Do As I Say, Just As I Do
As previously explained from the earlier post this week titled “I Heard You, But I wasn’t Listening“, hearing the word, but not following up in action on what the word instructs causes us to come up short of God’s plan of how we are to live our lives as Christians. Spiritual boredom and complacency set in whenever we are occupied doing our thing rather than setting our hearts, minds, and souls on God and His game plan.
James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
The word “doers” comes from the Greek word POITES (the same Greek word for “a poet”). POITES conveys the idea of creativity much like a painter, a musician or a poet would be considered, to have a creative nature or artistic personality.
What James was telling us in James 1:22 is that when it comes to hearing the word; each of us may have to exercise a little creative thinking (not creative as in interpreting Scripture), to come to an understanding of how we are to apply what the word says, to our lives. (Rick Renner’s explanation)
In addition to the thoughts on James 1:22, by Renner; an additional thought that comes to mind is that just as the Holy Spirit of God is active in a Christian’s life, the Word must be active as well. Throughout Scripture, God gives us clues to His activeness.
- God creates - Genesis 2:2-3, Isaiah 65:17-18, Nehemiah 9:6
- God gives - John 3:16, Nehemiah 9:8
- God listens - 1st Samuel 8:7, Job 40:1-2
- God speaks - 1st Samuel 8:7, Job 40:6-24, Acts 10:13-15
- God loves - John 3:16, Hebrews 12:6
Another verse from Scripture where POITES (creative) is used comes from Ephesians 2:10.
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
What POITES/workmanship tells us is this; God utilized His best efforts (oxymoron?), creativeness & powers to mold us in Jesus Christ when we received Him (were saved/born again). So as we are created (re-created) in His image; we too should be putting forth our best creative efforts to “do” the Word.
The bottom line is that James 1:22, addresses the spiritual maturity of Christians. For all of the attending of spiritual seminars, conferences, immersion in “spiritual” influences by way of television, spiritual reading,music, lecture, church attendance or fellowship for that matter, it sometimes takes a little creativeness to discover a way to “do” the word.
God’s creative activeness always results in an impact or influence on people’s lives… what are you doing, to be creative in doing the word, that can impact someone else’s life?
1st Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
Grace and peace be with you.
C.A. Stallworth
