We are taught through our whole lives to study, study, study, but what about putting that into practice? Many people are great at studying and learning, but the whole "doing" thing has them baffled. What difference does Christianity make in the world when we simply learn the principles? Whose life can we touch by simply telling them about Jesus? It's not enough.
For lives to be changed, even our own, we need to get out there and start doing. We can't spend our whole lives in the nest learning about flying and watching others do it. At some point, we need to jump off the ledge and spread our wings. When that time comes in your life, as it does for all of us, are you willing to jump or will you have to be pushed? Unfortunately, if we refuse to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit into the next chapter, He will push us forward. Personally, I would much rather move on my own.
Think about your own life. Are you at a point where you need to step out and put the things you've read and learned from the instruction manual into action? You can learn verses all day, but if you don't apply them to actual situations they are worthless to you. Put yourself out there today and live like Jesus would live.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 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. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)
James 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (NIV)
1 John 3:16-18 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (NIV)
For lives to be changed, even our own, we need to get out there and start doing. We can't spend our whole lives in the nest learning about flying and watching others do it. At some point, we need to jump off the ledge and spread our wings. When that time comes in your life, as it does for all of us, are you willing to jump or will you have to be pushed? Unfortunately, if we refuse to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit into the next chapter, He will push us forward. Personally, I would much rather move on my own.
Think about your own life. Are you at a point where you need to step out and put the things you've read and learned from the instruction manual into action? You can learn verses all day, but if you don't apply them to actual situations they are worthless to you. Put yourself out there today and live like Jesus would live.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 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. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)
James 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (NIV)
1 John 3:16-18 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (NIV)
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