Monday, January 7, 2013

Listening is not Enough




Are you in the Word studying it daily so as not to be deceived by cunning and crafty words that some people falsely call wisdom and truth?  Be careful!

The Bible says this in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

It is important to study, learn and know the truth.  Why?  So that you won’t be deceived by smooth talking pastors or teachers or anyone else that might deceive you intentionally or unintentionally.  Knowing the Word will help keep you from sin.  It says this in Psalms 119:10-11, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  If the Psalmist thought it was important to hide the Lord’s Word in his heart and not wander from the Lord’s commandments, we should learn a lesson from him.  

Jesus spoke this in the Word also in John 8:31-32, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”’  Jesus was also the truth and all who put their trust in Him would be set free of sin.  

It says this in John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”  There are many people today that teach there are many ways to get to God but that is a downright lie, there is only one way and that is through Jesus.

It is so important that you learn this and so many other truths that are in the Word.  There are many that haven’t studied the Word and think they can get to God by their good works, by praying to Mary or one of the Saints, by trying to be good or some other way but it will never happen nor can it happen without going through Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, and that is the truth.

I write on this subject at times because so many people that call themselves believers neglect the truth by not studying the Word for them-selves.  The evil one seems to be doing a good job deceiving people about the truth; just think about how many cults there are in the world today and believers get drawn into them because they don’t know the truth.  

As important as knowing the truth, there is something that is just as important and that is putting what you know into practice.  Let me say this before I go any further, how can you put into practice what you don’t know?  Unless you know the Word, and not just hear it or read it, what good will the Word be to you?  Will it change your life by changing your actions and the way you live?  No, it will just become head knowledge.  Until the Word gets from the head to the heart nothing much will change.

It says this in Luke 6:45, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  The Word also says this about the heart in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

To me the Word is a treasure and your heart should be full of it just like your heart should be full of Jesus.  How will your life change if you don’t apply the Word to your life and how will you be able to if you don’t know what the Word says?  So it is not only important to know the Word and even hide it in your heart, but to not apply it to your life would be a shame because that, with the Lord’s help, is how we will change and grow spiritually and that is truth also.  

Something to think about on this cloudy winter morning or anytime!  Hey, have a super day and God bless and don’t forget to thank and praise  
the Lord!!               

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