ARE YOU GUILTY OF DECEIVING YOURSELF?

SCRIPTURE:
Do not merely listen to the Word, 
and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 
(James 1:22)

MEDITATION:
If you joined a club that included some specific instructions and rules 
that must be followed by all members, what would you do?
Would you willingly follow the guidelines and obey the rules?
Or, would you ignore them 
because you either didn’t agree with them, or you were too lazy?
What would happen if you failed to obey the rules of the club?
More than likely you would be kicked out 
because you did not meet the expectations of the club.

James shows his concern for those who “claim” to be Christians.
The Word (Bible) has specific instructions to obey 
for those who say that have surrendered their lives to the Lord.
James tells us that the Bible is not just a book of good stories 
for us to listen to; it is a roadmap for those who belong to the Lord.

He also tells us that if we don’t follow the Lord’s instructions, 
then we will forget what is expected of believers; we will also 
forget what a believer is supposed to look like to a lost and dying world.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone 
who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away 
and immediately forgets what he looks like. (James 1:23-24)

Jesus indicated that there will be a permissive society just before He comes back. 
As it was in the days of Noah, 
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37)

The world today is on an immoral binge 
that might be worse than during the days of ancient Rome. 
We are living in a self-indulgent, pleasure-seeking society.
It is an environment where human nature is expressing itself without God.

We see people who are even exceeding the boundaries 
of socially established morality, (which doesn’t include God).
Human life is decreasing in value as murder is on the rise 
and unborn babies are being put to death for convenience 
(according to the statistics).

Some teenagers are committing murders 
as part of an initiation for becoming a gang member.
Even professing believers claim to have an intellectual faith, 
but then go out and live like the devil, while imagining 
that God will forgive them and take them to Heaven.

Being a Christian is serious business in God’s eyes 
and He expects believers to follow His instructions, 
rather than being guided by the world’s definition of goodness.

ACTION:
Where are you regarding God’s Word?
Do you listen to sermons and read the Bible, 
but fail to incorporate any of it into your life?
When we know what to do, but choose not to do it, it is called disobedience.

You might say that you obey some of it, 
but partial obedience is still disobedience.
Make a conscious effort now that when you hear sermons from godly people 
and read the Bible, you will think about how your life should change, 
and then choose to make those changes.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for either ignoring Your instructions, or not 
taking them seriously. Help me to start applying Your principles and 
instructions to my own life. Teach me to deny my selfish desires and obey 
Your commandments. Cleanse me so that I might be used to penetrate society 
deeply for You. I look forward to the new me, and the additional blessings 
I will receive as a result of the changes You help me make.”