God's Word
Bible reading: James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a manobserving his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word, this one will be blessed in what he does. (NKJV)
The Word is like a mirror which reveals our spiritual condition. Listening to or reading the Word is not enough: it needs to be put into practice. Neglecting the Word is like closing the door to God, preventing Him from working in our lives. His plan is that we become holy like Him. When you allow the Word of God to change you little by little, God puts wind in your sails and gives you success. He also gives you much joy in serving Him. In the contrary, if we ignore Biblical teaching, this change and growth will not take place. Our relationship to God will deteriorate. Study some Bible verses every day of the week and follow God’s instructions.
Memory Verse
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
- James 1:27 NKJV
Scriptures
1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Psalm 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Luke 11:28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
Youth Challenge! Prayer Time!
Psalm 119 could guide the prayer time. Think about these verses during the day and use it as an inspiration. Ask God to help you to put them into practice.
Verse 16: I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word.
Verse 24: Your testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
Verse 34: Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. (NKJV)
Coram Deo
It is time for us to open our eyes and to realise that the Bible is speaking about you and me. Are you going to take the time to examine yourself in the mirror? Are you determined to look into the Word during this week? Do you want to sit in church or in Club with a different attitude? But don’t forget that reading or listening to the Word is not enough. Afterwards, you need to put the Word into action. Ask the Lord to help you to do this.