Accepting The Challenge of Doing God’s Word

“You better preach, Reverend!” “Tell it like it is!” “AMEN!” “Yes, Lord!” “Yaaassss!” “Glory!”

How often do we hype the pastor during the sermon, only to forget the message when we leave the church? We hear the spoken word but fail to follow through with its commission.

Lately, my Bible Study leader and my pastor both end their lesson or sermon with a challenge. These challenges take me from just hearing God’s Word to doing God’s Word. They help ingrain God’s lesson in me. They move me from being a verbal encourager during the lesson or sermon to being that lesson. The challenges motivate me to follow through. To do the will of God. To act according to God’s Word. To move through life as a light. They are not difficult nor onerous, providing just one step to help on my walk with Christ.

Hearing vs Doing

James 1:22-25 vividly contrasts those who only hear God’s Word and forget it immediately with those who follow through. Are we the ones who hype the message and then forget what was said the moment we leave the sanctuary? I liken these persons to those who James described as unable to remember their own face immediately after looking in the mirror (vv 23-24). The commentaries explain that James is describing disobedience—we read or hear God’s Word yet ignore that Word. Are we so superficial that we can hype the message but choose not to heed that message?

Conversely, verse 22 states, “Do what [God’s Word] says.” As doers, we go beyond listening. We continually live in God’s Word, doing what it directs. In other words, doers of God’s Word are obedient. We follow through with the will of God as we read and hear it. Those challenges that align with God’s Word allow us to practice what God preaches.

Doing God’s Word

Fulfilling the challenge of doing God’s Word means we must prepare, accept, and follow through.

PREPARE

James 1:19-21 prepares us to receive the Word so that we can do God’s Word. In those verses, we learn that we must:

• Be quick to listen – remain silent.
• Be slow to anger – don’t take it personally.
• Be slow to speak – consider the impact of our words.
• Remove wickedness and evil from within ourselves – repent.
• Receive God’s Word humbly – remember who is Lord.

ACCEPT

Once we prepare our hearts and minds to receive the Word, we must accept that Word. Verse 25 challenges us to:

• Study the Word – read, research, listen (externally and internally), pray, look.
• Obey the Word – do, follow through, complete.
• Remember the lessons learned – don’t forget.

FOLLOW THROUGH

Finally, as we journey on this path to be doers of God’s Word, not just listeners, verses 26-27 summarize the challenge neatly for us:

• Tame the tongue.
• Care for the defenseless.
• Remain in God, not the world.

Accepting the Challenge

I appreciate the challenges my spiritual leaders provide. They provoke me to act. To take steps forward in God’s Word. To examine my behavior and adjust accordingly. These challenges cause me to look in the mirror, not to forget what I see, but to ensure that I follow through as God intended.

Reflection

How do you ensure that you are a doer? What challenges you to follow through with God’s message in your life?