Be a Student that Studies

"But don't just listen to God's Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." James 1:22-25

When we take the time to "study" God's Word, we are also taking the time to "apply" His Word.

Look at the key words in this passage.

Listen-if we just read through rather than study, we are not really listening. Studying requires you to listen to the instruction given. Which then requires our next key word.

Do-This is a required action. While reading and listening are good, doing is even greater.

Look Carefully-when reading we simply focus on the next word ahead, rather than looking carefully at each word spoken. When we study, we pay attention to detail, we dig deeper and we seek to see the details that make up the bigger picture.

       -I love the example the Lord gives us in this passage. He uses our physical feature to drive His point home. A quick glance does not suffice. Imagine if you had to get ready in the dark. You would have no idea what you looked like, until you stepped into the light and stood in front of the mirror. This is exactly what Christ is telling us. Taking a quick glance into My Word is not going to really benefit you. You will still be standing in the dark. You need to look carefully into My Word, focus on all its features, take it all in, and then make use of it by applying it.

Let's be students of the Word!

May today be the day...

"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, know is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."  2 Corinthians 6:2

I could tell by her voice on the other end of the phone that she was worried. Worried about him, his health, his soul.

She asked, "Kristi do you think he knows? I just don't know if he knows. Do you?"

Her concern has been my concern for sometime. So what do you do when he chooses to not listen, when he changes the subject?

You trust Jesus more, you pray more, and you continue to talk, even if he doesn't want to. Because at this point minutes even hours are valuable for him.

But Jesus, He knows, and He is waiting.

Brethren our family time is valuable and we need to be doing what God has called us to do to ensure that all of our family knows Jesus.

I believe that the Lord will soften his heart and that he will be open and receptive. I believe this, because Jesus loves us and wants us to come to know Him. He wants to give us everlasting life, full of joy and peace that goes way beyond the world's definition.

Our lives are like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow. Salvation is not something we should put off. Today is the day. It's life or death and there is no way around it.

Heaven or Hell, those are the options.

For me, I refuse to stay silent. I choose to speak about Jesus whether the timing is right or not, because hell is just not a place I want any of my family to be. "Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2  I do believe and know God will prompt us at the exact times, so we need to be ready.

Jesus you know our families need. You know the situation at hand, the health and the time remaining. Open his heart to hear from You, to receive You, to know You and to soon be with You. Ultimately it is his choice, and You already know the outcome. I trust You and know that You are always at work. Be with her Father as she continues to share Your love with him. May today be the day, his heart becomes Yours. Amen