Luke 6:47-49, "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."  

Jesus contrasts two men, one heard the sayings of Jesus and did them, while the other heard the sayings of Jesus and didn't do them.  What value is there in hearing the truth and responding by doing nothing?  Yes, that too is a response!

The great difference in people is found in the way they respond to the Word of God.  James speaks to this truth, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  23For 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: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and coninueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:22-25)  The man who is blessed in his deed is the man who hears and does.  The man who is self-deceived is the man who thinks life can be lived successfully by hearing only.    

How much of the Word are you living today?  Are you one who is exposed to the Word and your response is to do nothing?  Or are you one who hears and seeks to respond in obedience, putting into practice the things you have heard?  Let's be like the wise man who built his house upon the rock!!!  The storms will come!  Will your house stand?  

Have a great day hearing and doing.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. How do you respond to the preached Word? Do you investigate how you can live the word you’ve heard? Explain.

2. According to James 1:22, how are people self-deceived?

3. How often are you exposed to the Word of God? (i.e. daily, weekly, sporadically) How often so you do nothing with that word?

4. What is the difference between standing firm and failing miserably?