Allergic to Effort

March 4

Read: James 1:19-25

Allergic to Effort

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (v.22,25)

The Christian journey is not just a matter of learning/knowing… it is also a matter of doing! Life in Christ involves BOTH. In our earlier stages of the Christian journey, we spend a great deal of time being “educated”. We read the word of God and listen to sermons to receive this information. But sooner or later, the time comes for us to ACT… to put into practice what it is that we have learned. This is how we go from being “hearers” to being “doers”. (v.22)

Sometimes we get confused between how we are saved by Christ vs. the process of growing in Christ-likeness… we get these things mixed up. It is helpful to be reminded that salvation is “by grace alone through faith, given as a gift by God”. (Eph. 2:8,9) Our “doing” is not some attempt to get God to save us or “earn our salvation”. Yet, our transformation into Christ-likeness is a journey that involves our participation with Christ. In the Church, we call this process sanctification or “theosis” (Grk.). When we apply the principles of salvation to our sanctification we get in trouble. God is not telling his children to sit back and do nothing! He is calling us into action with him… participation with him… he is sending us on a mission. Some people within the Church/ Christianity are afraid of this idea. They don’t like to talk about “doing”… it scares them and reminds them of the dreaded Pharisees. This “doing” in faith is NOT some form of legalism or pharisaical living - it is biblical growth in relationship with Christ!

Here are some scriptures alongside James that paint this picture:

“For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” (Rom. 2:13)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” - Jesus (Matt. 7:21)

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” - Jesus (Matt 7:24)

“But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” - Jesus (Luke 8:21)

“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” - Jesus (John 13:16)

Jesus is NOT allergic to effort. He is calling his brothers and sisters into action. He tells us that his “yoke is easy and his burden is light”… we are linked to HIM… but linked together we are moving and working with him! (cf. Matt 11:30) God has a mission… he has work …for each and every one of us. These are “good deeds prepared before the foundations of time” for us to do. (cf. Eph. 2:10) You know what they say: “talk is cheap”. There is a time for learning and listening and then there is a time for action and doing. Ask the Lord today what he wants you to know about this day and what he wants you to do. Don’t just read the words of the scriptures and then walk away and forget them. What exactly does God do for those faithfully doing? Read it for yourselves: “a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” There is blessing for those who courageously seek to do what God calls them to do! Love you guys. - JDP