James 1:22 NLT

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

I have two young children, so speaking to them and not truly being heard is a frequent occurrence in my home. They are busy, active children who have their minds set on their current task and anything beyond that is unimportant. Usually I have to really fight for their attention, just to be sure that they have indeed heard the words I spoke.

To be quite honest, sometimes I’m guilty of doing the exact same thing. I can walk away from people having not genuinely retained anything from our conversation. I’m either distracted, exhausted or watching my children in the background, so it’s difficult to intently listen and truly participate in what is being said.

I’m currently following a bible reading plan for the year, as I’m sure many of you are as well. It can become just another item to check off the to-do list though, just one more task to complete. The sad reality of “scrolling” through The Word is that it just isn’t sufficient, there has to be more.

I can read through my assigned chapters for the day, but if I’m not being changed or challenged by it, I’m not doing it right. Our lives should be living examples of the Gospel, The Word alive and in motion. We won’t always have it down perfect, I know I certainly don’t, but faithfulness is a beautiful thing.

God’s word is alive and is always speaking, so what has God been speaking to you lately? Is He calling you to not only be a hearer of the word (which is so necessary) but also to be a doer? Do you feel the pull to be His word alive and active?

Prayer: God, please help me to hear Your voice clearly when I study Your word. I want to be changed and challenged by it, and then become a person who lives it out daily.