Listening and Doing

For those that have ever watched over young children, you know how frustrating it can be when no matter how many times you try to either teach them something or discipline them, it may take a good amount of time before they actually get it. As children of God, He longs for us to listen and know His word. He wants us to not only get it, but live it out in our lives. Let's look at James 1:22-25

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But 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 will be blessed in what he does.

What is the difference between listening and doing? I remember growing up my mom loved to have long talks with my brother's and I. She was always trying to teach us something. Now today when she does that, because I am older and more mature, I might actually take her advice and try doing what she suggests... see how it works out. But back when I was a kid, it was in one ear and out the other most of the time. And how did that work out? Well let's just say my mom got to say "I told you so" alot more than I wanted to hear it.

In the same way, God wants us to not only hear what He has to say, but to latch on to it and actually do what He instructs us to do. I love verses 23- 24 about the man looking into the mirror and then forgetting what he looks like. God is always pointing out the foolishness of not following His word. It is as foolish as forgetting what you look like after you just stared in the mirror! Pretty bold statement. The book of Proverbs, talks about being a fool and how it is often associated with lacking wisdom. Here are some verses:

Proverbs 1:7

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline

Proverbs 13:1

A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

Proverbs 17:24

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

When I was in high school, I struggled with comprehension. I would often have to read over a paragraph again and again just to understand it. Funny that I later became a literature major once I got to college. Because I was so slow to understand, homework usually took longer for me than some of my fellow students. But I found that the more I read every night often making notes and putting information into my own words, I began to find my understanding.

Even today, I write in the margins of my bible, reading passages then putting some of the main ideas into my own words. After I read these verses in James, I just felt convicted, I did not want to forget God's word.

The passages in the Bible are alive. The words can literally live and breathe, and they do that through us. So it is not just reading and understanding God's word, but He calls us to listen and do. I believe that as we read and pray, God allows us to do without even realizing we are doing it.

When I was first saved. I struggled with cursing. I was so used to taking the Lord's name in vain and just spouting out any old bad word the dictionary had. I knew that God was calling me to purify my mind and my speech. Therefore I prayed and when certain things happened or times came when I would normally reach right for a curse word, I stopped or replaced it with another word. As time passed it became more automatic, to the point where I didn't even realize I had changed.

Knowing the word is also trusting in God's power. By reading and guarding the word with all our hearts the power of the Holy Spirit lives in us and through us. Before we know it, we are doing without even realizing it. Prayer is a big part of listening to God, we have to continually ask Him for wisdom. Continually repent when we have sinned, and acknowledge that we can't do everything on our own.

So lessons of the day:

Read the bible

Listen to what God is teaching

Pray for wisdom and understanding

Do what God is calling us to do.