A Doer or a Hearer

"Christians in America have become experts at conviction- and failures at action. But the first Christians were quick to act. If you remember the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the people heard Peter's sermon and immediately asked: "What shall we do?" To which Peter answered, "Repent and be baptized." How did they respond? Three thousand of them went straight to the water to get baptized. That's the way it's supposed to happen. As we get convicted by a message, we should be asking, 'What should I do in response to this truth?' " - Francis Chan

James 1:22 says "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourself."

Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord Lord' and not do what I say."

Friends, lately God has convicted me that I am quick to be a hearer of the word and slow to be a doer. I have been seeking knowledge of God- which is good- but I have been slow to share it with others. God wants for us to dig into His Word, but He doesn't want it to be simply theology. He wants it to shape and change our lives. If we aren't living differently than unbelievers, then what does that say about our faith in God?

I want to learn how to apply my daily Bible readings and let the Word change my life. I want to be a sharer of the Word, not just a hearer. I want to become a bigger and more generous giver, instead of simply a receiver. All of these things are signs of a believer who is maturing in God, moving on to a deeper faith, these are things God wants for us instead of an infant faith.

It's so easy to go to church and make some notes on a journal or paper and then tuck it away and not apply it. It's easy to read the Bible in the morning and think 'that's a good thought' but not meditate on what it's saying. Friends, although we definitely can't work for God alone without His Holy Spirit, we have to ask for God to WORK in our lives, to bear fruits in our lives. We have to pray for the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and where God leads us to go or leads us to work, we have to be prepared to follow in it.

God has been calling me for a long time to get involved in ministry and Bible study, and friends the truth is, I have wanted too. I have been praying for a long time for a "ministry". While I have good intentions though, I have been lazy on my feet, because friends there are ministries everyday, there are ministries all around us. I have simply been giving God an excuse, and then becoming distracted to His purposes.

Being honest with myself, what I wanted as a "ministry" was actually an additional activity that would self-fulfill my need for purpose, fun, and adventure. I wanted a ministry that would make me feel like I was making a difference. I wanted a ministry that met my needs instead of looking around and being able to serve in the small things right in front of me or whatever purpose God has for me. God revealed to me that my wanting a particular ministry was actually selfish and that God could choose to use me in many places if I wouldn't limit His abilities or desires.

I feel like God is reminding me again, what He wants from me in my life. He wants me to hear His words, to listen to His voice speaking to me, and then He wants me to share what He is teaching me with others. He wants to use me for His glory. He wants to use me for the ministry and purpose He has in mind, and that's ok if our ideas are not the same. Am I willing to be used for a purpose God has in mind instead of the one I have in mind? Am I willing to take a risk and start sharing my faith more boldly with others? These are things I believe God is calling me and calling us as Christians. If we say we love God then let our actions and deeds demonstrate that we are His followers.