But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)
Today’s passage isn’t meant to be a fortune cookie. It’s not a fairy dust promise that if you do everything you find in God’s Word to the best of your ability, he’ll make all of your dreams come true. God isn’t a genie you access by polishing a magic lamp called “the Bible.”
If you’ve got a smart phone, it came with a book of instructions – or at least a link to an online support page. We would not be surprised if that page had this line: “Follow these instructions written by the maker of this product, and you will be amazed by how cool this thing is and how well it works for a long, long time.”
The Bible is a book of power because it contains direction from the designer of all of life. Living according to God’s Word results in blessing because you will then be living the way the inventor of life intended. We should see that as perfectly logical, not just a vague spiritual promise. It makes perfect sense to do what God’s Word says.
Think: Would you resent the makers of your phone if they warned you not to submerge it in water? Do you ever resent God for warning you not to violate his design for your life?
Pray: Ask God to help you to be grateful for his instructions about your life because following them results in blessing for you.
Do: In the style of an instruction book or user’s manual, write 2-3 of God’s commands about how he intends for us to live.