Applying Knowledge To Our Lives

   In his Epistle to the church, James makes an interesting statement.  Clearly he understood the propensity of we humans to desire knowledge for knowledge sake, without any intention of apply the knowledge to our lives.  James 1: 23-24 says… “For if anyone is a hearer of the word & not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, & immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

   How utterly strange it would seem for someone to look in a mirror see themselves & then a few minutes later someone show them their own picture & the person not be able to recognize themselves.  We would know that there was something wrong with the person.  They were not thinking correctly for some reason.  We would not blame the mirror because it merely reflects what is before it.  We would not blame the maker of the mirror for they were just providing an important service for those who need to make sure they look right before going out in public.  We would rightly understand that the person who does not recognize themselves has real problems.

   James likens this type of person with one who reads the Word of God & not doing that which they have read.  The reading is certainly important, but the reading loses its importance if there is no intention of doing what the Word says.  There are far too many Christians who approach their lives like what James describes in the verses.  They read & learn the Scripture & never apply it in their real life situations.  And for many rather than looking at themselves & seeing that the problem is with their lack of application, they blame the Word or the Author of the Word.  In the same way it would be inappropriate to blame the mirror or its maker because on forgets what the mirror reveals, it is inappropriate to blame the Word or Its Author for our lack of application.  It is in our lack of application that we miss the promises, power & provision of God for our lives!

   Join me as together we become not only hearers of the Word, but doers also.  In this we will see God move in our real life situations.

Blessings,

Bro Tony
 
Pastor's Pen Home

Applying Knowledge To Our Lives

   In his Epistle to the church, James makes an interesting statement.  Clearly he understood the propensity of we humans to desire knowledge for knowledge sake, without any intention of apply the knowledge to our lives.  James 1: 23-24 says… “For if anyone is a hearer of the word & not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, & immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

   How utterly strange it would seem for someone to look in a mirror see themselves & then a few minutes later someone show them their own picture & the person not be able to recognize themselves.  We would know that there was something wrong with the person.  They were not thinking correctly for some reason.  We would not blame the mirror because it merely reflects what is before it.  We would not blame the maker of the mirror for they were just providing an important service for those who need to make sure they look right before going out in public.  We would rightly understand that the person who does not recognize themselves has real problems.

   James likens this type of person with one who reads the Word of God & not doing that which they have read.  The reading is certainly important, but the reading loses its importance if there is no intention of doing what the Word says.  There are far too many Christians who approach their lives like what James describes in the verses.  They read & learn the Scripture & never apply it in their real life situations.  And for many rather than looking at themselves & seeing that the problem is with their lack of application, they blame the Word or the Author of the Word.  In the same way it would be inappropriate to blame the mirror or its maker because on forgets what the mirror reveals, it is inappropriate to blame the Word or Its Author for our lack of application.  It is in our lack of application that we miss the promises, power & provision of God for our lives!

   Join me as together we become not only hearers of the Word, but doers also.  In this we will see God move in our real life situations.

Blessings,

Bro Tony
 
Pastor's Pen Home