WORD From The Woods
James 1:19-27
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 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. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
You know, I think James could have been a logger if he was around today! He really doesn't sugar coat anything, he just says it how it is. The folks in our industry tend to be pretty direct, sometimes that's the reason they're in the woods! I like how James begins this passage by basically telling his readers to shut up and listen. Now, he does this in love, but he says to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. We need to quiet our heart and shut our mouth, and just listen to the word of God. James says we need to receive the implanted word, God wants to implant His word in our soul! We can't do the will of God until we first hear what He has to say, and let Him implant it in our soul. James goes on to say that it's not enough to just hear what God has to say, we must also be willing and ready to act on it. James says that a man who hears the word of God and just talks about it but never does it, is just practicing worthless religion. That man is a phony, just using God to look good before others. The main theme of the book of James is that fact that faith in God with no works, no action, is a dead faith. I think that loggers especially, can appreciate James' direct "tells is like it is" style. As you go out this week, ask God to speak to you through His word and prepare your heart to not only hear what He has to say, but also to be ready to do what he calls you to do!
God bless, and have a great week! -Terry-
James 1:19-27
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 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. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
You know, I think James could have been a logger if he was around today! He really doesn't sugar coat anything, he just says it how it is. The folks in our industry tend to be pretty direct, sometimes that's the reason they're in the woods! I like how James begins this passage by basically telling his readers to shut up and listen. Now, he does this in love, but he says to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. We need to quiet our heart and shut our mouth, and just listen to the word of God. James says we need to receive the implanted word, God wants to implant His word in our soul! We can't do the will of God until we first hear what He has to say, and let Him implant it in our soul. James goes on to say that it's not enough to just hear what God has to say, we must also be willing and ready to act on it. James says that a man who hears the word of God and just talks about it but never does it, is just practicing worthless religion. That man is a phony, just using God to look good before others. The main theme of the book of James is that fact that faith in God with no works, no action, is a dead faith. I think that loggers especially, can appreciate James' direct "tells is like it is" style. As you go out this week, ask God to speak to you through His word and prepare your heart to not only hear what He has to say, but also to be ready to do what he calls you to do!
God bless, and have a great week! -Terry-