Day 18 – It’s More Than Sabbath Sermons

11 Apr 2015
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Comments: 10

Day18

Bible Passage for Meditation: James 1:21-27

Key Verse: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

When I was a young mother raising my children, I learned through some hard experiences that reading my Bible was the only way I could maintain a real connection with Jesus. When I woke up late and didn’t make time for Him, I would find myself on a downward spiral that left me with no power to withstand temptation. Thankfully, God taught me that spending time in His Word is my lifeline to heaven.

However, much as I love God’s Word, “Merely to hear or to read the Word is not enough. He who desires to be profited by the Scriptures must meditate upon the truth that has been presented to him. By earnest attention and prayerful thought, he must learn the meaning of the words of truth, and drink deep of the spirit of the holy oracles” (Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 59-60).

In the flyleaf of my Bible, I penned a similar thought. It says, ‘The mere hearing of sermons Sabbath after Sabbath, the reading of the Bible through and through, or the explanation of it verse by verse [all good things to do as a disciple of Christ] will not benefit us or those who hear us unless we bring the truths of the Bible into our own individual experience” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 514).

James 1:22 tells us, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

And here is the secret. We must not only read the Bible, we must not only meditate upon it, but we must apply it to our every day life. These are the keys that will unlock the power that’s found in God’s wonderful Book!

Heart Prayer Challenge

Dear Heavenly Father, as we enjoy another Sabbath, help us not just to listen to what the preacher has said today. Help us not just to meditate upon the words written on the pages of our Bible. Rather, help us know how to make these words part of our every day life, for that’s why You gave them to us. You want us to be doers of the Word and not just hearers. Teach us what this means as we continue to grow and as we continue to pray for our church. Amen.

By Sue Gilmore, a guest contributor from Michigan.

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  • Addai Apraku

    Sabbath blessings family . As we decide to follow what God has for us in His word then will we experience the power of His word

  • Ruthie

    Amen

  • Marilyn Fletcher

    Give us a love of the truth, and help us to apply your truths to our lives, daily.

  • williechii

    Then search the scriptures,parents. Be not only hearers; be doers of the Word. Meet God’s standard in the education of your children. 13 Manuscript 57, 1897.

  • James 1:22 is one of my grandmother’s favorite scriptures. May God through Christ indeed transform us all to be “doers” of his holy word.

  • ejoy

    I’m glad God’s computer doesn’t shut down when we overload Him with all of our prayers. I love to read my brothers and sisters prayers on this site. May God bless each person who takes the time to express themselves so we all can be blessed. Praise the Lord. A little touch of heaven. Have a wonderful and blessed Sabbath. I pray especially for all those who are worshipping God in very difficult circumstances. May the Holy Angels worship with them.

    • Harriet

      May the Lord bless you too Ejoy for taking time to pray for us! !

  • benebeneco04

    My prayer today is that God shaken each one of us to our senses and help us remember to put His word into action by applying it to our lives. You know, human beings learn more from what we do than what we say. The world has heard a lot about christianity and Christians but it is so thirst and is yearning to see Christians. God’s word made practical is the best way to draw people to Him. That is what Jesus put into practice. He was God’s word made alive and He drew many to Himself. The early church also had many added to them by making God’s word practical (read Acts chapter 2 – 4) . Let us not be mere hearers but doers of the word.

  • I thank God for you all. I am sad that we read the word in between the line but rarely do we practice. We need to pray harder for the Spirit of God to dwell in us, speak from our innermost hearts and treat others as we could expect them do unto us. Sometimes in my life I really get disheartened but I know with Jesus everything is possible and all will be well…………………………..

  • Sandra Kerlyne Patterson

    As we enjoy the Sabbath today, let us continue to keep our connection with God in order to keep Heaven’s lifeline open.

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