LISTEN AND ACT

THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN

In our study of the Sermon on the Mount for this week (Matthew 7:24-29), we heard the Lord Jesus Christ call his people to build their lives on the solid foundation of his word. As we think about what this means for our lives, let us consider the following message given by the Holy Spirit through James:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 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.”

James 1:22-24 NIV11

Not Forgetting

In the same way as the Lord Jesus, here we have a challenge given to the church concerning the hearing and application of the message of God’s word as found in the Christian Bible.

In this version, James calls us to do much more than simply be exposed to the message of the Bible. Here we are challenged to actually do what God calls us toward.

Examples

What does this kind of action-oriented application of God’s word look like?

We can hear two examples of this calling from God in the material that preceded this challenging calling and in the material that followed. Listen to the first of these examples in the passage that follows:

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness 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 1:19-21 NIV11

Quick

When you are prodded and poked by the sharp sticks around you in life, how do you respond? Do you pop, explode, go off? Or has the Lord worked in you to enable you to be slow to anger? Our anger does not do anything good for us, or for our calling to be ambassadors and examples of Christ in a world that needs the salt and light of Christ.

Filth

In verse 21, we hear that there is something in our lives that can negatively impact our ability to respond to hardship and trial in a Christlike manner. We are called to be rid of moral filth and the evil that is prevalent or common in this world.

· What is the link between our struggles with anger, and the moral filth and worldly evil that we allow into our thoughts and into our families?

· Where do you see this kind of filth creeping into your thoughts and into your life?

· How would being rid of these negative influences enable you to be more patient and less angry toward others?

Second Example

In the passage that follows the calling to not merely listen to the word of God but to put it into action, we hear another example of what this kind of application looks like in the life of the believer:

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 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.”

James 1:26-27 NIV11

Rein on their Tongues

There it is. One of the biggest sources of struggle for the would-be follower of Christ has just been called out. We struggle with what we say, how we say it, and when to say what.

· If you could ask the Lord to help you with the way you speak to others, what would you ask the Lord to do?

· In the same way, what might you ask the Lord to help you with in terms of getting rid of certain ways of speaking or the use of certain words all together?

Acceptable

In verse 27, we hear that there is something far better in God’s eyes than our words. The Lord wants his people to be people of action—people who do more than listen, and who do more than speak. We are called to be a people who live out our faith as we represent the hands and feet of Jesus Christ with those God places into our lives.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
I pray a simple prayer today.
Help me to listen to your truth
and lead me to put it into action.
Help me take your words to heart so much
that others can see you in my actions.

In Christ,

Ryan Laden

OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH

“TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP EACH OTHER IN LOVE TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”

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