Truly accepting the Word of God

So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:21-22 NLT

An unrestrained tongue and temper drive a person deep into sin and far from God. Therefore, a spiritual cleaning is needed so that God’s Word, whether in written or spoken form, can have an effect in one’s life. If we continue to ignore the word of God, our life will easily be influenced by filthy and evil thoughts. The sin that is revealed in our life when we expose it to God’s word should be dealt with immediately. Lack of action on our part will be unbeneficial. The word of God that was planted in us should take root or else we will lose it. "A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them…The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts” (Matthew 13:4, 19). When we truly hear the word of God, it follows that we will obey His word. We truly show God that we accept His word when we live by biblical principles. Once we allow the Word of God convicts us of our wrongdoings and we change our ways, our life will continue to benefit from the power of God’s word. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12). Our lives are made whole and complete “for the word God has planted in our [your] hearts…has the power to save our [your] souls” (James 1:21). So, do not just listen to God’s word, do what it says. Let us take heed of what Christ said in the last part of His Sermon on the Mount: “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Blessings,