“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

James 1:22

In today’s world, it is not very popular to obey God.

Many people do not believe that the commandments written in the Bible are all that important for our lives today. However, if you remember, when Jesus was asked about the great commandment in the Law, read what He taught the people. “36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:36-37). Jesus declared that one is to love the Lord, declaring that He is their God, with all of their being. Recognizing the importance of a right relationship with God is a necessity. This love for God is to be revealed in every aspect of one’s life as one understands just who God is. It should be a sincere love, not one in words only. It must come from one’s heart. That love of God must come above and before anything else. The admonition to love God with all of our hearts is very important for Christians. This kind of life does not want to turn from God’s Word or His ways. In order to follow God, it is important to obey His Word. With this kind of love, obedience comes easily. Obedience is extremely important to Him (and this is repeated numerous times to His people). What did Jesus say? “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). A Christian shows their love for Jesus by keeping His commandments. What does it mean to keep? Keep means “to observe (to take notice; to hold in view, or to keep the eyes on), as commands, ordinances, traditions, a law.” In order to keep His commandments, we must know what His Word, the Bible, says.

How can one know God’s Word? One must first seek after it and hide it in their heart. How does God’s Word get into one’s heart? “10. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:10-11). One must search after God, read the Bible, and memorize His Word for it to be found in one’s heart. Why is that important? This verse declares that having God’s Word in one’s heart will help keep that one from sinning against Him.

Once Christians hide God’s Word in our hearts, we know what to do. We can understand what God expects from us. However, the most important thing comes next: we are not only to hear it, but also to do it! “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). Notice if we just hear God’s Word and do not do what it says, we deceive ourselves.

Sometimes it is very difficult to choose to obey God’s Word in the world today. However, read the following warning: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). When one chooses to do what they want over what God says to do, that person has yielded himself, or herself, to sin. However, when one chooses to obey God, it is considered obedience unto righteousness.

Are you a servant to sin?

Or, do you obey God’s Word unto righteousness?