“So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word of God which is implanted, actually rooted in your heart, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word actively and continually obeying God’s precepts, and not merely listeners who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning, deluding yourselves by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth.” James 1:21-22 AMP

The Apostle James is writing to those who have been part of the great diaspora because of the persecution of the church. In the seventh chapter of the book of Acts we read about the first martyr of the church, Stephen. Falsely accused of blasphemy, Stephen was stoned by a crowd led by the religious authorities. 

“Now when they heard this accusation and understood its implication, they were cut to the heart, and they began grinding their teeth in rage at him. 55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit and led by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory the great splendor and majesty of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56and he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened up in welcome and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and together rushed at him considering him guilty of blasphemy. 58Then they drove him out of the city and began stoning him; and the witnesses placed their outer robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Acts 7:25-28 AMP

An interesting fact here is that the young man named Saul is considered to be Saul of Tarsus which goes on to persecute the church and then receives Christ. In chapter eight we go on to read of the great persecution that came against the church. 

“Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death. And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 2Some devout men buried Stephen and mourned greatly over him expressing a personal sense of loss. 3But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.” Acts 8:1-3 AMP

Having been forced to flee the customary way of life together as a culture, James is reminding them of the importance of next being diluted in their beliefs by the secular cultures that they now be living in. James covers many issues in chapter one including, Joy through testing, Wisdom for steady faith, Living in humble circumstances, Endurance, temptation and sin, Gods’ unchanging goodness, and in verses 19-25 a challenge to enact the Word of God and live in obedience.

Throughout the stories of the Bible, we see a pattern that faith is more than belief. Faith is the activation of a demonstration of that belief! James warns of a process of “unsound reasoning.” We as humans tend to apply our own reasoning to circumstances that we want to avoid. We create every possible reason why the Word of God isn’t really true or that it doesn’t apply to ourselves. That reasoning is exactly the way we got into this mess to begin with! “Did God really say….?” James tells us the reason for failing to enact God’s Word is due to a lack of internalization. Our mind is the center of fleshly reasoning. Our hearts on the other hand are the center of motivation in our relationship with God. That is why the James tells us that it is “implanted, actually rooted in your heart.” Take time today to plant the good seeds of God’s Word deep in your heart and you will reap a harvest of God’s promises. Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken