Reading, receiving, researching, remembering, and reflecting on God’s Word are important, but we must also respond to it. John 13:17 reminds us: ‘Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them’ (NIV). It’s not enough to just know the truth. God blesses us when we apply that truth to our own lives and act on it. In James 1:22, we’re encouraged to be ‘doers of the word’ (ESV). This is the hardest step because Satan doesn’t want us to be putting God’s Word into action, and he’ll try and fight us every moment. We also might try to avoid applying God’s Word to our own lives because it demands we make changes, it’s a lot of effort, and sometimes it can hurt. Jesus said, ‘The truth will set you free’ (John 8:32 NIV), but first, it might make you uncomfortable. As we read God’s Word, we’re often sharply reminded of our own flaws, mistakes and failings. That can be a painful process. But if we stick with it, it’s a process that’ll bring about change for the better. The evangelist D. L. Moody put it like this: ‘The Bible wasn’t given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.’ One of the best ways for us to start putting God’s Word into practice is to write down an action plan. It should be personal (involving you), practical (something you can do), and provable (with a target or deadline). Jesus said, ‘Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock’ (Matthew 7:24 NIV). So let’s resolve to love God’s Word, and to love putting it into action.

What Now?

What are you reading in the Bible at the moment? How could you put that wisdom into action in your own life? Have a go at wring an action plan for yourself –remember to make it personal, practical and provable.