Wednesday Night 2/26/14 If We Know, We Need to Show

James 1:22-25 If We Know, We Need To Show Listening is a fine art. We can listen without actually listening. How often do you have the radio or television playing in the background just for noise? We talked about this not long ago. Someone is talking and you realize that you have not heard a word. You nod and smile like, “Yep”. Then you realize they asked a question. You are now horrified because you have no idea what they asked, and you are busted. Then there is the actual time you listened and failed to act. The time that the teacher told you to do homework and you didn’t. That time the boss told you to answer and email and you didn’t. That time a customer asked you for something and you forgot. Listening. most of the time, will result in action. If we hear instruction, we are to carry out the action that is attached to that instruction. 22- Be doers---- Be producers, show something of what you have heard in your actions. Jesus Loves Me This I Know-- Very basic fundamental song that is taught to children. If we know this love, we need to show this love. If we understand the depth of his sacrifice for us, we need to show this knowledge to those around us. This comes out in gratitude. Gratuitous living shows that we are appreciative of what God has given us. This shows those around us that we are relying on God for his provision in our lives. Self control, self correction, are results of listening the the Holy Spirit and allowing change to happen in our behavior. Being actors, but not pretending. Being a showman, but not in a play. In reality. Live a real life. This verse says that if we fail to act, we are cheating ourselves. How? We miss the opportunity to walk with God. We walk away from him. We miss out on the blessings of living close to Him and following His instruction. When we fail to act, we miss opportunities to serve Him by serving others. Verses 23-24 Man in the Mirror How many of you are now singing Michael Jackson? When we look in a mirror, we are looking at ourselves, and our appearance. How many of you are shocked when you look in a mirror or see a picture of yourself and you realize that you look nothing like how you feel you look? When the world sees us, do they see who we think we are or who we really are? Do they see us as children of God, or as worldly people? When we look in a mirror, we are looking at the image we want to project as well. How many of you spend less time in front of the mirror as you age, and how many spend more time? Guys. I think you would have to admit that the Mullet required attention back in the day. These verses say that we look at ourselves in the mirror. We see who we are, and then we forget or neglect who we are. How many of you feel that you have neglected you physical bodies over the years? This forgetting who we are in this verse is neglecting who God has made us. It is neglecting our relationship with him. Verse 25 When we are active participants in this relationship, this verse says that we will be blessed. We will be happy, delighted. We will have joy in our lives because of our proximity to God. We will continue to be blessed as we continue to walk with our creator. The key ingredient is to not forget that action goes with hearing. That Faith is to be lived out, not for our salvation, but for the service of God. So, if we know, we need to show. If we understand, we need to live it out loud in front of others. How many of us at various times in our lives enjoy, or have enjoyed, loud music. I think now, I listen to it loud out of necessity because I listened to it loud for enjoyment. We are to live our Faith and understanding in front of the world just like we played our music for them then. Where everyone around us can hear it.