“do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ”  James 1:22

My mother used to repeat things to me over and over again. As a teen, I’d often remind her that I had heard her the first time. She’d reply, “Then do it.” It wasn’t that my mother liked repeating herself. She knew I was particularly stubborn and often didn’t obey as I should.

The guidance given by parents is usually for the good of their children. This is particularly true when it comes to the loving words that come from God. His instructions, even if sometimes hard to accept, are, according to the Apostle Peter, “words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Faith is not alway displayed by grand miracles. Faith is not achieved by memorizing the Bible. Faith is not even proportional with one’s church attendance. Faith is shown by one’s obedience to God.

Simply said, obedience is the key to living a faith-full life. To activate our faith, we must act upon what we hear from God. It is not enough to confess it with our mouths. James states, in the verse above, that we must actively do it. Later on, he states that ”In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).

Do you want your faith to be alive and active? Do you want to live the abundant life that Jesus promises you? There is not a million ways to do it. Only one. Obey God’s Word.

My Father, Lord, and Savior, your Word is clear and I know what I should do. My flesh desires the opposite, but your Spirit gives me strength. Increase my faith Lord, and help me obey you. I want my faith to be alive, and my actions to be aligned with it. Amen.

Throughout this day: What is God requiring of you lately that you find difficult to obey? Trust that what God is asking of you is for your good, and obey Him today.

by Caroline Bellemare
used by permission

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The post Then Do It appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Jesus asks, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46

Is there repercussion for not listening to the Lord?

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on this city and all the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words.’” Jeremiah 19:15

Seems like it, doesn’t it?

My prayer for us this week

“Our Lord, our God, our Creator, we come to you and repent of our selfish attitudes and ask that you heal our stiff necks and help us focus on what it is you ask of us. We worship you and you alone. In Jesus name amen and amen.”

by Alec Niemi
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• Blurred Vision
• Growling Like a Bear
• Lord I Love You But…

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The post Stiff Necked appeared first on Thoughts About God.