Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 25
Wednesday


MEGAN'S HEART

READ:
James 1:22
____________________________

Be doers of the Word,
and not hearers only.
__James 1:22
____________________________

When Megan was in third grade, she kept coming home from school without her winter gloves. It drove her mom crazy becausse she had to keep buying new ones, which the family couldn't afford. One day Mom got angry and said, "Megan, you've got to be more responsible. This can't go on!"

Megan began to cry. Through her tears she told her mom that as long as she kept getting new gloves, she could give hers away to kids who didn't have any.

Now at age 18, Megan's hobbies include volunteering in the community and mentoring inner-city kids. Referring to her desire to help people, she said that it "felt like that was the kind of thing I was supposed to be doing."

As Christians, we too are to have a heart of giving. James tells us to listen to the Word and do what it says (1:22-23). But he doesn't stop with just telling us to obey. He gives us specific instructions about what we must do. Then he gives us a practical way we can give of ourselves: "Visit orphans and widows in their trouble" (v.27).

Ask God for a heart like Megan's. Out of love for God, obey what He tells you to do. It's what we're "supposed to be doing." __Anne Cetas
____________________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~Give as 'twas given to you in your need,~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Love as the Master loved you;~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Be to the helpless a helper indeed,~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Unto your mission be true. __Wilson~~~~~~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

You can give without loving,
but you can't love without giving

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Jams 1:19-27************

19 So then my beloved
brethren, let every man
be swift to hear, slow to
speak, slow to wrath; 20 for
the wrath of man does not
produce the righteousness
of God. 21 Therefore lay
aside all filthiness and
overflow of wickedness,
and receive with meekness
the implanted word, which
is able to save your souls.

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 man observing 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 work, this
one will be blessed in what
he does.

26 If anyone among you
thinks he is religiious, and
does not bridle his tongue
but deceives his own
heart, this one's religion
is usless. 27 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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Besides the mirror (James 1:23-25), the Bible uses various metaphors
to describe the functions of the Word of God: food (Job 23:12), a
lamp (Ps. 119:05), fire (Jer. 23:29), a hammer (Jer. 23:29), water
(Eph, 5:26), a two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12), a seed (1Peter 1:23),
and milk (1 Peter 2:2). The Word of God reveals, convicts, purifies,
breaks, consumes, cleanses, regenerates, illuminates, and nourishes
the believer. __SKT