After today's message, we will have one more message before we complete James chapter one. I thank you for taking the time to read the sermons, and I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to share them with you.
As you've probably already noticed, James is a book about practical matters of faith. You've probably noticed as well that James doesn't pull any punches. He writes in a straightforward manner. We certainly see this in today's text.
James tells us that we have to hear the Word of the Lord. We have to know what the teachings and commandments of Jesus are. However, James wants us to know that knowledge is not enough. He calls on us to be both hearers and doers of the Word. James says that if we just hear the Word and don't put it into practice, we are spiritually deceiving ourselves.
For instance, we know that Jesus told us to do unto others as we would have done to us. We can know this is true, but if we don't treat others in the way that we want to be treated, the knowledge of the Golden Rule isn't doing us any good.
In the same way, we can have knowledge of Jesus' teaching to spread the message of the Gospel around the world. However, if we don't ever tell anyone about the Lord Jesus, we aren't fulfilling the Great Commission.
One way we can look at it is like going to the doctor. We can get a diagnosis and prescriptions to treat our condition. But if we don't take the medicine, we aren't going to get better.
I believe that part of what James is also speaking about is the sin of hypocrisy. We can know alot about the Bible and tell everyone what the Bible says ought to be done. But if we don't practice what we preach, we are definitely deceiving ourselves that the Word of Life truly dwells in us.
Jesus spoke about it this way. He said, "Why do you call me Lord but don't do what I say." A true follower of Jesus needs to be both a hearer and a doer of the word. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I want to thank the Lord that my brother and his wife were finally able to get the coronavirus vaccine. Let us all pray that more and more people will get vaccinated, and this pandemic will come to an end. Pray that those who are sick will recover.
Continue to pray for peace in the war-torn regions of this world. Let us focus our prayers for peace on Libya this week.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those in Kazakhstan and Algeria. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, Lord willing, we will finish up James one. I will post the verses on Monday and something on Wednesday. May God bless you all.
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