Mark Sorensen “Don’t just merely listen to the word and so be deceived, do what it says.” -James 1:22
If there’s one thing Houston has introduced me to in the six months I have lived here, it’s learning to sit patiently more in traffic. Honestly. I can read BOOKS in the time I have spent sitting still on I-45 at 5:15 pm in the afternoon. If there’s a rainbow to find in this lesson on patience, I confess that I have learned to find things that will help occupy the time while I spend it imprisoned within the car. The result? I have opted to enter into the world of informative podcasts.
Now, I warn you. When you search available podcasts, it can be overwhelming. There are topics ranging from politics to comedy to entertainment and, in the arena of pastors, you can listen to sermons from pastors all around the world found in every denomination imaginable. As I was looking through the list, I came across one that was simply called, “Bible Memory Podcast; only 10 minutes”. Now, this one intrigued me. I spend a great deal of time in seminary writing papers, reading scriptures and doing exegetical work. One thing I have set to do for myself in 2014, however, is to not just study the scripture, but it’s to put more of it to memory. I very strongly believe that the more scripture we put to memory, the more the Holy Spirit will use it to speak God’s truth into our lives at those moments we need His direction and wisdom. Listen, God still speaks today and one way this happens is through His Word which is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago.
SO, I subscribe to the podcast and give the first 10 minute session a listen. The verse was James 1:22. “Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Now. They say the best way to learn something can be done in three easy steps: repetition, repetition, repetition. This guy took that to heart. Literally, for ten minutes, he says this verse over and over and over. Then he says something like, “Now. Press pause. You say it three times.” I did. Then pressed play. He says, “Wow, really good.” It was bizarre. But, here’s the thing. This morning, I woke up and the words of James were on my heart. “Don’t just merely listen to the Word and so be deceived, do what it says.”
I heard the Spirit whisper. “Don’t just read the scriptures, be presented with the truth of what God cares about, things like justice, mercy and humility, but then put your own needs over His as you walk through this day.” “Don’t just put on the face of Christ and wear it to Church along with your Sunday smile, but then choose to live for your own Kingdom, Monday through Saturday.”
The heart behind the context of James 1:22? The Words of Christ are more than words, they’re a lifestyle, and it’s a lifestyle we’re called to live.
So, there it is. One simple verse.
15 words. 10 minutes. 100 repetitions. And, it took deep root into my soul.
Here’s to more in 2014.
