March 27, 2006 - Kurt Holm, The Creek Covenant Church (Walnut Creek)

March 27, 2006

James 1:19-26
Kurt Holm, The Creek Covenant Church (Walnut Creek)

Read the passage and respond to these questions:
1. What does this passage say about following Christ’s teaching?
2. After reading it a second time, what does it mean for the follower?
3. And lastly, here’s the clincher, how are you going to change because of this teaching? Don’t skip ahead without applying the truth!

There was a talk show host who was so baffled that he had to ask his body builder guest what he used all his muscles for. The guest answered by flexing his oiled muscles in one of those body building poses. The host interrupted him and asked the question again. The guest said he’d show him and repositioned himself in another flexing pose. The host was not getting through to the guy so he said Read my lips. What do you use your muscles for? The body builder posed again.

Ironic, we say, but aren’t we a little like that? We have so much knowledge stored up about what it means to follow Jesus and yet it can often be just for show. We keep building up spiritual muscle but it’s rarely put to use. Information but no transformation. It’s as if we looked into a mirror to see our reflection, but then made no attempt to make needed changes. Let’s not fool ourselves. God wants to see our lives changing and not just our information accumulating.

James says to look intently into God’s Word to see what it will reflect back. If I look earnestly I will see myself in the light of truth. I would do well to reflect on these possible questions: Is there sin I must confess? Is there a promise to claim? Is there an attitude to change? Is there an example to follow? Is there something to thank God for? Take the time to reflect on God’s Word.

Secondly, James says I must do something about it, act on it, live it, and practice it. What good is a mirror if you look at it and don’t do anything? Knowledge alone is not enough. Put into practice what God’s Word is pointing out to you. Take courage (the bridge between a needed idea and it becoming reality) and ruthlessly make it happen in your life. Flex your spiritual muscle in a new way.

Hear the promise: “But those who look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continue in it – not forgetting what they heard but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do” (James 1:25).
Prayer
Help me, Lord, to put my faith into action, by Your strength and for Your glory.