Listening and Doing

       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
     a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after
     looking at himself, goes away and immediately
     forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks
     intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
     and continues to do this, not forgetting what he
     has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what
     he does.
       ~ James 1:22-25


Sometimes when I read the Bible, I get to the end of a chapter and realize I don’t know at all what I just read. I need to more than remember what I just read. After reading God’s perfect Word, He wants us to apply His teaching to our lives. God’s “perfect law… gives freedom”!(v25) Reading and applying the Scriptures brings blessings to you life.
What do you do when you spend time with God? How do you read your Bible? Do you have a regular time or area for your “quiet time”?
Leave a comment below.

Slaves of Depravity

       Now the Bereans were of more noble character
     than the Thessalonians, for they received the
     message with great eagerness and examined the
     Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said
     was true.
       ~ Acts 17:11


Test even what the preacher says. God’s Word is infallible, but not every word about God or claiming to be from God is true. The world is full of false prophets. People will claim to follow God, but really be children of the devil.
Don’t be satisfied with less than the truth. Test what you hear. False prophets are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15-16). They will say one thing, but their lives and actions will prove their heart. Their goals are destruction (7:15) and deception (24:24). Stay away from teaching that does not agree with the Scripture. Even what the pastor or the Bible study leader or the blog author says could be lies. Look up what they say in the Bible. Talk to God. If the Scripture doesn’t back it up, and certainly if God doesn’t back it up, it is from the Enemy (Matthew 12:30).
Don’t be satisfied with the fluff. If you’re not convicted by what you hear, you’re either perfect or not listening to something that will challenge you. Paul talked about that kind of person (2 Timothy 4:3-5). He said a time would come when people would stop listening to sound doctrine. To appease themselves, they would only listen to whatever made them feel good. Avoiding conviction is the same thing. Paul tells us not to be like them, but to remain grounded in the Scripture. You won’t grow closer to God if you’re never challenged.
2 Peter 2 tells all about false prophets and what will happen to them and their followers. By their actions, they bring destruction on themselves and those they deceive (v1). Don’t be deceived. The false prophets will promise freedom but “themselves are slaves of depravity” (v19). Don’t let yourself be dragged away and destroyed by the deception.
Are you being taught the truth? Look in the Bible and discover for yourself. Are you grounded in the Scripture? Are you convicted by what you hear, or are you satisfied with only hearing what makes you feel good?

Read further:
Acts 17:11; Matthew 7:15-16; 12:30; 24:24; 2 Timothy 4:3-5; 2 Peter 2