Doing the Word, Part 3

One of my frequent prayer requests for the PHBF family is that we would be a church filled with people who deliberately apply the word. Not just hearers but doers. Changing our lives, not just filling our heads. Jesus’ brother James was also deeply concerned that Christians apply the word, and he suggested three practical tests to see how well we are doing. Read James 1:26-27 and then ask yourself these "test questions":

1. The “words test” (v 26). What do your casual conversations indicate about your spiritual health? Do you encourage or complain? Do you gossip and slander or edify? Are your comments honorable and clean or off-color and dirty?

2. The “compassion test” (v 27). What is your gut reaction to needy people? How much time and/or money have you sacrificed for the broken and helpless? When was the last time you visited someone specifically because they needed what you had to offer?

3. The “cleanliness test” (v 27). Is your life clean and white, or are you dirty and soiled? If Jesus spent an entire week right by your side, how many of your normal conversations and habits and entertainments and friendships would change?