Living Faith
James 1:21,22 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (ESV)
Elite athletes are amazing. Whether they play a team sport or compete in individual events, they train so incredibly hard to become the best they can possibly be.
So when you watch your favourite team or athlete competing, either live or on television, … how much do you think about the grinding hard work, the long hours, the hidden sacrifices that they made to get them to that place? Answer: Not all too often, right? Just like the rest of us, you simply enjoy the spectacle of them competing.
But without all that behind-the-scenes pain and sacrifice, they wouldn’t be there. And as things turn out, it’s exactly the same with walking the faith walk. Unless you put in the hard yards behind the scenes, you’ll never end up on the playing field.
James 1:21,22 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (ESV)
In other words, whether people can see it or not, it all begins with humbly receiving God’s Word into your heart – the Word that’s able to save your soul. It all begins with a heart decision to follow Jesus, even when the filth and rampant wickedness around you wants to deride you for it.
And then? … then it’s about putting in the hard yards, the sacrifice, the obedience, the humility, in the face of evil. An athlete can read as many textbooks about their chosen sport as they like, but that won’t get them into the arena. They have to get out there and do it.
So stop kidding yourself. Be a doer of the Word, and not merely a hearer.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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