July 25th

Good Evening Meadowbrooke,

This Sunday, we will be diving into James 1:18-27.  I encourage you to read this section in James before Sunday, but for the moment, consider verse 22, which states: “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves.”  Consider what it means to be a doer of the word of God and not one who just reads or hears the word of God.  Tony Evans said of James’ epistle: “He doesn’t want to know the words you heard on Sunday unless they resulted in action on Monday. If anyone thinks he is religious, his Christianity must be practical (1:26). Vertical worship must have horizontal expression. Your faith must be seen in your conversation, your compassion, and your conduct.”[1] 

Consider for a moment what the word of God is.  The word of God is, “living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).  What is the word of God?  The word of God is, “inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  The word of God is what God uses in the lives of His people to do through the power of His Spirit what you have little power to do.  God wants to use His word to change and transform you, but that will only happen if you first hear (and read) it and then look for ways to apply His word to your life (to become a doer of His word).

So, dear Christian, what are you going to do with what you have heard?  What are you going to do with the word of God every time you hear it?  God wants to use it along with the power of His Holy Spirit to grow you and to form you in Christ-like character by the power of His Holy Spirit for the purpose of moving you towards the kind of life He saved you for and is calling you towards.

I am looking forward to seeing you this Sunday in our 9AM and 11AM worship services!  Don’t forget that this Sunday we will be celebrating baptisms at the end of our first service (if you have not been baptized yet and would like to be this Sunday, shoot me an email for Sunday at keith@meadowbrooke.org). 

Grace,

Pastor Keith