As New Years approaches, the common occurrence is to make resolutions for the upcoming year-- exercise more, eat less, change your life for the better. If you want to make a resolution that could really improve your life-the part that matters, resolve to spend more time in the Word. David B. Curtis wrote, "Our spiritual maturity, or our deliverance from the destructive effects of sin is directly connected to the Word of God and our willingness to respond to it."
James 1:21 says, "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."
How you receive the Word of God will greatly affect and influence the way you live your life.
Lay aside any "filth" that is hindering you from hearing, learning and obeying the truth: having a "teachable spirit".
James 1:22 says "Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourself."
A commonality of Christians is to mark up their Bibles, highlight the important verses--the verses that "speak to us" or "sounded good". We are not just to occasionally do the Word, we are to be doers of the Word, a constant action.
Don't be a spectator. Do it.
James 1:23-24 says, "
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was."
When we look in the mirror, we immediately see the flaws of our appearance. Instead of walking away, we fix the flaws. If you don't change something on the spot, as soon as you walk away, you get busy with life and forget about what you saw.
Deal with it when you notice it. Don't hear the Word, be convicted, then walk away. Make the change.
This year, make a resolution that counts. Make one that matters and that will increase your faith and strengthen your walk.
Happy New Year!
