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Active not passive
Jeff WeinkaufJames 1:22-25
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Reading James this morning, I was reminded of the GI Joe cartoons I watched as a kid. At the end of every episode, one of the characters would give some life advice and then say "...knowing is half the battle..."
James is giving the same advice. It's good to know and to hear, but you have to ACT on what you know as well. DO what it says! It's of little use to simply hear and do nothing with what you've heard. Otherwise we can end up becoming a kind of "black hole" for wise council. Good things go in, but then nothing of consequence comes back out. We can become a repository, a museum, worse yet a hoarder. We're told though though that if we'll do the opposite, blessing will follow.
The take away for me is that I will receive wisdom from the word, and not only hear but apply what I hear. Also that I would not be a passive receiver only. Rather that I will "look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom". Looking intently so that I could be blessed in what I do.
Father please help me to be active in my pursuit of you. Not just showing up to be filled, but actively seeking and spilling out the wisdom you willing give. Amen
