REGULAR PRACTICE REQUIRED
Opening Prayer
Thank you, Father, for the wisdom, truth, and saving grace of your Word. Help me to apply and share it today.
Read JAMES 1:19–27
Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 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.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
‘… what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’1
Think Further
If you heard me play the piano, you would be hard-pressed to believe that I had lessons for ten years. Even at the time, I was terrible at practicing. Perhaps you could tell a similar story about learning a musical instrument or some other skill. We all know that to improve in any skill, practice is required.
In our reading today, it is clear that James believes that faith in Jesus has to be more than mental assent. Rather, it must be worked out in practice, specifically in the areas of speech (vv. 19–21), acting on the Word heard and not being listeners only (vv. 22–25) and caring for the most vulnerable in society (vv. 26, 27). True faith in Jesus involves not only our relationship with him, but also our relationship with others. The problem is that, so often in our relationships with others, we speak and get angry too quickly, listen too slowly, are prone to self- deception and, too frequently, if unintentionally, ignore the cries for justice from the vulnerable. The threefold remedy for these problems is given in verses 21, 25, and 27. Each of these requires practice, of course, and that is precisely what James expects of us.
It is true that every one of us represents work in progress. That progress cannot happen through simply affirming our faith in Jesus and his death and resurrection. Progress happens as we live out what Jesus requires of us. In other words, we need to have a faith that is practiced. How are you doing at practicing your faith? I hope, pray, and believe that you are not like the child Julie who was not good at practicing the piano; rather, that you are one of those who take joy in practicing!
Apply
How have you been able to practice your faith this past week? Ask God for his help for the areas in which you struggle.
Closing prayer
Lord God, you are more than worthy of my love, my praise, and my devotion. Help me, that all I am testifies to who you are.
1 Mic 6:8
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