Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
So far in our study of the Epistle of James we have learned that we owe our birth into the Kingdom of God—our salvation in Christ our Lord—to the sovereign grace of God and the power of the Word. And, having been born again to new life in Christ by the “will” of the Father and by the “word of truth” (v. 18), we are then to live out our Christian lives under the command of that very Word of God.
James has taught us that the Word of the Lord, then, must be the controlling force in our lives. And this is why he exhorted his “brothers” in the faith to always “be quick to hear” this Word, and “slow to speak” and to “slow to anger” in order that the Word that empowered our salvation may come to govern our lives, even down to the practical details of every-day living (v. 19). The Christian life as James pictures it is one that is ever being exposed to the life-giving, life-transforming Word of the Lord that never returns empty!
But what does it mean to “hear” the Word of God? What is involved in hearing it or in listening to it? This is the subject to which James now turns as we arrive at James 1:21. As we will see, hearing requires first that we take some things off and put some things on (v. 21). Then, true hearing is doing (v. 22).
On Sunday we will consider James 1:21-22 and discover the true meaning of hearing the “implanted word which is able to save your souls” (v. 21).
Have a blessed and restful weekend, and I’ll see you all on Sunday morning!
All my love for you in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Mike