The Call for Response

Years ago my dad bought a P-51 Mustang radio controlled flying plane.

Unknown Chinese company

He liked it, but the instructions were all in Chinese, and the parts to complete the model were, like retractable landing gears, are almost impossible to find

He tinkered with it off and on for nearly 10 years now and it is still not assembled and still lacking the necessary parts for it to fly

Give Dad a hard time

Coronavirus not in Antarctica? Because it is ice-o-lated!

This is not the case with the Bible, it is good and perfect. The instructions are in depth, inexhaustible, and inerrant.

The Bible isn’t just an instruction book, it is a Living book that is all about Jesus Christ:

Creation

Fall

Redemption

Restoration

Jesus, the Word of God, said to Peter, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

God has a plan and He wants us to be a part of that plan

The Bible shows us God’s heart, His desire, His plan, and how we can enjoy the blessings of His love and grace!

James here in Ch. 1 teaches us:

Shows us how to become a child of God

Listen

Ikea instruction manual - Got it, we think we are finished and then there is one missing long bolt that ties it all together?

Receive God’s Word with meekness - gently and humbly

Follow

Action Requested

James 1:22 KJV 1900

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Reading what God and following what God states

Matthew 7:24–27 KJV 1900

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Exploring the Epistle of James: An Expository Commentary 2. To Effect a Change in Our Walk (1:21–22)

Some people read the Bible to admire it as magnificent literature. Where in the world, indeed, can we find such wonderful stories, such vivid poetry and imagery as in the Bible? Some people read the Bible to verify its history. A whole science of archaeology has grown up around the inerrant way in which the Bible touches on the histories of men and nations. Other people study the Bible to seek out its teachings on nature, science, philosophy, and psychology. No other book deals so accurately with matters that fall within the province of science.

Some people make a lifelong study of the great legal codes of Scripture. The Mosaic Law is an acknowledged masterpiece of legislation and the foundation of many of our modern legal systems. Some people study the Bible to uphold or to disprove the soul-destroying theories of the so-called higher critics. Some people spend their time disproving the teachings of the various cults of Christendom, most of which claim to be based on the Bible. Some people study the Bible to become expert in its Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic vocabularies and grammar and, in so doing, compile vast concordances and lexicons with which to weigh each jot and tittle of the text. Some people study the Bible devotionally, others study it doctrinally, some study it analytically, some study it synthetically, and still others study it homiletically.

Nearly all of these ways or reasons for studying the Bible have their place. But over all of them James writes the words, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Bible study is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end. The Bible calls for a response. We must do what it says. Obviously! It is the Word of God. If we don’t do that, it is like pouring water into a sieve.

Challenging Experience

James 1:23 KJV 1900

For 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:

Matthew 21:28–31 KJV 1900

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

James 1:23b–24 KJV 1900

For 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: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Business man gets up and has an important meeting that day

Looks into the mirror and sees a days growth of hair and his hair sticking up every which way

Instead of shaving and combing his hair, he goes into the kitchen eats breakfast, and suddenly realising what time it is and that he must have overslept, rushes to get dressed and races out the door.

His boss greets him at the office, look at him “Did you look into the mirror?”

Do you have a comb and razor?

The next time you look into the mirror, do something about it!

James uses this simple and practical thought to help us understand what God desires from us.

As we look into the Word of God, the reflection that shows to us is different than the mirror we have in our homes:

2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV 1900

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

When we look into the mirror of God’s Word, what is shown is Jesus!

The incredible and awesome part of the Word of God is that it then creates a desire in our heart to want to be like him!

Redeemed Life

Jam 1:25

James 1:25 KJV 1900

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Looketh - to examine ⇔ to stoop to look v. — to examine, conceived of as exerting effort to see something (not in the line of sight) by bending or stooping down.

John 20:4–8 KJV 1900

So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

Peter went in saw what happened and went away

John went in examined and believed

James 1:25 KJV 1900

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Sets us free! Gives us purpose, reason, hope!

Gives blessing!

Luke 11:28 KJV 1900

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Deed - DO!

God gives His love and grace to all

This love and grace can:

Blessing

Curse

Dad:

Obeyed - many ice creams, bottles of pop, toys, etc

Disobeyed - was not pleasant

Did his love change? No.

Did his grace change? No.

Love and grace moves a father to either bestow blessings or a curse.

God gives His Word, He calls for us to respond.

How will you respond?