The Virtuous Life – Day 202 – James 4:13-16 – You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord’s Will – Growing As Disciples
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:13-17 (NIV)
Listening
That seems to be the key. What seems to be the key to what? Listening, it seems to me, is the key to being able to know and do your will. Why do you think so? If I am unwilling to listen to you, I will never know and do your will. If I am too busy to listen to listen to you, I will never know and do your will. If I would rather listen to myself than to you, I will never know and do your will. Those are all correct statements. What will be required of you if you want to hear from me? If I want to hear from you, I will need to humbly, and attentively, listen to you. I will need to set aside my agenda. I will need to stop and make time so I am not too busy or distracted to hear from you. I must be willing to follow and obey you once I hear from you. It would do me no good if I were only a hearer of your word. I must be willing to go and do whatever you ask of me. Why would you bother to speak to me if you knew that I wouldn’t listen or follow or obey you? I suspect you would not, unless you really wanted to get my attention, so you could turn my life around. And I know that you have done that before in my life. That is true.
But I don’t want to be a reluctant listener. I don’t want to be a hesitant follower. I want to live my life in such a way that I am in sync with you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to know and do your will. I want to go and do all that you ask of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. So, I will listen attentively to you. You are correct, that is the key, do that and you will be able to know and do my will. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, I know I can dream up elaborate plans to keep me busy. I do not want to be busy. I want to be productive. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to be able to know and do your will. Help me to listen attentively to you. Amen
Key Question… How are you making time to listen to the Lord so you can know and do His will?
Living It Out… Listen attentively to the Lord so you will be able to know and do His will.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to know and do His will as you listen to Him.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been guiding your steps as you listen to Him.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen to the Lord so you can know and do His will.
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