Being a Doer
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves." - James 1:22
Have you ever noticed how God's word REALLY is applicable in
daily living?
I mean, come on, we always "say" that we're supposed to do
what God says do in our daily lives. That's just "church
talk", right?
WRONG!
God's Word isn't "church talk". It's not just some banter
that we throw around like word from a newspaper. His
instructions aren't just something we say to impress other
believers or to put on the right appearance in our Sunday
best.
God's Word - His instructions to us - are to be used in our
everyday lives.
Never was this more obvious to me than yesterday. If you'll
recall, my last devotional was that of "Somebody's Always
Watching." Remember? The point of the devotional was how we
were to be representative of Christ and to act like Christ .
even when we think no one is looking.
I mentioned how a man who had all the Christian ID (fish
logo, "Gospel" license plates, etc.) had been very abusive
and ugly to his wife when she locked the keys inside their
car in front of our hotel.
Little did I know that the VERY NEXT MORNING God would give
me an opportunity to apply His message.
We woke up and prepared to go to Silver Dollar City. We had
promised to take Jacob to the theme park to see a special
Veggie Tales presentation. So, off we went.
Parking was crazy. The place was packed and they parked us
waaaaaay down a steep hill just about as far away as you can
imagine.
As we parked, I asked my wife to get my blood pressure
medicine for me to take. She said okay. We packed Jacob's
stroller, got our stuff together and headed for the trolley.
Only there were gazillions of people lined up to take the
trolley. So, we decided to walk. Yes, UP that steep hill out
in the middle of nowhere, about 500 miles away from the
theme park. :o)
About 2/3 of the trek up this Mt. Everest of a hill, in the
blazing morning heat, I could feel my blood pressure
starting to rise, which reminded me that I needed to take my
medicine. I asked my wife "You do have my blood pressure
medicine, don't you?"
Oooops.
She had left it back down Mt. Everest in the SUV.
Two choices awaited me. I could risk having a stroke by not
taking the medicine, or I could walk back down that hill, in
the blazing sun, making us late for the Veggie Tales show,
to get the medicine.
I started walking.
Paula and Jacob waiting 2/3 of the way up the hill, under a
nice shady overpass.
As I walked down that hill, two more choices awaited me. I
could be irritated and express my dissatisfaction, or I
could be calm and admit that I too forget things.
I chose to be calm.
And I chose to be calm for one reason and one reason only.
God reminded me - all the way down that hill and all the way
back up that hill - of the devotional He had allowed me to
write the day before. He reminded me of His instructions, or
what His Word said. He reminded me of how I was supposed to
act as a child of His, as someone who has the Holy Spirit
living inside of them.
Like I said, God's Word is real. It's alive. And it's to be
applied in our daily lives.
So, I got the medicine, climbed back up the hill, loved on
my wife and little boy and proceeded to have a wonderful
time at Silver Dollar City.
What a difference APPLYING God's Word makes. No arguments.
No hurt feelings. No ruined vacation. No bad moods. No
damaged testimony.
That's why God gives us His instructions. To take a lot of
the self-created pain and difficulties out of our lives. He
loves us and wants to protect us and bless us with abundant
lives.
We just need to do what He says do. And let Him take care of
the rest.
Christian, I share this today to make a simple statement: I
encourage you to seek out God's instruction. Study His Word.
Get involved in a Bible study. Read these daily devotionals
each day. Listen to the Holy Spirit.
And apply what God tells you to do.
You'll be amazed at how much peace and joy and happiness it
brings you.
Even when you have to walk down and up a huge hill, in the
middle of the blazing heat, late for what you wanted to do.
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves." - James 1:22
Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ," Jimmy D. Brown
dailydevotional@Living4Jesus.com