This is why it is so important for us to seek wisdom from God and ask for understanding as we read His word. We know that God’s word is good to teach us but are we going to open our hearts to listen and change the way we live? James chapter 1 verse 22 says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” To know something is good but to actually do what you know is much better. It helps us retain it in our lives so when the pressures of this world come we can easily remember God’s word because we have been practicing it.
So many times we hear a great message or even read something good once and in a couple of days we forget what it was about. The great thing about a relationship is that it should be developed an worked on and that is what God wants for us; constant talking (prayer) and constant studying of His word so we can live just like Christ who was the word. John chapter 1 verse 1 says, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Warren Wiersbe shares this about the word. “A word is composed of letters, and Jesus Christ is “Alpha and Omega”, the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet.”
When we open our bibles we should ask for transformation and knowledge that will stick in our lives so we actually live differently and start acting like Christ. Verses 23-24 say, “For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” When we take our relationship seriously and live it out we grow to be more like Christ and when we grow to be more like Christ we surrender to what our desires want us to do. And our desires are what get us into trouble as we live in this life.
James chapter 1 verses 14 and 15 say, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” We must open our hearts and let God’s perfect laws set us free so we are a light to the world and people see true love. Amen