God's Word, Overheard

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:12)

Have you thought about these words lately? James says that if we merely hear God's word, but fail to put it into practice, we are self-deceived. What great blot can be on our record than to be not only deceived, but self-deceived! And it's not just James who makes this claim. James' master, Jesus Christ, gave words just as terrifying when he said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

This site is designed to help us reflect on God's word: how the Bible's marvelous and comprehensive message gives meaning to our lives, challenges our behavior, and directs our life together. In many cases we will reflect further on God's word preached or taught in various contexts at New Covenant.

Yet is a blog simply an avenue for more hearing, when we should be doing? I certainly hope not!

What James is condemning is what we may call merely hearing, with our ears. Yet if we are to practice God's word, we need to begin with fully engaged hearing, the kind of thoughtful meditation that causes God's word to sink down deep within us. When God's word makes its way into our lives in this way, we will indeed become doers! And that is the proper motivation to regularly ponder and discuss God's word. It is the reason Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

May this site encourage the better hearing, and then the better doing, of God's will.

* * *

NOTE: You may comment on this or any post. Comments are moderated and thus the comments do not appear immediately. You are also welcome to simply read the posts without comment.