Do It. James 1:19-27

It's difficult to resist the evil in the world. The key to doing so is to be firmly planted in the word of God. So often we stress the need to read God's word, however, it's possible to read the Bible every day and then go act worldly. James gives a very simple, but overlooked command..."Do what it (the word) says."

I'm not going to ever tell anyone that Christianity is simple, but sometimes we make it a lot harder than it has to be. We struggle with questions about what we're supposed to do with our lives and how we're supposed to act in certain situations. Some of these answers are pretty clear if we just read the Bible. The difficult part is doing it. It's possible though; I promise. The Spirit of God lives in us and empowers us to do the good work, to resist evil.

James 1:19-27
19My dear brothers (and sisters), take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Questions
1. What do you find to be the most difficult thing about Christianity?
2. What is the easiest thing?
3. Have you ever had a problem controlling what you say?
4. How damaging can words be?
5. What will stick with you from this passage?

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