Growing up I had a friend who was a wiz at fixing and building cars. Back when you could actually work on cars, he could take an engine a part blindfolded! His plan was to build a 1964 Chevy from the chassis to the paint. He had all of the parts, the tools and the know-how, but he never built the car. He would plan to start, declare something wrong, and start to plan all over again. I’d done my part, I watched him collect all of the parts and tools and was there for conversation and encouragement (there’s always guys around to talk when a car is being worked on). I was ready to ride and impress everyone in a newly built shiny Chevy. Finally, one day I asked him if he ever was going to build the car? He stood there with a satisfied smile on his face declaring that he found the problem. He never built the car.

The writer James reminds us that God wants us to be, “doers of the Word” and not hearers only. The idea is that at some point in time we must show evidence of the effect of our learning in our attitudes and behaviors. The result is putting the Word, God’s plan, into action and allowing it to perform in the manner which it is intended. My friend loved planning to build the car (listening to the Word). He was most satisfied in the planning process, but he didn’t want to apply (build) what he planned. As believers, we must not be so captivated with the process of learning the Word that we forget about the application of the Word.

Jesus, help us today to be brave in our hearing and courageous in our doing, applying what we learn from you, so that you may be pleased with our deeds for your Kingdom.

Shalom

Pastor Smith