“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:21-23
Today’s Christian daily devotional
Dodging between tourists on Michigan Avenue, I feel like a pro athlete zipping through an obstacle course. The bright and welcoming red awning of my favorite café stands out among the steel and brick buildings. I duck inside and head towards our usual table in the back.
“Jules!” Just sound of her voice feels like a warm hug. My arms automatically reach out for a real one. Claudia has lost some weight. I take a mental note to get her diet secrets after we have eaten.
We place an order for our usual drinks.
“I cannot believe how long it has been since we’ve seen each other! I have really have missed our weekly get-togethers.” Just seeing Claudia’s face instantly relaxes me.
“Now that my clinicals are over, things are a bit less crazy. I’m just thankful to stop for a minute and just have the time for lunch.” She laughs but there is a hallow look to her expression.
I have known Claudia far too long to let this slide. Something just isn’t right.
“How long have we been friends?” I grill her with that look only girlfriends can get away with.
Her eyes dart down to the menu while the waitress interrupts us to take our order.
“So? Your not getting away with not telling me whats up and how you lost those last ten pounds, girl!” Smiling while I chide her, I sip my iced tea while tapping my foot impatiently.
Claudia takes a moment. “I have cancer.” She gulps her iced tea as her eyes drift to the window just behind me.
The room seems to spin into another dimension, a place where time stands still and the bustling sounds of life fade into the background like a hazy soundtrack to a dream.
“I knew something wasn’t right, but I kept ignoring the signs. I thought it was the stress of school and the pressure of my night job.” Crushing her napkin, Claudia continues on. “I ignored all the symptoms, hoping they would just go away. I can’t believe how foolish I was… I did exactly what I tell my own patients not to do…” her voice trails off, heavy with regret.
James 1:21-23 is a reminder that true wisdom will never just be wise words. Action must follow for the benefits of wisdom to be enjoyed.
Many people think that by simply attending church or reading the Bible, this automatically puts them in the position to receive the blessings of God.
But James 1:21-23 gives us the recipe for a real blessing.
For one to take a hold of this, a concerted effort must be made. We must not only hear the wisdom and truth of God’s word, but we must allow those truths to penetrate past our ear drums, go down deep into our hearts and allow that truth to be acted out in our daily lives. Knowledge not applied is actually wasted and useless.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I have deceived myself into believing that just because I hear good words spoken, that it is enough for me to be blessed.
How foolish this is. Going to church, reading my Bible and hearing good inspiring messages will never change my life.
Change can only happen if I take the wisdom being taught to me and apply it to my everyday life. Help me to really grasp this concept.
I break the curse of the religious spirits over my life. A relationship with God can never be replaced with “wise words”. For people to know that I have God, I must act the way God leads me to act. Help me to have a life of action, not just empty words.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: James 1:21-23
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan