Bible Ballistics: BBs #341      Where Is The Blessing???

 

“Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness

of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart

all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 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:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 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.”     James 1:17-25

Here we find a simple but profound lesson from James. I’d like to encourage you to take some time today, this weekend to ponder on these things. Note the contrasts that James wants us to recognize and understand:

The good and perfect gifts—variance and shadow?

Swiftly listening to others—speaking rashly>>>anger?

The righteousness of God—the wrath of man?

What to lay aside—what to embrace?

DOERS——————HEARERS ONLY?????

(My paraphrase—Just Saying so doesn’t Make it so!)

Having true understanding—–a deceived mind?

Forgetful self-focus——diligent pursuit of God?

The natural man—–the transformed man!!!

And the conclusion of this exercise is found in verse 25:

“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.”

Notice the “blessed” person isn’t just blessed, but he/she is “blessed in his deed”! Why? Because they are not only “looking into” God’s Word (the perfect law of liberty) but they “continueth therein”! And the key to continuing, is seen in the next word—“being”—they “be” transformed by the blood of The Lamb! Their actions come out of a heart rebirthed by God, and God blesses “his deed”. Think on these things (See Philippians 4:8-9). Blessings on your day!