Friday, February 2, 2007

Open Your Ears And Hear

James 1:22-24 (22) "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (23) "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:" (24) "For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was."

We are to hear the Word of God. When we hear it we are responsible for what we hear and also what we do with what we hear. James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

When God points out things in our life and we do not do what God is showing us...we are as if we look in a mirror and go away not doing anything about it. For example...if we look in the mirror and see something wrong (our hair messed up, something on our face, etc.) and we do nothing about it...we show we don't care that it is there. The same is true when God uses His Word (as a mirror) to show us things in our life and we do nothing about it. We are saying we don't care.

It's not always pleasant or fun to see things for what they are...but it is for our own good. But our tendency is to get upset or mad about what God points out to us. We appreciate it when someone points out that we have something on our face or if there is a spot on our shirt, etc. Yet we have a tendency to get mad at God when He points out things in our lives. Why is that?

James 1:25b "...he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." When we take care of what has been shown to us we will be blessed by God. So God blesses when we do what He shows us in His Word.

Are you hearing God speak to you? Are you doing what you hear? Do you care enough to do it? I sure hope so. God will bless you for it!! If you're not....it is sin!!

5 comments:

Kristi said...

I also think that we are held responsible for what we don't hear. For instance, your husband spends hours a week preparing his sermon, just like hundreds of Pastors everywhere. He's the messenger of God. I believe we are responsible for being in our place listening and hearing what God has given the Pastor to give to us! Does that make sense?

~Kristi

Unknown said...

This is such a practical post! We need reminding of these things time to thime. Also, I've been meaning to tell you that I love the verse you included on your header. That is one of my favorites! Psalm 34:1 I'm asahmed to admit that I so often fail at obeying it!

Rita Loca said...

I am Pam's biological sisiter. I has seen you at The Watchman before. Just stopping in, enjoyed the post. My husband also is a great preacher, it is special to be married to the man God allows to feed the flock ,isn't it?
I am always amazed at the gift God gives to those He calls.

Sis. Julie said...

Sis. Kristi....I understand what you are saying. I however don't agree. I believe that God will chastise His children when they aren't faithful to the House of God. I do not believe however that God would hold us accountable for things we have not heard. We do miss out when we aren't in our place. God's message for that missed service would have been for us in that there would have been something in it for us as there is for everyone....but we cannot be accountable for things we do not hear.

Sis. Pam....I want to thank you for coming by again. I know I sure do need reminded of things time and time again. God knows our hearts and our minds and knows that we do.

Jungle Mom....thank you for coming by and for leaving a comment. I do feel very honored to be married to a man of God. I feel so unworthy and I know I am not the wife I could or should be to him but God knew I wouldn't be and He still gave my husband to me anyway. I tell my husband often....every time I see and hear him preach I see a miracle standing before me. If you want to know just how much of a miracle...please read my testimony under Topics of Interest on the left side of my page. Our marriage is a true miracle!!

CindyMae said...

This is a wonderful post. Sometimes it is really a hard thing to hear God but it is something that we must do. Thank you for the wonderful reminder.

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