Command 33: Hearing and Doing the Word.
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” Mt. 7:24
Paul tells us that "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." While it is true that faith comes through hearing the Word, maturity, stability and understanding come by acting on it. James warns us to be doers of the word and not hearers only. To hear and not do is to deceive one’s own self, he writes. (James 1:22)
Jesus told his listeners that in order to know whether his doctrine is true, you must do the will of God. (John 7:17) But what is the will of God? The Greek word translated will here is thelēma (thel'-ay-mah), meaning his determination or decree. Or in a more passive sense, his desire or pleasure. In other words, Gods Word and his Will are one. He has no inner contradictions about who He is and what He loves.
One day Peter, James and John were taken up on a high mountain where they saw Jesus transfigured before their very eyes and standing with Moses and Elias (the Prophet Elijah in other translations.) In that moment Peter immediately moved toward his understanding of religion and said:
"Let us make three Tabernacles. One for thee, one for Moses and one for Elias.” Then the voice from heaven spoke, "This is my beloved Son, Hear ye Him!"
We must never underestimate the revelation from God that Jesus is the Word made flesh. (John 1:14) This is why he said we must eat his flesh and drink his blood or we have no part in Him. To eat the Bread of Life is to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps. 34:8). Just as earthly bread gives us strength to go about our daily life, the Bread of Life feeds us for the work and way of the Kingdom. The Bible is more than just a spiritual book filled stories, principles and rules. Jesus himself said his words were both Spirit and life. (John 6:63) It is a guidebook for life and the revelation of who God is, what He is like and, what he expects of us.
How many who claim to be followers of Christ, do so from afar? There were many who followed Him wherever he went, but still kept their distance. One woman got close enough to touch the hem of his garment; she had heard Jesus speak and acted upon what she had heard. When she did, Jesus turned to her and said, "Daughter, be of good comfort. Thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Matt. 9:20) By responding in faith to what she had heard she was instantly healed of her issue, or hemorrhaging of blood.
The Bible is filled with stories of those who heard God speak, and then obeyed, doing what He had said. It also chronicles the downfall of those who did not do so. Each heard his voice; each made a choice. Some to glory, honor and renown, while those who did not obey often suffered shame, humiliation, defeat and failure.
God is merciful and He fully understands how difficult it is to walk between two worlds. He himself did it 2,000 years ago. Interestingly enough, you never read of Him chastising the common people as He walks through the streets of their cities. It was always the religious people (those who claimed to know God's Word) who gave Him all the trouble and received the bulk of his rebukes. In fact, the common people heard Him gladly, while the religious leaders sought to silence what the Son of God said. (Mark 12:37)
Why? Because he told them what they really were: whited sepulchers; tombs that were clean on the outside but full of dead men's bones in their hearts. They knew the Word of God only as 'rules' to give them authority and power over the common man, not as life giving spiritual nourishment from God himself.
To believe is a commitment to act. We may not always know exactly what to do about something God is saying to us, but we can ask for wisdom and He will give it. Like the man whose son was possessed with a demon, he told Jesus: I believe! Help my unbelief. (Mk. 9:24) The father knew he needed to believe, and he wanted to believe, but he was not about to leave that place without making sure of what was required of him. He spoke the truth about his faith and asked Jesus to give him more. Jesus then cast the demon out of his son and set him free.
This father’s act reminds me of something I once heard Peter Lord say, "When you don't know what to do, do what you know to do.” He didn’t know exactly what the protocol was so he did what he knew to do. He cried out to Jesus for help for his unbelief and for his demonically possessed son.
This is good instruction for those of us who want to please our Heavenly Father. This after all is why we were created: for the good pleasure of his will. (Eph. 1:5) Some people refuse to do anything for fear of getting it wrong. Life is not a contest or competition. The meaning of life is the act of living. Do something!
Here are a few suggestions that may help you avoid getting stuck in the 'Hearing but Not Doing Ward' of the 'Jesus Spiritual Healthcare Clinic'.
• As often as you can, write down the things that you believe God is saying to you through his Word. Ask yourself how it relates to you and ask God to help you understand how it relates to you.
• If you have an opportunity to do good, do it. Sometimes we bump into God's will when we don't even know it. Sometimes we miss it because we are waiting for a booming voice from heaven. We all know the story of the stranded flood victim who drowned because he refused the boat and helicopter offering to rescue him. "I'm alright, God will save me,” he assured them. He drowned while waiting for God. Don't use the 'perfect' as an excuse for not doing 'the good'.
• In the case of big issues, once you have made a decision to act, ask God to give you his peace. If you sense a check in your spirit . . . don't do it. He is on your side. Like any good father, God rejoices when his children desire to please Him and He will help you to make the right choice. (Col. 3:15)
• Walking in God's purifying Word of love and charity is how we perfect holiness in the fear of God. If you make a mistake, keep trying. Practice makes perfect. You may never get it perfect, but better is still headed in the right direction. (II Cor. 7:1)
• Always be willing to forgive and to be forgiven by others and by God. Forgiveness is the most valuable and powerful example of God's love. Look at the price God paid so He could give it to you.