Herns Eugene’s BLOG

That was the title of my devotional this morning found in James 1:19-27.  I started reading James this week.

WE, ALL DO it.  It’s as common as flies around a horse.  While someone is talking, we’re thinking about what we’re going to say next instead of about what is being said to us.  I know I’m guilty of that.  We know others are worth more care and attention.  But the habit is hard to break.  God wants us to slow down down and listen too.  But even when we’ve really listened to him, we’re still not done.  The devotional talks about also being a doer.  Here are some other highlights from my devo.  Hopefully someone can benefit from this as well.

• vs 19 – Being quick to listen and slow to speak helps us to be slow to angry because if we think about our response instead of blurting the first thing that comes to mind, then chances are there well be less conflict.  Pastor K did a series called “tongue control” that really hammered that point to our teens.
• vs 21 – God’s Word is planted in us, but there are weeds that can chock it from growing, which includes not reading my Bible consistently, continuously falling into the same temptation and not putting up safe guards, busyness!!!
• vs 22-25 – The person who just reads the Word but doesn’t apply what he has learned is not blessed(OUCH!!, thats what the verse says) But if I want to be blessed I must put into practice what I have learned and read.
• vs 26-27 – I can do all the talking, singing, shouting, saying religious stuff, but if I’m not helping the distress, helping does that are struggling with their own issues, then I’m not religious.  Religious people not only talk, but they are also doers of the Word!!

Based on this chapter Jesus wants me to be satisfied with both doing God works and listening and receiving His Word.  It’s hard for me to listen to God’s Word when I let the busyness of trying to do, and do, and do.  I could remember growing up and going to teen conferences  around our state, motivated to live for God, I promised I would stop certain things or stop hanging around certain people, to only let God down.  I listened but didn’t do.  

I see the same thing with our teens today.  Like James says in this chapter, I want our ministry to be pure and faultless.  How do you accomplish that?  Based on this chapter it’s both listening and doing.  Don’t just talk the talk, but also walk it out!!!  I hope this devo blessed someone out there!!