Your Daily Devotional for June 2, 2007
June 2, 2007
Willing to Listen and Receive by Dr. Paul Chappell "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." James 1:19-21 Yesterday we saw that God will bring trials and temptations into our lives to try our faith. He desires to strengthen our faith through a time of waiting. While we endure Christ's testing, we must have joy and patience. Not only should we have a waiting faith, but we must have a willing faith as well. God cannot work in us and use us if we are not willing to listen to Him and receive His will for our lives. We must have a faith that is willing to listen to Christ. Proverbs 8:32-35 says, "Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD." Christ speaks to each of us through His Word, but we must listen in order to hear Him. Do you approach your Bible reading with a desire to hear from Him? Sometimes we can be guilty of reading God's Word simply because that's what we are "supposed to do." We will never hear from God if we are not first willing to hear from Him. As we approach His Word, we must ask Him to speak to us and we must willingly listen to Him. Not only should we be willing to listen to Christ, but we must also be willing to receive what He gives us. James 1:21 says, "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." We must receive the instruction and direction Christ gives us from His Word and for our benefit. Christ wishes to change us and grow our faith, but He cannot if we refuse to receive and obey the commands from His Word. We must be willing to listen to Christ as we spend time with Him, and we must be willing to follow the guidance He gives us. God may ask you to do something you don't think you can do. He may be stretching your faith in Him. Be willing to listen to His commands and obey them no matter what! God will never ask you to do something that you cannot do through His strength! I'm sure D.L. Moody never though he could see thousands saved, build a great church, and impact America for Christ; but as he remained faithful and willingly obeyed God, he was used of God in a great way. Friend, there is no telling what God wants to do with our lives! Yet, we may never know if we are not willing to listen to and receive what He has for our lives. Even through trials, we must patiently wait on Him, listen to Him, and obey His Word. Are you willing to listen and receive what God has for you today? Even through times of testing, we must willingly listen to His Word and receive His commands. Spend time with Christ today and willingly listen to Him.