Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act – they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1:21-27

God wants us to read His Word, but He also wants us to obey His Word. As we open the Bible each day, we should pray not only for illumination to understand it but also a willingness to obey His Word.

When Saul heard Jesus speaking to him on the road to Damascus, he asked, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" That is a good question for us to ask whenever we read the Bible or hear it read.

The Spirit of God enables us to obey

The Word of God

Our Daily Bread – August 9, 2004