The words of the Bible are meant to be lived out by every Christian. Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments. James wrote we should be doers of the word and not hearers only. Putting God’s word into action is a crucial part of being able to be called a Christian. But the only way we will be able to ever live out scripture is if we know scripture. We must study the Bible taking in all we can and then put what we have learned into action.
James 1:22 (ESV)
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
John 14:15 (ESV)
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
It takes more than just attending church a few times a week, enabling a daily Bible verse on your phone, or a five-minute devotional to truly know God’s word. The only way we will ever grow in our knowledge of scripture is by spending time in study daily. Really putting in the time to gain the knowledge that will help us live for God.
Joshua was told by God to meditate on The Book of the Law, or you could say the word, day and night. Not so that he would come to possess great knowledge. But so that he would be careful to do according to all it says. The same is true for Christians today. We need to spend time reading the Bible and thinking about scripture. So that we can be sure to live how God has said His people should.
Joshua 1:8 (ESV)
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
It’s the very same people who see no reason to know all that God’s word says and live it out that also wonder why their life seems to fall apart every time things get tough. Jesus taught that those who build their lives upon His word will be able to weather the toughest storms. Pointing out clearly that a life is built on His word by doing what He said. Which cannot be done unless you know what He said. If you want to live an unshakable life then you must first know scripture and then put it into action.
Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV)
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
It is clear that Christians are expected to put the scripture into action in their lives. But that simply cannot be done unless you know what the Bible says to do. No one will ever be able to live out God’s word unless they know what it says. And there is only one way to truly know what it says you must read it, study it, and meditate on it yourself. No one else can do it for you. Others can help you and teach you but you must make the decision to keep learning.
Coming to truly know God’s word is not once a week or for only a couple of minutes a day thing. If you really want to know the word then you must spend real time in it making sure you know what it says. Then and only then can you become the doer of the word scripture calls every Christian to be.
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