"Live out the Word"

(Part 1)

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to
speak, and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
James 1:18-21

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates soul and spirit, joint and marrow and judges
the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Is that how you would describe the
Word of God in your life? Or would you describe it as “dead and lifeless” or “alive
but dormant”?

James, as one of the original fathers of our faith, recognized very early the dangers of
allowing the Word of God to lose its power and potential in our lives. God’s
Word is always living and active! If there is an evident lack of its activity
in our life, we must look at what we are doing to muffle it! This begins by
evaluating our expectations. Are we prepared to receive?

Jameschallenges us to prepare ourselves three ways:

1. Be quick to listen. Too many people
come to hear, but don’t truly listen. When you come into a teaching service are
you positioned to receive or do you spend the majority of your time trying to
manipulate what you are hearing to meet up with what you want to believe or how
you want to live?

2. Be slow to speak. Often times, when
we do not like what we are hearing we immediately begin gauging our response or
building our argument against it. You cannot speak and listen at the same time.
You cannot fully be grasping what someone is trying to tell you if you are
already occupying your mind with your response or defense.

3. Be slow to anger. Are you “offended”
by God’s Word? Does preaching against sin upset you? Many people cannot receive
the Word because they do not fully subscribe to God’s standards for holiness
and righteousness.

Further, James instructs us that we cannot receive the Word of God if we have not rid
ourselves of “all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent”! It’s like
trying to plant a garden in a salvage yard. You can cast seed all over, but you
are not going to get much of a harvest. Instead you have to clean the debris
away so that the ground can receive the seed! Then we must “accept the word”!
God’s Word is life! As Christians, it is to be our all authoritative rule of
faith. It is what leads us and guides us. It is what saves us, but don’t be
deceived! Merely listening to it and appreciating its ideas will not transform
your life.

Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/