“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 NIV
You’ve been reading about it long enough. You’ve intended to start, wanted to follow through, hoped to complete it. But it’s time for action. “Don’t merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV)
Good intentions only go so far. Obedience is a choice. It is an action. It is obedience that brings the Word of God alive in your life. When you obey what God says (and not just read about it), blessing is promised to you.
How do you find the obedience step written in God’s Word? It takes a continual intent looking… “to look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continue to do this….”
This intent looking is literally to stoop sideways. This phrase is used in three Gospels when Peter, John and Mary stooped to look into the empty tomb. This was not a quick glance, but a peering into, getting a better view, letting the eyes adjust to the light, changing the body position to gain understanding, a determined effort not to forget what you just saw. This should be your posture when reading God’s Word.
Keep listening and looking until you have your obedience step from God for the day. Is there something that you’ve been putting off starting or completing that God has already spoken to you about? Just do it.
Just Do It!
