PT-2 "Receive the Word" (James 1:20-21)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 09-02-03

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Receive the Word Part Two 

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  James 1:20-21

 

            Message of the verse:  “20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.  2 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”  (NASB)  “Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight.  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls.”  (NLT)

            I want to point out another thing from verse 21, and that is that James is saying that we are not to get mad at the Word of God when it points out our sin, for that would be like the man who does not like what he sees in the mirror and then breaks it.

            Now the word translated as implanted in verse 21 is a word in the Greek that gives the idea that someone else is doing the implanting.  Strongs has written this about the word:  “1) inborn, implanted by nature, implanted by others instruction.”  This idea is used by Jesus in the parable of the seeds found in Matthew 13:1-9. 

            The last point that James is making in this section of discussing the receiving of the Word of God is that we are to have a prepared heart.  Verse 21 describes a heart that is full of spiritual weeds, or sin, and James says that we ought to rid our hearts of those things.  The way we do that is to confess them to the Lord as said in 1John 1:9.  Next we should meditate on the love and grace of God so that He can plow up our hard hearts to receive the Word of God, or better to have God implant His Word in our hearts that it may do its work.  This is the same way in which God saved us in the first place and Paul said that as we received Christ Jesus we should walk in the same way.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As God brings sin to my mind through His Spirit I am not to argue with Him but to confess it for He is faithful and just to forgive my sin and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  I am sure that there are a lot of “spiritual weeds” in my heart that need to be plowed up by God’s Spirit.

 

The Word of God has challenged my heart with its instruction to me this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Psalm 139:23-24:  “ Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”