Sunday, June 17, 2018

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Sunday, 17 June 2018 "Churchgoer: Live Out God's Words" by Caleb Reynolds - James 1:19-27.

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Sunday, 17 June 2018 "Churchgoer: Live Out God's Words" by Caleb Reynolds - James 1:19-27.
James 1:19 Therefore, my dear brothers, let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry; 20 for a person’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness!
21 So rid yourselves of all vulgarity and obvious evil, and receive meekly the Word implanted in you that can save your lives. 22 Don’t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it! 23 For whoever hears the Word but doesn’t do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, 24 who looks at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But if a person looks closely into the perfect Torah, which gives freedom, and continues, becoming not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work it requires, then he will be blessed in what he does.
26 Anyone who thinks he is religiously observant but does not control his tongue is deceiving himself, and his observance counts for nothing. 27 The religious observance that God the Father considers pure and faultless is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being contaminated by the world.
 (Complete Jewish Bible).
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We want to learn more about God. We want to learn more about the Bible. We want to learn more about what God wants. We attend services and seminars and Bible studies to learn more. We keep ourselves so busy trying to learn more about God. This is all good, as far as it goes. But as a Christian, how much does your behavior change based on the new things you have learned from God?
My friend warns his church about the danger of “spiritual gluttony.” Just like people lined up at the local all-you-can-eat buffet, we can devour stacks of books and hours of teaching and preaching in our quest to learn more about God. Learning is good. However, if new knowledge doesn’t lead to a better way of living, that knowledge is worthless. Without application to our lives-the day-to-day activities and interactions with others- we have missed the point of learning more about God.
Has the Lord been teaching you something new recently? In what ways has it changed your habitual actions and attitudes? Knowledge is important, but it is a poor substitute for obedience.
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Hymn for Today: "Trust and Obey" by John H. Sammis.

1. When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2. Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.

Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
3. But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
4. Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Thought for Today: How happy are those who observe his instruction,
who seek him wholeheartedly!
They do nothing wrong
but live by his ways.
 
(Psalm 119:2-3) (Complete Jewish Bible)).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Cote d'Ivoire.
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