Mar 4

James 1:21-25
Memorise Psalm 106:3
“…every one that heareth …and doeth them not,
…shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built …upon sand.”

Many Christians today have a rather casual relationship with the Word of God. To them, it is something that they are happy to listen to once a week over the pulpit, and in fact, many would agree with what is spoken. But just as quickly as one agrees, one quickly forgets what is said. In their hearts, God’s Word stops the moment they step out of church and step back into their worldly pursuits. James describes this situation very well. It is like looking at yourself in the mirror. Perhaps you see some flaws on your face – maybe dishevelled hair or some stains around your mouth from lunch. What will you do about it? Will you just walk away and forget about what your saw? That would be unimaginable, wouldn’t it? We would most certainly want to rectify any fault that we see, to make sure that we are presentable, and do not appear strange to anyone. Yet there are many people who look into the mirror of the Word of God, and see their sins being starkly revealed to them, but they care not to do anything about it. Although they listen to the Word of God regularly, it has little or no impact in their lives. As soon as it is spoken, it is forgotten. Such believers are living lives of complacency, and are deceiving only themselves. They do not hate the things of God, yet they have no real love for them either. These are believers who have not been faithful and have chosen a worldly life of disobedience. They care little about the seriousness of sin, or the commandments from God’s Word. They are content with their lacklustre relationship with God, and think that all is well, when in actual fact it is not! God is certainly not pleased with such behaviour.

Dear Teen, do you put God’s Word in practice? Do you choose the pleasures of this world over obeying God’s Word? Do you shun from obeying God if it means painful sacrifice on your part? If it means giving up on a desire because it dishonours your parents, will you do it? James 1:25 contains an encouragement. If one keeps God’s Word, he will be blessed and he will enjoy liberty. The law of God is described as “the perfect law of liberty”, meaning God’s law frees us from the entanglements of sin. Sin does not give lasting pleasure, instead it imprisons us. We do not become happier with sin, we become more miserable. Obeying God frees us from the misery of being a sinner and keeping God’s Word makes us blessed.

Thought: Do you have a constant desire to obey God?
Prayer: Father, give me the desire to be obedient in all things that Thou has called me to be.