to you.”’” “¹⁰But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’” “¹³But he said, ‘Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.’” – Exodus 4:1, 10, & 13 (ESV)

Over the span of one conversation with the LORD, Moses questioned Him three times. Moses was not ready to be the workman of the LORD. As I noted earlier, he was not confident in himself and was quick to make note to the LORD the he was just a regular guy and not qualified for such important tasks and work.

The LORD listened, provided answers and solutions to the questions, even was angered, but He did not relent or take away the task. The LORD had a task for Moses and Moses was going to do the work.

“⁸’If they will not believe you,’ God said, ‘or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign.’” “¹¹Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?’” “¹⁴Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, ‘Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. ¹⁵You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.’” – Exodus 4:8, 11, & 14-15 (ESV)

The LORD was okay with the questions and that should be an example for us to follow (but that is a discussion for another time). The thing is that the LORD did not relent on the responsibility He placed on Moses. He had work for Moses and by golly Moses was going to do the work. The questions were valid in the beginning and the LORD provided ways to overcome. Then, as Moses allowed his fear and apprehension well up in him, he was trying to get out of the work. The LORD did not relent.

It is okay for us to question the LORD. He wants us to come to Him with our open heart, and that cannot happen if we are afraid to question. The LORD will provide all the answers we need. But, He has work for us to do and that work, even when we do not see how we can do it, needs to be done so the LORD will provide the way. We have to understand that our questions will lead to answers that we will need to accept.

What is your approach to the LORD? Are you willing to question Him? What if you did question to get answers, but remembered that you are still responsible for the work?

The LORD Will Make You

Patience is a virtue as noted by William Langland in his poem “Piers Plowman”. And this is certainly true when following the LORD. The LORD says in His word that He will do or it will be given, but He does not indicate when. As with Abram and the LORD telling him to leave his home and that he would be made great.

“¹Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ²And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” – Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV)

The LORD told Abram to go and that at some point he would be made great. No mention of when, no mention of anything additional that was needed, just go and do. And so he did.

“⁴So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” – Genesis 12:4 (ESV)

Notice even here the age of Abram at the time. He had lived a pretty full life, reaching the age of 75 (at least by today’s life expectancy). Yet, he obeyed the LORD and went. He trusted that what the LORD was telling him was indeed what He was going to do. He was not concerned with the timing of things, only that the LORD was going to do that which He promised.

Do we trust and obey as Abram did? I wonder every day if I really do. I think about my Bible Study and the learning of God’s Word and the impact that it has on my life. I wonder if I am doing all that I am supposed to do as I have not seen great and overt reward from the LORD to this point. I wonder if I ever will experience the reward the LORD promises. Then, I think about the promise.

The LORD has promised eternity and glory in heaven. I am not there yet. I will be. And when I get there, I will be rewarded with all that He has promised. He promised and He will deliver. The LORD will make me into what He has promised, I have to remember the promise and that everything is in His time and not my own. Patience is a virtue and with the LORD, I have to remember that patience and know that I may not receive right now, but I will be made by the LORD in His time.

What is your view of being made by God? Are you impatient with what you are to receive? What if you remembered the promise of the LORD and remained patient for His actions to make you?