20)
For the wrath of man worketh not the
righteousness of God.
21)
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and
superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which
is able to save your souls.
22)
But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23)
For if any be a hearer of the word, and
not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24)
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his
way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25)
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of
liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of
the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
|
I |
t would appear that in these times in
which we live, man largely feels satisfied with what he believes he knows. And
it would also appear that what he thinks doesn't have to be correct.
Despite the popularity of
"learning" (through instructors, books, media, computers), often
simply for the sake of learning, spiritual learning has only one benefit. That
benefit is realized only when we allow it to take "root" in us. When
it has, others will know that "we know," not because we tell them,
but because they will see it in us.
There is a great difference between
simply having a cognitive knowledge of the Word and carrying it out. Really
"knowing" the Word is more than knowing chapter and verse. The Word
does not become "alive in" and "a part of" us until it is practiced.
Choosing neither to learn nor practice the Word does not change its
requirement. Those who have been filled with His Spirit are required to live by
His law, so it is in our best interest to learn that law. In all cases, a child
of God is accountable to know and perform the Word.
We have been left an inheritance in the
Lord that is second to none. The stipulations for collecting that inheritance
are clearly defined in one concise volume—the Holy Bible. In that we know all
that we have to gain, how can we not want to know as much as possible? After
all, we know that naturally, we are very careful to fulfill our requirements to
obtain our physical inheritance. Spiritually, we also need to know what is
expected of us and what we must do.
Too often, we expect to obtain
blessings without incurring any responsibility for them or concerning them. We
need to understand that blessings are the "some-on-top-of that" that
God bestows upon us that we might witness for Him. He is in no way obligated
to bless us. In that He does, we should feel privileged to give Him service.
This world is full of those who profess
love of, gratitude to and the declaration of the Gospel. Yet, even the most
basic of instructions is not followed by many. Perhaps the greatest omission
made is the name of Jesus. No one can properly profess to be in service to the
Lord if unwilling to advance His name. Dying man must know that there is no
salvation without baptism in His name and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Church attendance, alone, is not enough
to teach man the truth. It is important that one attend a church where the
truth is taught. This is the only way that one is given an opportunity to
become a "doer of the word."
Even those who have received a
revelation of the truth and accepted it are becoming ensnared in a great
deception. The devil is managing to convince some who have been saved, blessed,
enlightened and promoted by God that doing things "His way" is not
the "right" way.
Somewhere along the way, some of us
have determined that it is our "right" to be difficult, disgruntled and
in general, unhappy. To do this, some have not stopped short of twisting, or
even changing, scripture. The fact of the matter is, that no matter how one
chooses to interpret scripture, one must do what it says, period.
Why is it not wise to have "problems"
with things? Because having a problem with that "thing" never changes
that thing. What does change situations
is committing them to the Lord. If we adopt any other position, we find ourselves
on the defensive. This is profitable for the devil, but not the
Lord. We have been born into the