BE A DOER

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

​The Perfect Will of God. All glory, honor, praise and thanksgiving to God, the Father of Lights. Thank you, Jesus. Amen. 

A little background on this blog: In speaking to our Pastor, I told him that I need to bridle my tongue. He said, Oh ... well, James talks about that: Pastor David always has the right answer from God. God bless him.

So, reading the Bible today, I started reading James 1 ​again, and found many enlightening passages. Let's look at verses 17 through 25:

James 1

17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

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."


There is a lot of good stuff packed in those eight verses. Let's break them down.

Verse 17: God is good, and everything He created is perfect.

Verse 18: "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,"  His own will, His grace, because He wanted to, as a favor, because He loves us. He begat us with the word of truth: The word of truth is Jesus Christ: the word made flesh; the way, the truth, and the life.  

Verses 19 and 20: He is telling us to bridle our tongues, because as we know "the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:8. And, used in anger, "works not the righteousness of God." Let God's Will be done, not our own. Let God's words be spoken, not our own. Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Amen.

Verse 21: "and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." Meekness, humbleness, not proudness or arrogance. Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save our souls.

"Engrafted." Now, there's a priceless word. It has only two possible definitions, from dictionary.com:

1. Horticulture. to insert, as a scion of one tree or plant into another, for propagation: to engraft a peach on a plum. Or,
2. Surgery. (of living tissue) to become grafted.

Jesus Christ, the word made flesh, the Word, God's Word, is engrafted into us, by surgery only God could perform, and is able to save our souls. Read His Word; it is alive!

Verses 22 through 25: "Be doers"! Get out and do! Stand up. Speak out for God. Testify. Give. Help. Save. Serve. Be doers, not just hearers of His Word.

​"being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."  Again, God tells us exactly how to receive His blessings: Be an active doer, not a forgetful hearer.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your many blessings in our lives. Thank you for Your Word and the word made flesh, Jesus Christ. Fill us with Your Will, Your light and Your love, replace our stony hearts with hearts of flesh, and bless Your Children for being doers of Your work. In Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.